Historians are probably not going to remark on 2016 as the greatest year in human history. Frankly, in a lot of corners, it was kind of a rough 12 months. I get the sense that a lot of us are feeling a little run down, worn out and beat up. As it tends to do, Twitter magnifies this feeling and makes it seem much more acutely personal to its users.
I can’t really share the pessimism, though. First of all, personally it has mostly been a wonderful year for me and the people I love. My husband and I are healthy and thriving, we did a couple of sorta-secret big important adult things this year, my kids are happy and healthy and making me smile every day. My quasi-child celebrated the greatest thing that ever happened to her, and is preparing to graduate from college (oh, I’ll cry…A LOT) and start her real big-kid job. Really, I have a lot to be very happy and very thankful for. Second, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Twitter all year, despite its growing level of trolliness, arbitrary rules enforcement and general insanity. For that, I have my Misfit Pals to thank. With a couple unfortunate exceptions, they make for a drama-free counterweight to Twitter’s overall level of bat shit. The DM running in the background has been a wonderful place to confirm that public Twitter really is as loony as it seems to be and to have reasoned and insult-free discussions on honest disagreements. They make me smarter every day, I’m lucky to be able to call these folks friends. In that spirit, I am going to offer some Holiday wishes and some 2017 hopes to them, and I hope you can all join me in thanking them for being as thoroughly awesome as they are. I am going to start with two women that I deeply aspire to be like for reasons that should be abundantly clear. @BlazerMc88 – To my not-old-enough-to-be Twitter Mom, I thank you for your compassion and your steady calm and for your stories of inspiring motherhood. I hope that 2017 brings you an abundance of good health and a never-ending stream of the joy that can come only from children who need us a little bit more than most. Knowing that my feelings on the importance of sisters are strong enough that I got them tattooed on myself, I hope you appreciate when I say: I wish I had a big sister like you! @Molratty – Thank you for being my daily reminder that women can be Very. Serious. People. without losing any of their wit and snark and fun. May 2017 bring you continued success and many, many long days and warm nights at the lake with the people you love. Never stop being Mo! And to the rest of the Becky Squad...my sisters in Mischief. @VixenRogue – The Misfits’ April Ludgate: no one hates more stuff with as much style as you do, and I love you for it ;-). I don’t want to totally blow your cover, but there is some legit girliness hidden under the snark and the Seahawks game jersey, and it’s kinda adorable ;-). Here is hoping that 2017 brings you even more happiness as a woman and a mother, and maybe we could sprinkle in a new job that makes use of and compensates you for your drive and smarts. That failing, let’s work on a subscription YouTube Channel where you just play video games in your underwear. Like PewDiePie, but boobs. @jholmsted – As the Queen Mother of the Misfits, I have JR to thank for all of this, as well as for infusing my Twitter experience with a whole lot of Texas that it would otherwise be lacking. I have a great appreciation for tiny balls of energy that punch above their weight, so my affinity for JR is no great mystery. The world doesn’t run without people who hustle! May 2017 bring fewer visitors(!), continued successes for you and your husband both, more Longhorn wins, and lots and lots of little drummer boys. @_CCHayes – Buried in school and motherhood and all of the chaos associated, we don’t hear nearly as much from CC as I’d like. But that’s OK, because the grind is what eventually make the woman, and you’re gonna get through it better than ever. Which, I guess, makes my 2017 wish for you that you find more time for yourself to waste with the rest of us!!! And, if you need a sandwich, you just give a shout…I know a guy. While the ladies are clearly the stars of the show around here, let’s not forget about the boys who keep us laughing and kill all of the virtual spiders in the room. @cdpayne79 – For not taking yourself or anything else more seriously than it should be taken – save for University of Arkansas Athletics. Selfishly, I wish for more pictures of that puppy! And for you and the (I’m sure) wonderful bride-to-be, I hope for a most special day filled with a collection of all of the people you love in one place together. You better send us pictures… @danieltobin – My fellow Yankee in this sea of (mostly) Southerners! I’m glad to have at least one other person who appreciates the existence of Fluff and needs to check Urban Dictionary to find out what a "coonass" is. My 2017 wish for you is simple and profound - one adorably perfect baby with ten fingers, ten toes and a healthy Mommy. @marcannem96 – Since 2016 seems to be finishing on a high note for you, I wish you a year of continued professional success, especially when it coincides with being home on holidays! May you never lose that quick, biting wit, and never, ever forget that you have a history, with Don McLean. Finally, may the coming year be filled with many more fantastic stories of the daughter that I (not-so) secretly wish was my best friend. @miscraymer – To my Misfit Godparent…you’re better than you often give yourself credit for, and more deserving of happiness. That 2017’s new addition be as healthy and happy as his or her siblings, and may the arrival multiply the love in your home. And may you always remember that you are worthy of your aspirations. @2009superglide – I’m still suspicious of people who like @shannityshair that much, but I guess you’re alright;-). Tackling school after the army is no small task, and I can safely speak for everyone else in saying that we’re all really proud of you. We’re lucky to have people like you serving overseas, and we’re lucky to count you as a friend. You deserve all of the good that will come from this. Also, you deserve better neighbors, but that is a whole other story… @aviwoolf – We’re gonna find you a girlfriend…and she is gonna be really lucky! @LunaticRex – Last, but certainly not least, the Grumpy Old Man of the Misfits:-). Since you’re the only Misfit whose football team never loses, we are all a little bit jealous, so maybe I will take it easy on the “wishes for next year.” You’ve already gotten plenty. Kidding!! For you, I have a special wish: that love conquer time and distance, and that you be reunited for good with your light. And for the rest of us, that you take a job as an Uber driver and make videos of your conversations with passengers. Even beyond these folks, the Misfits have infinitely improved my time on Twitter. Not surprisingly, these guys have a lot of great Twitter friends, and the ability to reach you through them has been wonderful. I’ve gotten remarkably touching personal notes from people I barely know, insightful counter-points to pieces I’ve written, and incredibly funny snark from the good-natured disagreeables ;-). But this group has put me in touch with a much broader set of Twitterati, only a small portion of whom are legitimately crazy ;-). And at least half of those are charming in their own way! Twitter, for me, has become about you guys more than anything else, and it is infinitely better because of it! Thank you for putting up with my mouthiness, my never-ending bragging about my perfect ward and my generally annoying Alexism. Happy Holidays to all, and may every year from here on our be better than the one before it!
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MisfitsJust a gaggle of people from all over who have similar interests and loud opinions mixed with a dose of humor. We met on Twitter. Archives
January 2024
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