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My Last Post I've had 60 posts since I started fretting over (hubby) Don's, open heart surgery. I'm no longer needing to vent about the ups and downs of these past few months. But on this last day of posting... on this first day of the year... what are my thoughts? New Year's Day 2022 New Year's Day can be depressing, if you drank too much the night before... or if your post-holiday-blues start to kick in... or if weather is gray.  But there was nothing depressing about this New Year's morning, in Oregon. We had this happy face to greet us. We had a cozy house, with the Rose Bowl Parade on TV and sun was pouring in the windows. Best of all, 2021 was over... this blog is over, too. Less than Perfect Fortunes We forgot to do resolutions last night, so this morning we cracked open some left over fortune cookies. I was ready to read something hopeful or fun.  That was not a bit fun. Our fortunes were all lousy. (they usually are) Mine was the worst. New Year's Eve Yesterday was our last day in Portland. The sun came out and we did some stroller walking. The chilly air felt refreshing. I lived in every moment.
I tried not to think about how hard it would be to head back to TX the next day. Now and then I slipped up and wondered, How can Don and I really put way over 2,000 miles, between ourselves and this grand baby? Celebrating Last Night But New Year's Eve was nice and cozy. At 7 pm Charlie started to head upstairs with her Mommy. We kissed her goodnight. "See you next year!" Heidi was down before long, making us Hotel Nacional cocktails. She also made up a little prediction "activity". What a busy mama and host.
We listed and discussed our 2022 predictions, as they related to 13 categories! Some were actually pretty amusing and others seemed quite possible. In a year, we'll see if any of us predicted well. Filets Then it was time to feast. Don gave some lessons on cooking filet mignon. We needed to end the year right.  We sat and feasted and I laughed to myself about something I never predicted a year ago. I wouldn't have guessed that Heidi and Jamie would stop being vegetarians, after so many years. There are so many things that I never guessed about 2021. Today So today we said goodbye. It seemed extra hard, just like our goodbye to Scott and Chali a couple days ago. This has been a special Christmas, at the end of a strange and often frustrating year.  But the drive was pretty and it felt so very different than our stressed drive heading west, over a week ago. Oh how rushed and worried we'd felt as we frantically packed up Christmas, for a spontaneous trip to Oregon. On the road we stressed more. What did we forget to pack? Would we be able to dodge winter storms? We drove 10-12 hour days, eating PB & Js to save time. Today, our drive offered lovely scenery and we stopped for lunch at my sister and sister-in-law's. Ready for a New Year So, this is the photo that Jennifer took of Don and me today, on the first day of 2022. I think we look relaxed and ready for the new year.  I decided today to end this stupid complaining blog. Don is mostly mended from heart surgery. His broken back is still healing. My cancer seems to be far in the past. And the pandemic... well it's not over, but I'm tired of complaining. The Good of 2021 It was a total year of Covid worries, with Don's additional heart and back issues, thrown in. But we really did accomplish a lot in 2021. Most of all, we managed some safe family gatherings and never got sick.  In June we had a good visit with my dad and many of my Springfield relatives. More Relatives In March and August, we had more outdoor gatherings with family.  In both California and Oregon, we had perfect weather for meeting up with our youngest relatives. Our great nephews and their families! Sibs in Nola And I'm still shaking my head that we pulled off a gathering with my sibs and spouses (and nephew!) in New Orleans for Thanksgiving.  The logistics of holiday travel from numerous states, is always tricky. But somehow we navigated safely, despite covid worries and Don's limitations from heart surgery. It was a wonderful gathering! The "Kids" in 2021 Despite the distance, we saw lots of our own kids in the past year. We were in Portland, when Baby Charlie was born in February. We spent more time together in the summer.
We had visits with Scott and Chali in Sacramento, in January, March and July. All 7! But best of all, I got my wish. We all had Christmas together, in 2021!  I predict things will get better with the pandemic, before too long. And I predict little Charlie will get vaccinated, this year. I predict more reunions! We have a couple important relatives and numerous friends that we missed this year.
I say let's call this blog quits! At least for now.
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Not-So-Happy List
Cancer, Covid & Coronary... I started this complaining list/blog, in May 2016. I posted 200 gripes about my breast CANCER and then I was done. On March 13, 2020, I started venting all over again, when another disease (starting with a C) interfered with my life. This time it was the invasion of COVID and it affected every person. I ranted for a year, until I got my COVID vaccine in March 2021. CORONARY Artery Disease was the reason I restarted this blog on September 26, 2021. This time it was my hubby Don, who was dealing with a worry that started with the letter "C". Coronavirus and Cancer, Coronary Artery Disease! All are evil, but none can totally get me down... if I vent! I usually end up feeling a little more positive at the end of each post! Navigating This Mess! The most recent post is at the top, from coronary posts in 2022, back to cancer posts in 2016. To find past posts, look below the "Archives" section, to find "Categories". Archives
January 2022
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