2010 - Best of the Best

As most people do during the New Year, I have reflected on the year just completed.  Two Thousand Nine had not been one of my most favorite years.  It actually was one of my worst; second only to 2003 when my father died.  Two Thousand, the year I almost died, pales in comparison to those two.  So, I am very happy to say 2010 was a pretty good year.  Let's look at the evidence:

Health of our family - Jerry and I both exercised consistently during 2010.  That made a big difference in how we felt generally.  I even walked my first race and lost some weight during the year.  Jerry's brothers and sisters-in-law had some rough patches but have come through them.  My mom had an uneventful, sweet, healthy year.  Considering we didn't think she would be with us into 2011, that is a blessing although coping with her dementia remains extremely hard.

Vacations - The highlight of our year was our helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon while on vacation in Las Vegas in February.  Fantastic!  My sister, Linda, and I took a trip to Alabama in March to visit our maternal grandparents' graves and do some ancestral research.  Linda, we really must do that again.  Over Labor Day our family rented a cabin at Center Hill Lake.  The guys played golf and the rest of us went to Burgess Falls and Cumberland Caverns.  So fun!  In December we got snowed in at a condo in Gatlinburg while celebrating Ron and Shelby's 50th wedding anniversary.  It really doesn't matter where you are or what you do.  Hanging out with the ones you love makes for the best of times.

Time with Family and Friends - Turner and Carson spent some quality time at our house during the summer.  We packed as many activities and memories into those days as possible.  We spent some happy weekends with all of them in Jonesborough.  Having them so far away is sad for me but seeing them so happy in their new home helps.  In December I spent a week with them in the snow and ice just playing Barbies and helping out.  It was wonderful to see Carla and Carson in their church Christmas play.  We have spent many a Friday or Saturday night lingering over a plate of food chatting with good friends.  That's how we spent the last few hours of 2010 -- talking, laughing and eating with old friends.

So, 2010 is history but it was good history filled with many pleasant memories that we will cherish for years to come.  Yes, the economy wasn't great and we wish we had made more money but we are rich in bunches of other things, things that money can't buy.

How thankful I am

It's been a difficult summer.  It's kind of been a difficult year actually.  But through the problems of life, there are things for which to be thankful.  My mom has a rare form of dementia called Lewy Body Dementia.  It is sort of like Alzheimer's except the person has some short-term memory and knows something is wrong.  Her reality is all mixed up with her dreams and hallucinations.  She falls often and has broken three bones in the last year.  She does know us and that is a blessing.  Her health has deteriorated at an alarming rate this year and we are well aware that our time with her is short.  I am thankful for time.

Our youngest daughter was laid off from her job last December.  Considering how talented she is, we assumed she would have another job in no time but that was not the case.  As summer came, it was apparent that she was not going to be able to pay her mortgage.  Luckily, she was able to move in with her cousin  and rent her home.  She went on numerous interviews and second interviews.  How many times can a person be the runner up?  Last Friday she got a new job.  A wonderful new job.  I am thankful for work.

Our oldest daughter and her family moved to East Tennessee in August.  For my daughter and son-in-law it was going "home" to where they grew up.  No longer having them close by has been difficult.  I realize now I took them being close for granted.  I should have spent more time with my daughter.  I should have spent more quality time with all of them.  I see my past being relived.  I see my parents making trips back and forth on I-40 to East Tennessee.  I see our young family making numerous trips to Nashville.  I know now how my mother felt then.  So, I will focus on making some memories when we are together.  I am thankful for family.

It has been a difficult year but it seems they get more difficult as the years go by.  Maybe the problems seems harder and the situations more difficult because of my age.  Maybe it is the reality that the good years are behind me instead of ahead of me.  When we sat down for our Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house, my father would have everyone say one thing for which they were thankful.  It is a nice tradition that we have continued even after his death and our mother's illness.  I think it was a way for him to be reminded of all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for even when life gets difficult.  God has blessed me in so many ways.  I really have no reason to complain.  I am thankful.