It's been a hot minute. My last post was in 2019? I figured it's time for an update. It’s long, but I haven’t posted on here in so long that this is more for my personal memories than it is for general public commentary. Feel free to comment though – I encourage it!
Sure there were lows with this year … pandemic notwithstanding, 2020
goes down as being worse than 2017 in my book and that’s saying something for
me. There were likely other lows, but these were the ones that stood out the
most at the end of the year:
I sold the home that I thought we’d be raising a family in and
possibly stay in forever with grandkids and extended family gatherings
My mom was put on hospice care and then passed away almost 8 years
to the day that my dad passed – St. Patrick’s Day is no longer a favorite day
for me
Well, you know, the world shut down
My shadow dog (Frannie) passed away
From March through December – nearly all the races I had
registered for went virtual. Without a reason to run, I found I just didn’t
want to anymore
Less than a week after getting her driver’s license, my daughter
was in a wreck that ended up totaling my car. I wasn’t prepared for a car
payment just yet.
One of my running buddies broke her arm in a fall quite literally
right in front of me and during one of the few in-person races that happened
this year, which then made me skittish about running on trails, which I had
started to really enjoy as a way to get out in nature
We sold my parents’ house that they bought 2 ½ weeks after getting
married in 1965 and had to clear it out rather quickly. 55 years’ worth of
memories and clutter had to be cleared out in less than a month.
My reading slump took me by surprise. I just finished book number
6 for this year. Six. This is from someone who always had to read before
bedtime. And who always ALWAYS carried a book around when out and about. I’m
disgusted with myself.
But then there were highs as well … again, there were definitely
other highs but these stood out:
I unloaded a far-too-big for me house (5 beds, 5 baths for me and
two teenagers) and bought a Baby Bear house (just the right size) in a great
area of town
My mom did not have to suffer with being quarantined. I was able
to visit with her daily and was with her when she passed. With her dementia,
she might not have missed not seeing us, but she might have withdrawn even more
without the interaction. It was a blessing in disguise that she passed at the
beginning of everything.
With the stay at home order at the end of March through mid-May, I
was able to be home with the kids during their virtual schooling and got to be
there for Frannie. As it was, she passed away in my arms on the way to the vet’s
office. If I had been going to work, she would have died at home alone. Bittersweet,
but I was thankful for that time.
I signed up for more virtual races and challenges, which forced me
to get outside and run. With the smaller backyard at the new house, I’ve also
gotten into the habit of walking the dogs each night. Belle’s walk takes about
an hour (3-4 miles) and then I come back to exchange her for Spade – he can’t
go for a mile yet, but it’s good for him to get out and at least try for ½ to ¾
of a mile. A purchase of a Lighthound vest from Noxgear was a fun addition – I
can now walk the dogs in the evenings without having to rush back to the house
when the sun goes down.
No one in my immediate family has come down with the virus. I
fully expect it to happen at some point, but I will be getting the vaccine and
will make sure my kids get it as well. We’re just a matter of months away from
this and we can do this.
I joined a few book clubs, but one stood out more than the others
in that they actually mail the book to me … which doesn’t help in the matter of
having too many books, but it has encouraged me to actually read that book to
join in the discussions in the FB group. Here’s hoping that this means I’ll at
least double my completed reading in 2021 if I can read a book a month with
this group. Sure would like to read more than that so I can get rid of some of
the books stacked throughout the house.
With all the trips up to Indianapolis to help my sister and
brother with clearing out the family home, there’s no way my other car would
have made those trips – having a newer vehicle with great gas mileage was
another blessing in disguise. And my daughter has already claimed it as her own
when she goes off to college in another year. She has my sense of humor.
My son, who didn’t do well with the virtual schooling in the
spring, went off to college. Most of his classes were virtual as well, and I
feel like he was thrown into the deep end with the classes he was taking – but the
fact that he registered for 2nd semester and seems to be looking
forward to returning (even if he has to repeat a class or two from 1st
semester), makes this mama happy to see him finding his path. And my daughter
is thriving in her virtual schooling – I know I couldn’t have done it at their
age.
Credit cards are PAID OFF! I never thought I would see that happen
and sweet Baby Jesus, is it a wonderful feeling. I mean, now there’s a car
payment and a kid in college and the new house has a higher mortgage payment
than the previous one … but can we just appreciate no more freaking high
interest rates on past purchases?
Even with the pandemic and not getting out to see friends and with
my hearing, not being comfortable to participate in Zoom gatherings, I didn’t
really feel alone this year. We had small group runs with others who had been
very good at restricting who they were with or when they went out – I have so
needed these runs and the endorphins and laughter they provided.
My job has been steady – we are considered essential, and my
position is considered essential (payroll, I mean, of course!) so as long as
there were people to be paid, I had job security. I’ve been with this place for
19 years. I probably could have looked elsewhere along the way, but I like what
I do (even if I hate math) and I like the people I work with and the services we
provide to the community. Sure do wish we could have worked from home a little
longer so I could get the basement organized during my lunch breaks, etc. … but
it’s all good.
I found me again. The Elizabeth I remembered being before 1998.
And I like her quirkiness, her dorkiness, and her easy laugh. Don’t ever
change, kid.
