I have already tried blood, sweat and tears in 2006.
Looking back over 2006 there were good things - we and our children began putting our Katrina damaged houses back together and though we are not complete, we are almost there. We kept our humor through most of it and found laughter in finding a mildewed wall that bore the face, or so our crazy minds thought, of a cat. We learned that Home Depot and Lowe's were the places you met everyone you ever knew so you combed your hair and put on makeup before you ran to get "just one more nail, sheet of wallboard or electrical outlet cover. We learned that friends are more important than anything else in this world next to family. And, we learned to appreciate the little things in life.
Some of the anguish - just day to day living in a Katrina flood zone. The funerals of friends who could not be buried until 2006 because the mortuaries, funeral homes and cemeteries were not available for months following the flood. The loss of our beloved cat, Sadie, who we enjoyed for 14 years.
The loss of my father-in-law, close relatives' family and the worse of all, the death of my oldest brother on December 13 who burned in the fire that destroyed his home. His death was far more heartwrenching than anything Hurricane Katrina did to me.
And so, we look forward to 2007 with hope and faith. And, I know that my camera will continue to keep me sane.