Going through my photos from 2018 has reminded me of how many good moments we had throughout the year, and how much I have to be grateful for.
The year kicked off in a dark place with Mom’s cancer diagnosis, but after chemo, surgery and radiation (and now oral chemo), we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The experience, plus some other incidents this year, taught me that no matter how much you may try, you’re never really in control of your destiny. An illness or an accident can so quickly end or derail whatever you’ve got going on. Worrying about that happening doesn’t do any good either – you just have to swing at the curveballs life throws at you and hope for the best.
This year I got out and did some exciting things – I marched in marches, and I ran in 5k’s. I learned how to cut glass, make a slumped glass vase, make fused glass ornaments and I am currently working on my second stained glass piece. I travelled to Vermont lots of times to visit Mom, Indianapolis for a work trip, Maine for a family get-together, and the grand finale of course, was our impromptu trip to Costa Rica!
So, despite whatever bad things happened in 2018, they were far outweighed by good things and positive experiences. I’m sure 2019 will be the same – while you might not be able to control your destiny, you can certainly control your attitude along the way.
Here’s to a fantastic, healthy and happy 2019!
January 2018 – Hartford Women’s March
February 2018 – Zentangle Retreat
March 2018 – Hanging with Mom after chemo
March 2018 – Watercolor Zen
March 2018 – Winter on Lake Champlain
March 2018 – 4 weeks on WW and 5 lbs lost!
March 2018 – Hartford March for Our Lives
March 2018 – Hiking in Roxbury, CT
March 2018 – We learn how to make our bodies less hospitable to cancer
April 2018 – 10 lbs lost on WW!
April 2018 – 5K # 1 – The ACS Fun Run in Indianapolis
April 2018 – The cats still hate each other
May 2018 – 5K # 2 – The CT Breast Health Run in New Britain, CT
May 2018 – I get new glasses!
May 2018 – Tornado strikes near us! (While I was trying on my new glasses…)
May 2018 – We start a raised bed
June 2018 – I’m the life of the party at work
June 2018 – Sunset on Lake Champlain
June 2018 – Road Trippin’ with Kris
July 2018 – DC trip
August 2018 – Autumn encounters a watermelon
August 2018 – Enjoying the fruits (veggies?) of our labor
September 2018 – Truckin’ in Maine
September 2018 – Visiting mom after her mastectomy and building cairns on the shore.
September 2018 – I try my hand at glass cutting!
September 2018 – the results of my labor
October 2018 – 5K #3, Wallingford CT (I stopped running the minute I crossed the finish line! haha)
October 2018 – Hartford Habitat for Humanity 30 Year Anniversary Dinner
October 2018 – Dad and I make stained glass leaves!
October 2018 – I make a fused glass wind chime (and struggle to photograph it decently)
November 2018 – Dave and I go to Costa Rica again!
November 2018 – Wherever we wander, it’s always good to come home.
December 2018 – I make fused glass ornaments for the fam!
December 2018 – Christmas with the bros
December 2018 – I try a larger stained glass piece…
