End of Year Four
December 23, 2005
For me, the year ends when S*P's story year ends. New
Year's Eve is just sort of an event that happens and is incidental at
best, full of drunks at worst.
I always feel weird when I end a year. I feel like I'm supposed post
something important about how I felt about the past year in the comic
and what I did... all that crap. Steve Jackson does a State of the
Company post on the Daily Illuminator, which I respect (granted, I
respect a lot of stuff about Steve). I feel like I should be doing that
for S*P. But what to say?
As for as S*P goes, it's been a rough year - but not because of the
comic itself. There were a lot of outside forces that caused turmoil in
my life. 2005 has not been, on any single front, a pleasant year
for me, and most of what happened hit at almost the exact same time.
That's what MM and NGD are on indefinite hiatus (which I've said before
but most people don't read news rants and instead email me - which,
incidentally, is why I never reply to those emails). I came to a
crossroads that was: Focus on one comic and put the other two off;
update all three randomly; or stop all three and do something else. The
first one won, and since S*P is more important to me, it's what I chose
to focus on.
The comic has become more personal to me in the past eight or so months
than it's been since year one. In some ways, too personal. Story wise
it's been a great year. I've probably leaned on it too much to help me
work out details in my own life, but that happens sometimes. For the
few of my friends who have been caused discomfort or concern by this
(okay, more than a few), I apologize.
None of this makes sense except to a few people who I care very dearly
about. You know who you are. If in doubt, assume you're included. I
hope everyone had a good 2005, but I hope you'll all excuse me if I'm
not remotely sad to see this year end. I'm looking towards 2006 with
some optimism. It could be worse than 2005, but I strongly doubt that
will be the case. I'm hoping for a year where things work out a little
more for everyone - a year where all the conversation left unfinished
finally get closed, where the small details are figured out, and where
the uneasiness gives way to familiar comforts of friendly faces and
words.
And, of course, in saying this I've pretty much assured that I'll be
plowed over by a drunken driver and killed instantly just before
midnight on December 31st. Well, at least I can think of one person
who's New Year will start off well because of it.
Take care, everyone. The "Old Familiar Faces" storyline will start
Saturday or Sunday. -R
