Number of Christmas cookies decorated with family: countless

Number decorated to resemble this Halloween picture of my nephew: 1

Number of times I thrilled to make this nephew smile by dangling him back and forth and saying, “Tick tock, Min o’clock!”: 4 (okay, 4,000)

Number of New Year’s parties attended: 3

Number at which there were tragically not enough good desserts: 1 (I won’t say which, but if you served bread pudding, you were off the hook.)

Number of movies seen: 3 (Avatar, Broken Embraces, A Single Man)

Number of which were style over substance: 2 (Broken Embraces had both)

Number of amazing books read: 1 (River Town, by Peter Hessler, about teaching English in China)

Number of times I went into bookstores seeking his second book, including times I decided not to because it was too heavy, before capitulating: 4

Number of amazing earrings received: 2 (thanks, Mom!)

Number of times I cursed myself for hiding one of these pairs of earrings in an incredibly stupid place because I was too lazy to put them away someplace better : countless.

Number of friends seen: not sure I can count this one, either, but I am glad for all the meals!

Number of hours our plane was delayed on the way home: 3, but at least we weren’t flying from Newark, which apparently was shut down for security delays.

Number of times I felt grateful and happy: many, many, many.