Ahhhhh, well folks. This year is nearing it's end. 2006 is on it's last breaths of existence, as Father Time slowly ticks the minutes away 'til the dawn of a new year, new beginnings, the first of a baby's breath. So let us take this time and sit, relax, maybe grab a cup of coffee, or hot chocolate...... or even a glass of your favorite eggnog. Let us take this time to reflect, to take our minds back through this year, to ponder upon the things that made this year great and amazing and powerful and wonderful...... or maybe even not worth taking a second glance at......... or even sorrowful.

What was the year of 2006 for me? Well, it was a lot to tell you the truth. So many things, be it directly related to me or indirectly by some relative, good friends, a thread of a connection....... or even by a mere soul that happen to walk by. Yes, so many things, that I can't even begin to explain or even list. So.............., as I do every year around this time, I shall simply reflect upon the more memoriable things in my life, whether it was a stepping stone or a tripping pavement crack.

This year really didn't start off with a bang. In fact, I don't recall any year really starting off with a bang, so I didn't expect this year to be any different to be honest. But what set this year apart from all the others? Well, truth be told, it's the same things that sets all the other years apart from each other..... and that is...........well, you should be able to fill in this blank.

Grandpa passed away this year. A great man indeed. He was coming down with alzheimers a few years back and we all knew the implications. As sad as it was to say and imagine at the time, plans were set in motion by his loving wife, my grandma, but at the same time, we didn't treat him any different. To us, and i'm sure most other people that he interacted with, felt the same way...that he was normal and nothing out of the ordinary. Then a year passes, and it begins to be noticable. But even then, it meant nothing. We all loved him just the same, treated him no different. It wasn't until more recently, that his condition accelerated. But you know what, even then, he still had many loving and caring people surrounding him at all times, and more importantly, his wife. But alas, it was this year that we gathered together in remembrance of him, and to celebrate his life........NOT his death. And we, who were left behind upon this Earth, took a moment out of our busy lives, our busy schedules, to gather together and support grandma, who devoted over 52 years of her life and love to the late, great Mr David, a husband, a dad, a grandpa and friend.

Friends. Wow! How little one might know about their "friends". I, as I'm sure alot of you, have only a handful of friends... and even then that handful can be counted with only one hand. All the rest are simply people you know, or an acquaintance. Throughout this year, I've heard "stories" through the grapevines about some of the people I've known at one point in my life or two. Such stories as, "Oh, did you hear about so-and-so? He got locked up 6 years for a DUI. Or, "Remember so-and-so? heard he turned gay! Well, the people that I've known as friends or acquaintances at one time or another..... been hearing such "rumors" about. A friend I knew from a few years back apparently is spending his days...or rather, years, in a state prison for his second DUI. God, how stupid could you be! Other someone I use to know back from my High School days has turned gay, from what I've heard. I mean, not that "being" gay is bad. I'm not one into rumors and gossips but what amuses me is the fact that people might have a certain perception about somebody, but then all of a sudden, something happens that goes totally against that initial perception. Then suddenly, it's a surprise and a shock, enough so to make you go, "Wow! Really?" So how is this revelant to me? Well, it's all part of my life's course.

This was the year that I turned entrepeneur. Thou I can't say it's been smooth sailing... what brand new business can truly say that, it has however been able to stand on it's own two legs. Mid year, a friend of mine called me up and pitched this crazy idea of his and offered to go partners. After much debate, careful and thoughtful contemplation, I thought to myself, "hell, this is crazy enough that it just might work!" And so began my many hard days and lots of my own personal savings and money to fund this "potential" for success. I mean, afterall, I happened to be my partners financial backer..... as if I had money coming out of my ears! And how'd we do or doing? As mentioned, the business is standing on it's own legs. We have yet to see a profit, but i'm sure that will be coming sometime soon in this coming year. Afterall, doesn't the average business only turn a profit sometime after it's first year of operation? Well friends, I've got great expectations this coming year, this new beginning! And I can really, really use it. I'm freakin' broke and tired of eating Ramen noodles.

Finally, my old, tired, worn out car sputtered one last time. Yes, my car of many years finally decided to go out on me. Well, to tell you the truth, it didn't "technically" go out in the normal sense as in, "no longer", but rather, a gear went out. It was a stick shift and one morning, got up, did my usual morning things, hopped into the car, and suddenly, as I was driving it, the 3rd gear slipped. I knew from there that my transmission was on the verge of going out and it was just a matter of weeks if not days. Then again, I've known this for over a year but simply tried to get as much use out of that old tired car as I could. And you know, I loved that old car. It took me all over the place, never really complained too much and never really had to put alot of money into it for repairs. Heck, if it wasn't falling apart, I'd still be driving it around and happily. It may not have been a "nice" looking car, or "new" or "fast" or even a "chic magnet", but I liked it and who cares what everybody else thought. But now it's gone, sold to the highest bidder to some passing guy. Actually, to tell you the truth, I only got $600 for it. I suppose that says something about it's worth...hehehe! Well, the result was a new Mustang. Yep. I went down and got me a new pony car, one of which I've always wanted. It's silver and black, sleek and fast and (the) furious! Liked my little movie joke? Hahaha, yes, yes, a real knee-slapper! Though I do wish I got the GT but I'm not exactly rich you know or nowhere near somwhat, kinda, sorta wealthy. I'm just a poor little guy with little money.........siiiiiiiiiigh.........hehehe! For all you stiffs out there, I'm just being silly.

Then there's Cheng. It seems like I wrote about her last year about this time. Oh wait, I did! Haha! Since I've explained who she is many times before, this time around, I shall skip that part. But what makes Cheng special enough to warrant yet another mention in yet another article? Ahhh, even if I explained, I don't think you, the readers would understand either way. I suppose she is simply someone important to me. Enough so that I cannot "not" talk about her.... or rather I can always talk about her. I suppose that's what the "L" word does to you...hehe! I'm sooooo glad that I've come to know her. Sounds cliche' but I can honestly say that I wouldn't know or can't even imagine life without knowing her. Hmmm, what would my life be right now if I didn't come to know Cheng. Would I already be married? Would I have 2 brats (bearing my last name) running around getting into trouble? Or maybe it could be to the extreme... as in me a serial killer or some crazy looney introvert!? If it wasn't for Cheng, what would the life of Dreamer be? Wait... (clicking the buzz button), I know the answer! Yes, I know the answer to those questions. The answer is, I would still be looking. I would still be searching for that "right person". But it's different. Because............ within Cheng, is that person. Within Cheng, is that which I alone can only know.... that I alone can call perfection. To you she may not be. To the guy next door, she might be simply cute. To the world, she may be just another person. But to me, she is the world! I'm not religious, but nevertheless, all I can say is...... God is good.

So there you have it. The end of yet another year. Wow! 365 days ago I openned my front door to a brand new year, a brand new day. On that day, I planted a seed, a seed that takes 365 days for it's growth, it's maturity. And through arduous toil, through many broken branches, gustful winds and blistering storms, it managed to survive and blossom into a gamut of brilliant colors. I look back, and the tintinnabulation of sweet memories sooths my mind and my soul. A few days from now, I will wake up....... and open the front door.................... and I shall welcome the dawn of a new world.........................