Last, but not least… December
Realizing how very, probably even less than ordinary my life is, I am still not sure why a year ago I committed to blogging about each of my month’s activities. I’ve always kept journals, since I was young and got my very first diary for Christmas one year, complete with a lock and key! I like to periodically go back and read through them, reminisce, laugh, and sometimes shed a tear (or ten). This, however, will be the 12th, and the last blog about 2022.
Each of the last 12 months I’ve skimmed through the month and remembered all that I’d accomplished, or fun things I’ve done, friends I’ve spent time with. Today, I’m flipping through December, and then I’m shopping for a fun new planner!
Here we go…
Got snow tires put on the Outback early in December, but still… no snow. Looked forward to Ian & Hayley coming home, but… then the snow came. No bueno. No visit. Darn. 🙁
A few routine doc visits, then a toothache, an emergent endodontist visit, and two root canal re-do’s.
I was very intentional in December about spending TIME on the way home from work with people I’d been wanting to catch up and stay in contact with. There are a lot of people in that 27-mile stretch of road between work and home! Finally got around to getting creative and planning some fun stuff!
A nice evening out to dinner with friends Jen & Wendy, followed by a Christmas concert with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Lovely!
A quiet lunch at the Mustard Seed Cafe with friend Kathy, followed by a trip to her Special Needs Farm (Ron’s Farm AC).
Landed a little writing gig for a Michigan on line, digital magazine called “The Keel,” with my first assignment this week to hopefully be published soon! Yeah!
Went Christmas caroling with too many people to count, and attempted to bring a little joy to some hurting families, followed by a house full of people for hot chocolate, and talk of lots of ideas for next year’s caroling festivities.
Christmas at Woodside Church with Rory, Holly, Lyla, Owen, Maci, Bob, Sherri, and Beema – 4 generations together that night!
Another evening with Lebanese food here at home with Jeff, Diane, & Kathy, and a last minute chicken dinner with Bert & Nancy!
Dinner on Christmas Eve was at Nancy & Tom’s house, and Christmas Day I cooked my famous “Mama Mac Meatballs” anticipating a house full for dinner on the 26th, but just like every other household I know of, everyone managed to come down with one virus or another, and both Christmas and New Year festivities were all canceled. Instead, the basement got more organized, and lots of things I’d been putting off were accomplished – two quiet three-day weekends for me. I was bummed not to see the kiddos, but it was nice also to get some peace, quiet, and rest! And as for the meatballs, they are now very frozen!
New Year’s Eve I did manage to venture out for a little while though, and visited three families I’ve kept in close contact with since my home hospice days. Dropped in for a visit with my two favorite Italians, had lunch with my friend Bess, and passed on a shot of bourbon with another until my sister will join me 😉 Looking forward to that visit! (Perhaps we can get Ruth to join us too ???)
I also decided since everyone but me was sick, I’d spend a little extra time at the jail doing visits, and had several of thee best visits I’ve ever had!!
I had a couple of things I’d been praying for for a loooooong time get answered in a very sweet (and dare I say miraculous?) kind of way. 2022’s grand finale, I guess!
I’m a stayer-in-toucher. If you’ve been in my life and made an impact on me, I’m keepin’ ya. That was my December… or, maybe it was my 2022. The year itself was full of challenges and close calls, for sure, but it was a good one overall, and I loved the way it came to a close. I have the most faithful of family and the sweetest of friends.
A quote from one of my favorite films, “Agnes Brown,” is “Ah, goin’ through life with people like you… Well, it just doesn’t get any better than this.”
Happy New Year everyone!
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