As we have sometimes done in the past, Kate and I decided to fly down to Oakland for the weekend to meet Grandpa and Aunt Carol for the bookfair. Uncle David and Uncle Steve and Aunt Elaine were also going to be there, and Stephanie drove in for the day as well. It was fun seeing everyone and giving Kate a taste of how my childhood weekends were spent.
We made it! Thank god that year is over, and onward to better things in 2017. Here is my look back at last year and some (potential) resolutions for this year. I’ve also tweaked the questions and removed some (like celebrities, music or movies) that were never really relevant.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
Resign a job at Microsoft. See someone close go through a really painful medical issue.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year’s resolutions fell by the wayside with all the changes:
Resolutions for 2017? Yup, indeedy. I decided to do some monthly resolutions: I’ve enjoyed when I have done monthly resolutions in the past. I’ve only set the ones through July, and we will see how it goes for the rest of the year.
I think this will be an interesting mix of old and new. I have gone a month without drinking before, as well as a month of not buying anything new. April and June will be the most challenging months, March and July will be the most fun.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, other than a few Facebook friends, but no one with babies close enough to snuggle.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My mother’s first cousin, Randy. We weren’t especially close, but it hit mom hard.
5. What countries did you visit?
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Peace.
7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 8, when Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election. The Wednesday after Martin Luther King Jr day when the Dynamics team got reorged.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finding another good job and holding the family together during the aftermath of Eddy’s medical issues.
9. What was your biggest failure?
General lack of patience.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I didn’t, other than fibromyalgia aches and pains. We had a serious medical issues in the family though, and that affected everyone.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I continue to be amazed at how my kids are growing and evolving. They are really neat human beings.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled or depressed?
Donald Trump’s and all his voters.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The house. We did a ton of projects this year: the patio, more work on the garden, a new roof and solar panels!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The election and my new job.
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Sadder or happier? A bit sadder, I think. If you haven’t caught on, last year was pretty hard, and I don’t think I am quite recovered from it yet.
b) Thinner or fatter? Fatter, I think. I haven’t weighed myself in a long time but, fibromyalgia issues aside, I am really happy with how I look and feel.
c) Richer or poorer? Globally, if you look at all our debt including house debt, we are poorer. If we look at car, student loan and consumer debt though, we are definitely less poor, thanks to paying off debt.
17. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sleep. Read books in my unread book pile. Take walks with the dog. Explore different places in Seattle that we haven’t visited yet.
18. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Doctor’s appointments. Sitting alone in a windowless office not talking to anyone.
19. How did you spend the holidays?
Quietly, which was a blessing after the craziness of Thanksgiving.
20. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Nope– not any more than in 2012, 2013, 2014 or 2015!
21. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Trump voters. I can’t understand how anyone would choose him over someone eminently more qualified.
22. What did you want and get?
A new roof. Solar panels. A great job. Loving kids. Some lovely art and accessories.
23. What did you want and not get?
President Hillary Clinton.
24. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent the day at my new job, for my 42nd birthday. I got some lovely flowers and we went out for all you can eat sushi that evening.
25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Electing the first woman president. Less pain, especially the random, aleatory Fibromyalgia pain. More sleep.
26. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
I stumbled upon an interesting concept that has really helped me continue to evolve how I think about my style. On the “Matte v shiny; Flowing v structured” continuum, I am definitely matte and flowing; this is why I never end up wearing button down oxford shirts.
27. What kept you sane?
Still blessed to have everything I had last year: my kindle. My kids (without whom I’d probably be saner). A few dear friends.
28. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election in general.
29. Who did you miss?
Friends who I never get to see whether they are here or there.
30. Who was the best new person you met?
We met the Thomas family in 2015, but they really became close friends in 2016.
31. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2016?
That the path that we are on may jog from where we started, but as long as we keep travelling in the same direction it is still progress.
32. What word do you choose to describe 2017?
Onward.
And Now We Are Five 