You can always tell when the end of December is upon us with several naturally occurring phenomena... The days start (thankfully) getting longer... and colder with the approach of REAL winter here in Canada... there's less wildlife flittering about... snow is more common... and the buzz is all about awards shows and "Year End Perspectives".

I really only intend to do ONE bloggish "re-hash" in the foreseeable future (I'm going through to pick out my favourite "Blog Your Blessing" to re-do this Sunday,) but looking about the interwebs, I can't help but notice so many of the large websites and news sites already popping up with their "TOP" (this or that) "OF 2007" bits and pieces... allowing us all to get that lovely nostalgic feeling about the last twelve months.

I don't want to re-link or re-hash too much about what's happened here... because like the getting way too repetitive tagline that WAS going on almost all my "Busly Saturday" posts, there's just not a whole lot to talk about when it comes to matters busly on this here blog.

This COULD be seen as a bit of a bummer... but I don't think it is... realistically, I really did like it when Sharon said our dream was an anticipated adventure and yeah, in some ways, getting there may indeed be half the fun.

Actually, I am looking forward to one day telling you all about our work on restoration... our travels... and all the REAL goodly stuff that should happen once we have a bus... but for now, we are enjoying this odd ride... if for nothing else, for the creative juices it's managed to have flow.

One thing that SHOULD be seen within the next little while here is an idea to raise funds that is a kinda hybrid from a suggestion by Candy Minx that I think might fly VERY well and be actually VERY good for not only us, but those who participate in the venture. It's requiring a lot of server-side work first, though... so it's under wraps until launch-time.

...but I go through the posts of this year... starting out with the horrid and low paying gig I had to do until April... and where I am now... and where I believe we will be within the next twelve months... and all I can say about 2007 is was an improvement from 2006... and 2008 looks to be an improvement on this year.

That's pretty positive stuff.

Will 2008 be "The Year of The Bus"?

I'll be 120% honest with you... with the exception of a few momentary bits of blindingly optimistic light, I knew that 2007 would NOT really be the year that the dream came true...

I am, however, VERY optimistic about 2008... but I get the feeling it won't be the year of THE bus... but the year of "A" bus... in other words, not our beloved RLH 3 which is THE "Old Green Bus"... but we'll end up with another one.

This MIGHT sound depressing or defeatist... but here's my two lines of thinking...

• It's more of a fiscal reality to find another bus... closer to home and not as expensive in either initial purchase or repairs.

• Right now, although RLH 3 is undeniably special to us, the real goal is now proving something to our kids... that a whacky dream, tossed into the universe, might come true... and as much as Sue and myself hold RLH 3 VERY dear to our hearts, it's more important to make sure that the larger picture is seen... and that an old double-decker arrives to prove to the young'uns that, indeed, anything is possible. Truth to tell, they will only see the old bus... it wouldn't compute that it isn't "THE" bus to them... and they will see it as a perfect victory.

So, on those thoughts, we will STILL hope for RLH 3 and it will still be the main "thrust", we will also keep those options open.

I guess the other sad thing I have to admit is that the older kids know we're a bit looney... the youngest one has an inkling, but still finds our... um... "eccentricities" appealing... and at the age of twelve, I have probably only one year to either make her believe in miracles a little... or, as they say on these interwebs... show nothing more than this endeavour of ours as an...

Okay, I was just looking for a way to work that image in...

I doubt it will be THAT traumatic, but hey, it would be great to ignite a little magic...

Anyway, we will maintain... and for the here and now, 2008 will start off pretty much like 2007... but we maintain hope.

Who knows? Maybe we WILL get "Our" Old Green Bus... it's out in the universe... let's see what happens this coming year!

Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...

Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...

Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...

Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!