22nd Year: A Year in Review
– Got my passport! Now, I just need an adventure.
– Fulfilled my Life-Long Dream of Becoming a Crazy Chicken Lady, Chicken Momma. You can imagine the looks I receive when I inform people that my college graduation gift was chickens! I wouldn’t trade my quirky flock of Garden Thieves, Escape Artists, and Yard Clean-up Servicers for anything.
– Got my first job! This gets a triple “yippee!”
– Fed my Broadway-Addiction with Beauty & the Beast National Broadway tour for the second time. When you mix one of your nearest and dearest friends from high school with a mutual passion – musical theater – the only product is pure happiness.
– Found my Blog Tribe. The part of blogging I have always loved most is finding soul sisters all around the country. I am so happy to have found an amazing, support-and-lift-each-other-up, Warrior Queen-filled blog sisterhood. Collectively, we helped one of our sisters, Pam, from Hodge Podge Moments bring her creative vision, Project Build Happiness, to fruition.
– Locked my keys in my car and finally had to use AAA for the first time. Is this what adulting feels like?
– Otis D. Bones came to visit. He’s one hip skeleton who loves the month of October and going on adventures!
– Passed Organic Chemistry I. Many pencils, packs up loose-leaf paper, whiteboard markers, highlighters, and post-it markers met their demise as a result of this feat, but despite the tears and the occasional desire to throw my textbook in the river and dance as it washed away, it all worked out! Which means that I….
– Graduated with my B.S. in Health Sciences in a double minor in Holistic & Integrative Health and Biology. This one also gets a triply “yippee!” and a happy dance.
– Got the privilege of watching my oldest nephew graduate high school! How many aunts can say they and their nephew graduated in the same year?
– Received my Official Maine Master Gardener Volunteer Certification and then participated in the Maine Harvest for Hunger program, volunteering with my fellow Master Gardeners at local farms, gleaning produce for local food pantries and shelters. There is no better way to start a day than a cool morning in the field, up to your arms in dirt and vegetables, and knowing you are doing good. Forget coffee. I call it an “instant shot of happy.”
– I can finally touch my toes! Okay, so, maybe that is a bit random for you. Given my health struggles over the years, my muscles have been notoriously tight. When I tried to bend at the waist, I could barely reach mid-shin. After starting a daily morning yoga practice this past year and walking 3x a week, I can finally bend and touch my toes!
– Took a yoga class IRL with a dear friend. I can’t wait to do it again!
– Visited my first graduate school (the first of many). More Adulting. Cue the Imperial March, because life just got real.
– Was a contestant coach for Alpha Xi Delta’s Autism Speaks Xi Man fundraiser at my (now) alma mater. It was an amaXing experience!
– Joined the Ugly Christmas Sweaters Squad. After years of searching, I finally got my hands on some Christmas-themed sweaters. I cannot tell you how much joy it brings to run around the month of December with a red sweater featuring a reindeer’s head, red pompom nose, and bells on its antlers. It is even better when you match (on purpose) with your Maltese.
– Played Tourist in my Own State. After years of wanting to, I finally went for some walks on the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm trails, visited the Saco Heath, saw part of Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude, wandered the town I work in with friends and with family, and went mini-golfing three times (that never happens!).
– Took entire advantage of fall. My parents and I went apple picking for the first time in years, which led to making my first butterscotch pie and my first ever apple pie with homemade crusts. I devoured warmed apple cider with cinnamon sticks daily. (Sorry, pumpkin spice, but you can’t hold a cake to Apple Spice.) I took photos of fall foliage. On some cool, crisp nights we took advantage of the season and had bonfires. The Fall Baby in me was ecstatic!
– In a Galaxy Far, Far Away… I saw Star Wars: Episode VIII with the man who unknowingly made a Star Wars fanatic the moment he sat me down to watch the series, so he could have someone to watch Episode I and II with. From that moment, it was down the wormhole for me, with paper-towel roll lightsaber battles and yearly marathons.
– Got my light-up-the-world Little and Rosebuds in AXiD. I love them all so much.
– Fulfilled my Lifelong Dream of Owning Greenhouses (and Created the “Little Garden That Could”). They might be “pop up” greenhouses made of plastic, not large and winter-ready, but I couldn’t be happier. They grew beautiful transplants! In the past year, my Little Garden that Could has grown my first ever crop of Brussels Sprouts, corn, bunches of squash, pumpkins, eggplant, kale, assorted chards, lettuce, and more! My green thumb is rejoicing!
– Succumbed to my inner Bio Nerd… and saw Body Worlds!
– Binge-watched all 6 seasons of Numb3rs with absolutely no regrets. The next on my list is Murder, She Wrote.
– Started my own business… and mentored two amazing people through their Reiki I class. (My first “students!”)
– Saw the Harvest Full Moon at the beach. The salty air, bright moon, and roaring surf were pure bliss.
What is your Birthday-to-Birthday year in review list ?
xoxo,
