2021 has been a lot. For the first 3.5 months of the year, I worked from home. We returned to the office and started to provide services in person in July. There have been adjustments, accomodations, and lots of anxieties. Vaccinations, boosters, and now Omicron is raging. Our world has changed, and I can't pretend that things are normal. I worry about getting sick. I worry about sickening others. My heart hurts at all of the anguish, grief, and loss this virus has wrought. Seeing how we as a society have responded to this is heartbreaking, the anger, the divisiveness, the mockery of compassion and concern for others. I am trying to be understanding, to be loving, and to meet people where they are. It isn't easy, and it is a work in progress.
2021 brought good. I discovered an immense joy in cooking with my husband. We have explored new cuisines, new recipes, and found a sliver of happiness in sharing the time cooking and the meals. My llama crew has brought joy, love, and an immense amount of support into my life. My parents are healthy. My pets are generally well (grumpy 20 year old cat included). I have stayed close to many of my friends. There were precious moments in the tearoom, now shuttered for renovations. I read a lot and discovered new authors. Podcasts kept my brain focused. Self-care and mindfulness were my guideposts. My husband was my rock, my encourager, and my balance when I went adrift. Long phone calls with a dear friend helped me stay on course and provided a space to vent. Virtual playdates, virtual book club. It all helped. Exploring new cocktails. Enjoying so much Food Network with the husband. QQ!!! Many thanks to Alton & Elizabeth for those moments of shared relief from the world. Scabigail makes my heart happy. I wrote a few poems (not many) and am pondering sharing them here. Let me know if anyone is interested.
There has been pain with the passing of a dear friend from cancer. It still doesn't feel real at times. I am so grateful for the gift of his friendship in my life. His impact runs deep in my soul. My heart hurt with the ending of the relationship of two dear friends, and I'm still coping with a rift in a family dear to me. I miss Saturdays at the game store, but it genuinely doesn't feel safe, especially now.
I love the people in my life intensely, and I am thankful for the love, support, and presence. I wish happiness, love, and peace to you all. I will close with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman. A dear friend shares the quote every year, and it resonates with my soul.
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