2018 Reflections

As 2018 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect upon what the year held. Do you look back to see what lessons you learned and what changes (if any) you’d like to make and focus on for the upcoming year?

2018 was a rollercoaster. There really is no other appropriate description. From crazy health issues (nasal mass to broken bones and sprains) to amazing and wonderful travel experiences with great friends.

The beginning of 2018 was pretty mellow – Chris’s birthday dinner with friends at El Paraiso and our favorite Italian Restaurant, Lombardi’s, for Valentine’s Day. Then in April I went to Long Beach, CA with girlfriends (Donna and Karen) for a long weekend. Sun, Pineapple Sangria (yowza), fireside laughs and good food. The end of April saw Chris’s and my 4th wedding anniversary and our 6th anniversary of togetherness, with a trip to Lake Chelan (oddly enough, neither of us had ever been there).

May took me down a weird health issue path with a nasal mass. It was benign, but I had to have surgery to remove it. Even the doctor was slightly confused as to why I had it – I had suffered no trauma so no idea why I had the silly thing.

July was probably my favorite month – Alaskan Cruise for my birthday with my awesome hubby, amazing friends, Julie & Tim (NEVER having blue martinis again…) and then two days after our return, broke my leg and sprained my other ankle. Being off work for seven and a half weeks (including the vacation) gave me time to regroup, reflect and rethink some things in my life. Most people would be traumatized by not being able to walk for a bit, but I took full advantage for some mental and emotional healing.

End of October found us in Twisp celebrating Tim’s 50th Birthday – and we did it steampunk style! So fun and such a wonderful group of friends. One week later, we celebrated Julie’s birthday with a pre-showing of Bohemian Rhapsody – absolutely FANTASTIC movie.

November we celebrated Thanksgiving with Chris’s parents and his brother. We hosted, and it was a lovely, low-key day. In other words, perfect. We had already decorated outside for the holidays so that evening we lit up the yard! Candy-cane path lights, a lighted Buck, Doe and Fawn, lighted wreath and lights all over the house. We (in a small way) Griswold it.

December 5th, Chris and I took off for a long weekend to Puerto Vallarta. A MUCH needed trip to the sun, surf, food and amazing people. I’ll write a separate post on PV soon. On the 16th we celebrated Thanksmas with the larger side of my family. We started this tradition a couple years ago. If you don’t know what Thanksmas is, it combines Thanksgiving and Christmas and we pick a date somewhere between the two dates. We’ve found it makes it easier on the whole family, so they aren’t spread so thin on either holiday. Makes things so much more relaxed.  Christmas itself was low-key and pretty laid-back…again, perfect. Basically, the whole holiday season was filled with friends, family, food, laughs and love.

This brings us to today, New Year’s Eve. Chris and I will be home in our jammies with the pups watching movies and having a glass of
Rosé Champagne. This too is our perfect way.

With any luck, 2019 won’t be quite the rollercoaster for us – or you dear reader. My wish for you in 2019 and beyond, is that you take the lessons learned from 2018 and apply them, grow, love, laugh, be prosperous and enjoy life. Let go of old hurts. They don’t serve you any purpose. This isn’t to say forget, just move on. We got this. Sending you blessings for 2019 and beyond.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Chris

    Boy! After reading that I realized we were busy but looking forward to the new year
    Here we come!

    1. Cathy Wacker

      Busy for sure! And…I left out stuff!

  2. Peggy

    WOW!! Loved it. Yes it was an up and down year. I think next year is going to be interesting. Nothing bad. Maybe strange, but interesting. Your last paragraph was right on.
    Wishing everyone good things in the New Year!

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