The biggest thing I can think of is that I am facing the month of November without feeling suicidally depressed--mostly I think because I have been carefully exercising each day out in the sunlight. Do you have any idea what a fucking accomplishment that is, compared to the past three or four years? (And for that to be my biggest accomplishment is--paradoxically--awfully depressing).

Wait until a core theme hits you before you start. I tried black humor once, and was told later by friends that all these horrible things were happening to me, and I was trying to joke about them!

Note to self: Black humor works best when people don't know you've lived it.

It seems to me that a lot of discovery and personal journeys have been made this year by the members of your family. Perhaps that can be included in your letter this year. Good luck with it!

(I have a similar problem. "Good news -- I'm writing again. Bad news...I'm really sick." They won't hear about the second half of that.)