Is it too late to look back at 2022?

Serious bloggers probably put their “year-end” posts together early in December, but I haven’t posted in the last, um…many months, so we know I don’t fall into that category. Anyway, I’ve been inspired by those who have, so here’s my stab at it.

The important stuff

Big stuff that happened this year included the youngest and oldest members of the family being healthy and happy. My great-nephew David is the first baby on the farm in 30 years, and is a source of joy to all. My awesome mother-in-law Goodie turned 90, still lives alone in her own house, drives with confidence, and volunteers weekly with Altzheimer’s patients. The massive anniversary kickoff celebration my office team has worked on for 3 years came off as a huge success, with 24 events in 5 days for as many as 600 people at a time. My fur buddy gives me almost as much unwavering support as The Cutest Boy in the World. He and I weathered Covid, stomach flu and multiple bugs a summer drought and polar vortex. No injuries, and only one appliance replacement! We were blessed with visits from family and friends from across the country and the world.

Favorite outfits (that got photographed)

Travels

I squeezed in 2 trips to Florida (one with girlfriends and one to visit dear old friends) and two New England cruises – one aboard a 150-yr-old sailing schooner and the other with extended family on board a 2,000 passenger cruise ship. Sadly, both the locations of the surfboard and boardwalk photos below were totally destroyed 6 months later by the hurricane.

Lots of girlfriend time – including a slumber party, our beach week with a ride on a floating tikki bar, and the annual Real Women Camp in Tents expedition (with no rain). And we saw Elton John!

Bestie and I had a reunion in WV as well on the schooner cruise.

The joy of the everyday

I discovered a major passion, and the reason there are so few blog posts from me in warm weather – growing a cutting garden! Growing, harvesting and arranging flowers gives me unexpected joy. It gives me artistic expression through color and shapes, and the connection to nature gives me perspective.

Favorite books – A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (should be required reading for every American), The Ink Black Heart (Cormoran Strike mysteries), Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson (I miss Jackson Brodie!), Something To Hide by Elizabeth George (Inspector Lynley mysteries), all 3 of the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman (I’d like to live in these books) .

Podcasts – The Resetter with Dr. Mindy Pelz (health), As The Season Turns (rhythms of nature), Let’s Grow Girls (growing flowers).

TV & Movies – Wednesday, The Crown Season 5, All Creatures Great and Small, Downton Abbey movie #2, Julia with Sarah Lancashire, The Tender Bar, Jack Ryan (with John Krazinski), The Knick (HBO). We watch mainly PBS, Turner Classic Movies, and streaming.

And what’s the biggest thing I learned in 2022? That just because there is room in my schedule or on my calendar, it does NOT mean there is room in my head, or “bandwidth” for a project, a commitment or a task. My brain does vital work when I’m asleep, weeding a flower bed, napping on the porch or going for a walk. My potential may be limitless but my energy is not. I no longer feel guilty for guarding it. Another thing I learned is that I wear a lot of red…

So, friends – let me know in the comments – do we share tastes? Have you watched/read/heard any of these, visited any place cool, have any thoughts to share? I love heard from you. Until then, let’s hope 2023 is kinder to all of us than 2022 was.

Cheers, MK