January started badly.. I spent all of New Year's day driving to and from Pullman WA, because my daughter just couldn't spend another MINUTE in a house full of people who loved her.. It's about 5 hours there, and 5 more back.. and it was miserably uncomfortable all the way there..not a lot of pleasant conversation. The snow and ice had been piling up over the mountain passes and I was exhausted, and suggested I just sleep on the kids dorm room floor and leave in the morning.. she was horrified at the idea.. so with no money for a hotel.. I was on the road again.. only to be called BACK because she'd left her phone and her FISH in my car. Fortunately I was only about 40 minutes out.. so I went BACK to Pullman. Needless to say, the trip home was harrowing, and roads closed shortly after I got over the pass..and finally crawled, exhausted, into my bed around 2 am. January 2 was the day I decided I wasn't doing a big Christmas anymore.. at least not until there were grandbabies!
January brought the death of my sweet husbear's father.. He'd been fighting COPD for many years and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer just a couple of months earlier.. decided to start chemo AFTER Christmas, but his poor body was just too worn out from the fight all these years and succumbed to his cancer on Jan 19th.
We took a trip down to Stockton/Tracy CA for his memorial service. On the bright side, I finally got to meet my brother's in law, Justin and Tyler, and other members of Michael's dad's family.. Michael was also pleased to see some family that he was afraid he'd lost touch with forever! I also got to meet my brother in law Robert ( who I doubted really existed lol) who's Michael's sister Carries husband.. we bonded over being recovering Catholics.. Michael has had a tough year.. like many of us after we lose a parent, he feels a bit 'cut adrift'.. as his dad was certainly his anchor.
In February, we made a second trip down, to go through his dad's house.. it was bittersweet, watching M and his sibs go through their dad's things, divvying up the things that had monetary or simply sentimental value to each of them. We are pleased to have some of his things in our household now.. I think it's nice for M to see them every day. He had wonderfully good taste.
That trip was the trip to actually bury his dad's remains.. there was a small graveside service with just family... each kid shared wonderful memories of their dad, and I appreciated Justin and Tyler's mother Sheri, shared some of her fond memories of her former husband as well.
This helped ME to get to know him more, as I'd never gotten the pleasure of meeting my father in law.
Throughout the year, several friends have lost parents and family members.. some rather dramatically, and have had family members or THEMSELVES hospitalized, sometimes multiple times.. Many have lost jobs in this shitty economy, many have lost vehicles, and worse, their homes because of it. It's been difficult yet truly inspiring watching people's warrior spirits come out this year! ( it has been the year of the TIGER in Chinese Astrology.. thank goodness) Times like these really bring out the best and WORST in people, But I've certainly seen people pull together, and GIVE, even when they only had a little bit themselves..
I have only worked one shift at the stadium this year, and made just a couple of bucks.. yikes! the job search has been fruitless, in spite of some excellent interviews..
But after the first of the year, I'm jumping feet first into the job search, as one of my goal for 2011 is to pay on my student loan, as after 11 straight months of paying it, it comes out of default and drops off my credit.. I'm also planning on paying the 'little' things off that are damaging my credit, with the goal of a kick ass credit score.. why? we're thinking 2012 is the year we buy a house. Why?.. I'm sick of people telling me that I can't have a dog... or BIRDhouses/baths.. or what color I can or can't paint my walls.. those tiny things that make you happy.. I do enjoy renting for some reasons.. like if the water heater breaks or the fridge dies! lol but I want a dog.. period.
There were some great highs this year too.. I celebrated my third year of marriage to the best guy I know..he's not perfect.. but I adore him... Marriage is a challenge for sure.. I wish we COULD just live on love.. things would be so blissful wouldn't they? but fortunately, he is quite strong, in the areas that I am weak, and vice versa. He makes me laugh and smile daily.. which is important, he tries harder than anyone I know, and it seems like his only goal in life is to make me happy. I love him so. He's Charming, talented, funny as SHIT, and smarter than anyone I've ever met.. I couldn't possibly do without him.
My son is home.. not sure if this is ideal or NOT.. I do love having him near..always have.. he moved out with the intention of getting a job and going to school, none of which materialized.. he'd been collecting unemployment until they said.. "nope, you're done".. at which point I offered him my spare room IF he got that job and got registered for school.. he had a job within a couple of weeks ( and does feel good about working again!) and started the financial aid process.. and he begins classes January 3rd and is really excited about it.. I'm just pleased as punch.. as I was beginning to worry that he'd NEVER actually do it!..
So he's home... and we miss our spare bedroom.. which was My sanctuary during the day, and M's in the evenings.. personally I miss my beautiful BATHROOM the most. I used to go in and take long luxurious baths... and it was ALWAYS clean.. I loved my little makeshift spa hideaway!.. I just keep telling myself.. it's only temporary.. it's only temporary!
I did get to meet a couple of my favorite celebrities this year too! In July I had the opportunity to meet Dave Meniketti from Yand T. I'd met him once before in Petaluma, where he signed my right shoulder.. I went home and had it tattoo'd on.. this time I actually got a chance to chat and show him the tat. He was tickled and I got a great pic with him.
I also had the chance to say hello and have a pic with Laurel K. Hamilton, who writes the Anita Blake series.. Love her stuff and she was in town promoting her new book 'Bullet'. It was interesting to hear her answer everyones questions about her characters and her writing process..
I got to see some great friends this year... Sephy was in town, however briefly.. and spent a couple of days with me when not at his yearly retreat. We caught up, ate a lOT because that's what we DO together, and he and Michael had some more time to bond this year as well.. We worked on each others dreads and stayed up late.. ok I didn't.. but the boys did!
I also got reunited with a dear friend from my college days.. Shari and her former husband Scott had been my employers back in the day, and Shari's sister happens to live up here.. they had some plans but Shari and I managed to squeeze in a few hours to catch up.. It was so nice to see her beautiful face!
We didn't do a lot of traveling this year.. as we've been saving it all up for our Christmas vacation in Las Vegas! At this writing, we have 5 days and a wake up before we leave! For many years, as the stress of Christmas has gotten me down, I've said that we should ( even when I had smaller kids) go to vegas for Xmas.. My fantasy for Christmas day, is to get up, go to a huge buffet, come back, hang out at the pool..floating around with a martini in one hand and a cigar in the other... that's my ideal Christmas day.. so we're finally going to do it!.. Jamison and his beautiful Amanda were going to join us.. but feared that the money wouldn't be there so they backed out.. and Layne had no desire to do Vegas.. I say THEIR LOSS!!
We aren't going to have a lot of funds either.. but we're going anyway!.. I have a few friends that live there ( or will be visiting during Christmas), as do Michael and Amy.. so part of the fun will be playing catch up with all of them! I look so forward to spending time with two people that I love most in the world, my best friend and my husbear!
So yeah. some Highs and lots of lows this year. I really am hoping that all our parents stay healthy, as well as all our friends, and if this can't happen, I hope that we will always have each other to lean on.. I so love all my friends, and finding so many of them on FB has truly been a blessing. FB has helped me find some family members, and lots of old friends that I feared might be lost forever.. and they help me cope with all the daily crap..they listen to me bitch about housework and praise my cake decorating! lol y'all make me feel special and I love you!
So here's hoping 2011, and the year of the Rabbit, will be productive and positive for all of us..
Good Yule! Merry Christmas, and a Happy Happy New year everyone!
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