In a short time we’ll be saying goodbye to 2010. Some areas of the world have already done so. It’s a year that still doesn’t make a lot of sense in my head (both personally and professionally), and I’m sure I’ll settle on what it’s meant to me some day. But I will say I’m happy to move forward.
Personally, at the end of December, I nearly lost my third grandparent in as many years, but she’s in the hospital fighting off the dying light as I type. I also wrapped up the first year of what will be a very long engagement for my fiancee and me. It’s been a journey of learning and love so far.
Professionally, In Contention is more successful than ever, and I know full well who I owe for that: you, the readers, and my scrappy team of contributors. After kicking the tires last year on what will hopefully come next, I made healthy strides toward those ends in 2010 and hope to inch closer to the dream in 2011. But for now, this is my place and I’m happy to see us forging ahead, strong as ever.
The New Year is supposed to be about new beginnings. Most use the natural shift as an impetus toward needed change, but if I were to settle on one “resolution,” it would be to drum up the courage to trigger that shift whenever and wherever it’s needed, not just at the turn of a year. There are more, and they are mine, but that will be my overriding theme. I hope.
I’ll be in a plane, somewhere above Arizona, when the sun goes down on 2010 for me. To you, I give thanks for what you offer this space on a daily (hourly, minutely) basis. And I wish the best to you and yours as you bid farewell to 2010. I hope it treated you well. And whether it did or didn’t, I hope 2011 treats you better than any 12-month span you’ve lived.
Happy New Year. Let’s drink a cup for auld lang syne.
[Photo: Kristopher Tapley]
Comments
25 responses to “5…4…3…2…1…”
Happy New Year Everyone!
Sorry to hear about your Grandmother, Kris.
Kris, you have truly been an inspiration to me this year as I try and work my way toward being a critic/journalist/movie lover. Thank you for all you’ve done for us this year. Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Happy New Year Everyone! My condolences to you Kris, but thank you for giving us this site and doing such a stellar job with it.
Jim
I wish the best for your grandmother.
Happy new year everyone!
Such a beautiful piece of writing. Thank you for all that you do Kris. It’s been a joy to get caught up in the site over the past year. Have a wonderful 2011 and my thoughts are with you and your grandmother.
In all seriousness, Kris – this site for Oscar/film fans is one of, if not THE best on the internet. I honestly believe this.
I get most of my info from here. I enjoy reading you and everyone’s take on things. The site offers thought-provoking commentary & discussions. Furthmore, it’s both fair and fun.
Thank you so much for incontention.com
Happy New Year everyone!
These personal touches are always worthwhile.
Happy New Year.
Kris,
Thanks to you, Guy, and everyone at InContention for another awesome year of coverage. I also wish your grandmother a speedy recovery.
A happy and healthy 2011 to all!
I wonder if you have ever seen “A Very Long Engagement”? Is your life in gorgeous sepia too? :)
And I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I’m sending good thoughts and prayers to her and your family.
Thank you for putting such beautiful words to a wrap up of such a strange year. Even for me, a quiet daily reader of your words, the passing of incontention to another year is a notable event and gives me warm feelings.
I wish you success and very sincerely appreciate and thank everyone who works so hard at incontention. Passion is much more fun when shared with others. Thank you for sharing your passion with me.
To 2011. May it annihilate 2010.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! : )
¡¡Feliz 2011 para todos!!
I try to keep a balance between work in the industry and my passion for writing about film, and I owe incontention so much in regards to the latter. Happy new year, have a great 2011. I’m one reader who ain’t going anywhere.
Happy New Year everyone!
Kris, I wish your grandmother the best. I just lost mine this past October and I miss her dearly, but she went surrounded by family and love. Cheers, mate.
Happy New Year For everybody! I’m already in 2011 but i wish You Kris the best of things to you and your family! Thanks for the company and the site! Happy 2011
Happy new year to Kris, Guy, Chad and everybody else involved in this wonderfull site.
Happy New Year, In Contention. I’ll still be here at the end of 2011.
The very first movie I watched of the new decade was “Spice World” and I’ve been listening to the “Burlesque” soundtrack all day. I feel there only place this year can go is down…
happy new year kris, guy, chad and everyone else.
and my best wishes to your gran, kris… sorry to hear about that.
Happy New Year! Let’s hope 2011 treats us all kindly – and brings us some knockout films. ;)
I lost my first grandparent this year (on August 27th, the day after my 32nd birthday). My wife’s parents got divorced following her father’s descent onto Daniel Plainviewville. He made much of this year a living he’ll, going so far as to disown my wife (his firstborn) for no good reason. But we’ve managed to get through the year, regardless. I have a new jpb, which will pay 2.5 times what I was previously making, and I was lucky enough to pass many of these semi-employed hours with your wonderful site. I was at a small New Year’s gathering tonight and on several occasions I found myself trying to gear the discussion toward film, so that I could have something to talk about with this group of folks I didn’t know too well. I’m glad that whenever I have that need to discuss film or the awards season, I need turn only to sites like this one. Thank you to Tapley, Hartigan, Lodge, and all the rest who give a kid raised on Ebert reviews and EW issues a welcoming place to hang his hat.
into/hell
thats some real ish you posted. keep forging ahead and much love to your grandma.
a couple of years ago this site became one of my most beloved, I really admire the work you guys do and I hope that 2011 will be much better in all respects. I am sorry to read about your grandmother. I’m sending all my blessings and love to her and your family.
Feliz año nuevo 2011
Happy New Year Kris, thanks for all your hard work on the site, looking forward to what 2011 brings…