Thursday, December 31, 2009

Goodbye to 2009

I've had the house to myself this morning - no husband and no grandsons - so I've been reflecting on this past year. The television takes care of the national news reflection for me - Octomom, Balloon Boy, First Black President Takes Oath, National Health Care Battle, Michael Jackson Dies, Teddy Kennedy Dies, Plane Lands on Hudson, etc. But, for my own reflections, I have to turn to my calendar, on which I try to post most of the important stuff, and the photographs that are a sure fire reminder. Without them, I'm not sure I'd remember anything but the normal day to day, and there's a lot of that! I call it "same old, same old", because every day is pretty much the same.

January : *It began with a sigh of relief because our bankruptcy had been discharged on Dec. 31. *David's mother died of old age and alzheimers, and we went to Colorado for her funeral and a family reunion of sorts. This is where we moved from in 1988 (and wonder to this day why), so it's always bittersweet when we visit...and then have to leave again and return to Georgia. *Started my Facebook account. *David and our son-in-law entered a new venture together, a franchise where David works in conjunction with moving and insurance companies on damage claims, repairing furniture and whatever else he can. After 35 years of being in construction, David's body has gone into old age mode, so this was something that was still in his line of work (anything to do with wood), but not so hard on his knees and back.

February: *Bought my first digital camera, finally. *Started babysitting at a church nursery for a Mom's Group twice a month, which bored me to tears but was $50 each, and I got some great photos on the way to and from for my 'Wednesday's Wander to the Wayside'! *Garrett turned six. *Did an airedale transport. *Published my first blog post on the 25th, with absolutely no clue as to what I was doing or what lay ahead!

March: crickets chirping

April: *Had a pair of bluebirds nesting right out the front door, and found one beautiful little egg on the 26th. *Conner had his tonsils out, a routine procedure, but the waiting made me so nervous!

May: *Found a tiny naked baby bird out front in the bluebird house! *Snake ate our baby bluebird . *Adopted eight month old Oliver, a long haired chihuahua, on the 23rd from a rescue group ($250 that I had saved from house cleaning and babysitting, + $150 for the first vet visit. Ouch!)

June: *Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga. *First Father's Day without my Dad. *Had a wake-up call in regard to my flash temper in a confrontation with Garrett.

July: *Daughter turned 35.

August: crickets chirping. Oh wait, we went to the Chattanooga Nature Park and did our first canoe trip with the boys!

September: Conner turned four.

October: Alice and Doug (sister-in-law and her husband) visit from Colorado for a week - easily the highlight of my year, even though we mostly just hung out around the house - oh, and did go to the Grand Ole Opry Museum in Nashville.November: Last bankruptcy attorney payment and last truck payment. Woohoo! Unfortunately not extra money in the pocket, but money to put toward taxes.

December: Talked to brother Lawrence (Yes, that's right. I actually called him and had a nice conversation.)

Like I said, a lot of 'same old, same old'! And I'm very grateful for that, because it means that we didn't have any traumas or dramas in 2009 (except for Nita dying), and having no medical issues was especially nice since we don't have insurance. I'm very fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time with the grandsons and my daughter, so that's something I'm really really grateful for. I guess the worst part of the whole year, like with most people, was that we're in financial turmoil. Some months barely surviving, but we're still standing.

I don't usually make new year resolutions, so let me just say that there are a few things that I want to do this next year, that I want to give more attention to:

(1) I want to clean out my tiny laundry room that has somehow become a pantry/storage/laundry room that I can barely get into. I have to stand on a stool or a cooler to be tall enough to see the settings on the dryer behind the clutter piled on top. There are pesticides and paints stored right next to crackers and cereal. Need I say more? The problem is that we also have a very small kitchen, so to pull everything out of the laundry room means also having to clear all the clutter out of the kitchen into the small living room, which means...well, you get the idea. If I would just take that first step toward getting it done.

(2) I want to start walking my dogs more. I started out with good intentions with Oliver, walking him and Charity together, then walking Eva Jean and Oliver. Then we had some dogs that were off leash that made walking stressful, so I got out of the habit. I need to start walking them again because it's so good for them, and because I need the exercise to help get rid of that roll that has developed around my waist.

