by Kelly Greer

A few weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege to sit across the table and share a meal with Diena Thompson. At first, Diena seemed a lot like me — an everyday gal, the mom of a seven-year-old daughter, hard working with a free and loving spirit towards life. But I quickly discovered our lives were very different. On October 19, 2009, Diena found herself living every parent’s worst nightmare when her seven-year-old daughter Somer went missing. Two days later, Somer’s body was discovered in a Georgia landfill.  We met at a reception in support of local non-profit, Keep Georgia Safe, and the 60 minutes we spent together was one of the most surreal hours of my life.

From the Publisher

Is it gonna be more of the same? Are things gonna get better this year? Will the economy have a miraculous rebound? Who can know, but all indications are that it’s time to re-up your focus on perseverance and determination for what could be another challenging year.

My sense of the world right now is that folks are tired. It’s been a long run of pressure for employers and employees alike. Folks doubled up their efforts to work through tough times and hung onto the hope that easier times were just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t talked to many who’ve seen – much less rounded – the proverbial corner of hard times to Easy Street. But alas, the new year is upon us.

A New Addition Teaches New Lessons

I have a temperamental, yet wonderful new thing in my life, my new pup, Tullah. She is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi mix (for those dog enthusiasts) that my boyfriend and I adopted from a local rescue right before Thanksgiving. She has brought unending joy to our lives, as I hope that most pets do for most people.

The day before we adopted her, I talked with her then foster mom, Cheryl, about Tullah and if she was the right fit for our home. Cheryl was a character to say the least, we gibber-jabbered on the phone for at least two hours, about everything from Tullah’s crazy antics (which I would come to know quite well) to her passionate stance on spaying/neutering pets. It was a little bizarre!

I started thinking about New Year’s resolutions way before the holidays. For a while, I was thinking about cutting back a bit on my TV habit and reducing the relentless teasing I get from family and friends. I thought about spending more time with my Kindle and less time with Top Chef. For a few rash moments, I even thought about doing without my ultimate guilty pleasure – America’s Next Most Favoritest Top Model. Not to worry – I snapped out of it. When times are tough and you need a laugh, you don’t go cold turkey on your Tyra habit.  And then I stumbled upon what may be the best reality show ever, hiding right there in plain sight on TLC.

As my daughter is burning the proverbial mid-night oil during her very first week of high school final exams, her brother is just about wrapping his senior year of college and one of his last fast and furious weeks of cramming until the wee hours, downing cups of bad coffee and odd-tasting energy drinks.

What a journey he’s had – and what a journey he’s about to begin in the real world – but for her, it’s all just beginning. She’s got at least 15 more finals weeks to live through, and he’s living for his last finals week this spring.