(3) I want to work on having a stable pack. Eva Jean, Charity, and Oliver individually are the best dogs in the world, but together are totally dysfunctional (except for Oliver and Charity together). The first unstable pack we have had in 35+ years of being pet owners, so it's something we were totally unprepared for when it started four years ago, and have not taken the initiative to fix, have not stepped up to the plate to be strong pack leaders.

(4) I've been so grateful for having found my inner voice on my blog, (the voice that seems to disappear when in a social setting), and for having found so many other blogs and bloggers. I can spend hours reading what everyone has to say! And that's the problem. So, I want to spend less time at the computer and more time living my life, no matter how ho hum it might be! Just like with Garrett and his computer video games and tv cartoons, I need to set limits for myself on how long I can sit here at the computer.

(5) I'm sixty-one years old. That hour glass/clock is ticking! Yes, I may have another twenty years yet to live and try to get it right, or I may drop from a stroke tomorrow. I feel that I should want to live more consciously. I don't mean that in a spiritual way, but in a 'get the hell off your ass and get out there' way. Seriously. I am so much of a homebody and nester that I rarely leave the house except to the store or Melody's, or go somewhere with the boys, or to clean someone's house or pet sit. I don't have a passion to follow up on. But I need to figure out how to get myself out of the house. Maybe volunteering at the animal shelter. Maybe getting a job. Who knows what might be out there for me. Something. Something to enrich my life, something to enrich my soul, something to contribute to the community I live in, something to make my husband, daughter and grandsons proud of me, to make myself proud of me? (Why did tears jump to my eyes when I wrote that sentence?) Problem is, I'm perfectly happy being just a homebody and a nester, a wife, mother, and mawmaw. This isn't the first time I've talked about this issue, and I'm sure it won't be the last!

No matter what happens, I'm going to continue to wander around my wayside, and I hope you will continue to join me when you can.

Wishing you and yours a safe New Year's Eve, and absolutely a healthy and happy 2010 that is enriched by the love of family and the comfort of friends.

21 comments:

glnroz said...

well heck,, you did a lot this year. I look forward to what you have to say this coming year. As far me, I just look forward... lol,,Happy New Year,,,Glenn

Bernie said...

Happy New Year sweetie and may 2010 only hold love, happiness and health for you and those you love.
I have so enjoyed getting to know you in 2009 and look forward to blogging together in 2010. You are a special lady.....:-) Hugs

Missy B. said...

I hope that you and your family have a happy and safe New Year. I have enjoyed getting to know you and reading your wonderful posts. Happy New Year, my sweet friend!

Ginger said...

I hope you have a nice New Year's Eve and an even better 2010. I am seeing the New Year in with a cold...same thing I did last year.

Jeanie said...

So much in this post to comment on, but I'm going to focus on your #5 "want to". We are about the same age and I share your desire for a "passion" to follow up on. But, maybe your passion is being a homebody and a nester. Your other "want tos" seem to point in that direction. Your home, your dogs, your family, your time on the computer all seem to bring you great satisfaction. I suppose we may never reach an age when we quit questioning the direction of our life.

ethelmaepotter! said...

This is the best resolution list I've ever seen, and I hear ya on the whole "limit the computer time" thing.
Also, after hearing multiple media tributes yesterday to 2009, your list of your own year was quite refreshing. I particularly enjoyed crickets chirping! What I'd give for a month with nothing more than that!
Happy New Year, sweetie!

Rosaria Williams said...

You just took inventory, and cleared the list making. You're on your way. Best of 2010.

Lorna said...

Your year was full of some really good stuff. I love your spiritual goal, and other than getting the next twenty years 'right' (cuz I really think you've done a good job already) I love your resolutions, from one hermit to another, lol. Peace!

Carol............. said...

What a fun trip sharing your year!

Anonymous said...

Hey, NO WHERE in your 2009 recap was it mentioned that you met ME!

I take offense at that!

MY New Year's Resolution is to stop letting people dismiss me so easily!

My Aimless Infatuation said...

Have a Great New Year! #5...thats me too.

Donna B. said...

I found you while visiting Midlife Jobhunter...I liked the way you spilled out the highlights from your year. I am in the process of filling in a new calendar for 2010..we have a several things in common. My blog is mostly about our journey with my Dad and his Alzheimer's. We also rescued a dog, my first in over 25 years...so I need a lot of help and have been glued to my DVR watching Dog Whisperer episodes...
I spent two hours walking her around before I adopted her...she really is a good dog, but clearly is afraid of men. My husband feels like the movie, FIFTY FIRST DATES when he has to leave and work all day...I think I would like to follow you and continue the visits...Happy New Year

Unknown said...

I like #5 in that it is a good reminder of the importance of interacting with others face to face. The internet has, at once, brought us closer together, and isolated us.

Wine and Words said...

Hey you. Sorry, I am responding to your comment over at my place about the first visits with dad. Our earliest times were not as comfortable. His art was impossible to understand at the time, very abstract and nothing I was attracted to. I could not see. He was eccentric and whole world spiritual and I was a sheltered little Christian with perfection as a goal. I fell off my own pedastle pretty darn quick and Pops art changed and I was able to appreciate the man and the work! It was not, is not, as easy as it is with my mom. Actually I recently allowed Pops to tune in to my blog right after "In The Twirl". I think it gave him a new appreciation for me. He said he never knew I was so deep, or so dark. My blog side is so different from what I am able to present to the world. He saw me as very quiet and rather lacking in opinion (HA! Can you imagine?). So we are in process. Aren't we all.

XXOO - Annie

Midlife Roadtripper said...

You certainly have enriched my life this year. I can't believe I'm just getting around to reading this post. Hmmmm. So sorry about that. I haven't abandoned you.

Meantime, I love #4 about finding your inner voice. How incredible is that? There is the power of writing - that putting thoughts onto a page can help us figure out our lives. Or at least make us aware of what we are thinking.

My best to you this year. Be most proud of yourself!

Wendy said...

I love this. Doing the month by month thing. I don't think I'd be as successful as you at remembering it all, though.

Especially, congratulations on getting the truck and lawyer paid off! That's got to feel great.

And this last week I've started walking with some moms in the neighborhood to get rid of my tummy roll. (All of them have dogs that walk off leash, so I know what you mean about it being stressful.) If you do start walking, there's a free website called Map My Run (mapmyrun.com) where you can log in and keep track of your routes (make sure they're kept private) and calculate how far you've walked. I walked over 12 miles last week, which is kind of cool to know.

Anyway, hope you have had a very good New Years.

Love you.

Fragrant Liar said...

I'm with you on the "get the hell off your ass and get out there" way. It takes digging up the energy from my toes sometimes!

Sounds like you had a pretty good year, all in all, and best wishes for a fabulous 2010 with all the crapola behind you.

Bernie said...

Hi Linda, just popped in as you haven't posted lately and I am concerned you may not be feeling well......Thinking of you...Hugs

whitewitch said...

It seems that you've had a fulfilling 2009 with realizations along the way. But I found it hilarious that you posted "crickets chirping" for March.

Michele R said...

Tell me about the snow in your neck of the words from a week ago today.
Hope all is well.

Girl Tornado said...

Linda, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods since you haven't posted since the 31st? I see you just commented on my blog, so hopefully that's a good sign that you're fine - perhaps experiencing a lil blog burn-out? We all do from time to time.

Anyway, I love your synopsis of 2009. Especially happiness in finding your inner voice on your blog, and your desire to want to live more consciously. However, I will say that since I moved to KS I have become more of a homebody, and I make no apologies for that. My life has always been spent on the run in the city, busy, busy, busy with work and meeting friends and family ALL.THE.TIME. It was fun, but I love this change in my life. I have my hands into so many things here at home that I find I just do not have enough hours in the day to do all I want to do!

So, I think that no apologies are needed if you enjoy being a homebody - doesn't that enrich your soul tons??! It does mine. :-)