The Good Things

Dear 2016 ~

I am guessing you have been hearing from A LOT of people all year long.  I'm also guessing that most, if not all of it, has been complaints, accusations, and even some threats.  I'll admit that there have been times when I've thought you were overdoing it.  And I don't want to be a Pollyanna (which trust me, no one has EVER accused me of being), but I also want you to know that there's at least one person who knows that just like any other year, you were not all bad.

Everyone seems to want you gone.  Which is understandable, because even in the best of times, people like to think and hope the future will be better.  And it doesn't improve anything to live in the past.  But at the same time, I always wish that people would not wish time away.  Because time never ever comes back.  Even on my darkest days, I'm aware of that.  Maybe your time here has to be threatened for you to appreciate it (for my part, I think I've learned this many times over, so you could actually give it a rest, at least for a while); I don't know.  I just know that life is way too short, whether you live to be 2 years old or 102 years old, and though it can be difficult, if you can remember to try to at least acknowledge and maybe even appreciate, the here and now, you'll be better off in the long run.  I think it avoids the coulda/shoulda/wish-I'd-done-feeling when it comes to the end.

Anyway, I would like to point out the good things from this year, so that both of us can know they actually happened.

1. I celebrated my 60th birthday!  I love birthdays and love being here to celebrate them.  When I turned 60, I was well aware of the fact that I had been here on earth for seven years longer than my father had.

2.  For the first six months of the year, our Dug the Doodle Dog was with us - and for at least the first four months, he was his usual, happy self.  I will ALWAYS be grateful for this.  He meant so much to every single one of us, and even during the last couple of months, when he wasn't feeling 100%, he was such a wonderful boy.  We are glad that he didn't suffer, and that he is no longer sick at all.  We would love to still have him here, but not if  he had to be sick.  Thank you for every minute of 2016 we had to spend with him.

3.  We had some great weekends in Rehoboth Beach with family.  This was not just a treat, but some of the best times we had the entire year.  To be there, having such fun, and laughing so much, should be something that would make any year a good one, no matter what else happened.

4.  Our September trip to New England was not only amazing, but helped us feel some genuine happiness at the chance to go new places, and see new things.  Every part of it was perfect - it was nice that even when it rained, it was only overnight!

5.  And then at the beginning of October, the arrival of Jack the Kitten!  His sweetness, craziness, and plain old kitten-ness is just the kind of thing we needed.  The other kitties decided he was OK, and he just carved out his own little spot in the family.  Even with all of his, er, "activities," we couldn't love him more.  And frankly, he seems pretty pleased with us. ;-)

6.  The Tim turned 60, and we had a fabulous weekend with family in Baltimore to celebrate.  Both of us are still here, with no plans to go anywhere else.  We had a blast in Baltimore, and the surprise party for The Tim was definitely a highlight of this year.  I have to tell you, 2016, I wasn't really worried that The Tim wouldn't be here for the Big 6-0, but I am eternally grateful that he was and is.  I would be lost without him.

7.  The success of my Harry's Hundred Project!  I wasn't sure how/if it would work at all - especially since I was so busy with Christmas gifts most of the year, that I only managed to knit a few things for my part in it.  But by the end of November, we'd surpassed the goal, and I know there are some additions for December as well.

8.  The Holidays.  OK, we are - at least in our house - still celebrating the end-of-year holidays, but we've had a good holiday season this year, and made sure to enjoy everything we could about it.

9.  Our extended families are well and happy.  Invaluable.

10. Our immediate family is well and happy.  Though as I write this post, I'm dealing with a particularly obnoxious cold, we are - all of us - doing just fine.  I am hoping that will continue, and one of my goals for 2017 is to get the cats back on track with their regular vet visits (we got distracted this past year, as I'm sure you understand).  I plan to do my best to improve my health, and I'm guessing The Tim wants to get back on track too.

So there are ten things, 2016, that happened this year that are good things, happy things, and wonderful memories.  I want you to know that they mattered to me, and that I have every plan of enjoying the last couple of days you are with us.  I hope that 2017 will also give me a lot to celebrate (in spite of the ascendancy of The Orange One), but I'll only be able to know that by living it.

Thanks for every minute of the good.  If you have any influence at all, please put in a good word for us to 2017.

Best regards,
Bridget

A Sincere Thank You and Q&A

Hello all - well, here we are a week later.  Before anything else, I want to say the most sincere Thank You that I can to everyone for their comments, prayers, thoughts, sympathy, and support after my post about Dug.  It made such a difference to me, and I know that Dug is pleased to think so many people thought to comment.  I tried to respond to each comment, but fairly often I can't see the e-mail addresses of commenters, and so cannot respond to some people individually.  So if you did not get a personal note from me, please do not feel that I didn't appreciate your kindness - I just didn't know how else to get in touch.  (Does anyone know how to make e-mail addresses appear so that you can respond? I have never been able to figure out why some show and some do not.)

So - THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.  I really felt comfort knowing you cared so very much.  We are still kind of in shock, but as all of you know, life goes on no matter what, and some things have to be done regardless of what else has or has not happened.  All of us are doing our best to adjust, some days are harder than others, as I'm sure many of you know.

*****

Since I am here anyway, and am trying to find things to make me smile, I decided I would also use this post to answer Kathy's weekly questions.  This week, her topic is Christmas in July (does that mean it will cool down?? If only ...)

1. We all have our Christmas movie favorites.  Do you have a summer movie you watch over and over?

I usually watch at least part of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" with Jimmy Cagney on/around the 4th of July.  It's so cornball, and we always watched it growing up.  I think I might be able to recite it.

2. How's your Holiday 2016 knitting coming along?

I'm only slightly behind, but the things I am planning to knit as gifts are pretty quick knits, so I'm hoping to have a couple more completed by the end of the month.   So far, I have one hat out of 3 completed, and 1/2 of a  shawlette completed out of 4 I hope to make.

3. I have more time to read in summer than around the winter holidays.  What have you read lately?

I recently finished the third installment of the Maisie Dobbs stories, which was interesting.  But my favorite book that I finished most recently was A Man Called Ove.  I listened to the audiobook, and it has become one of my favorite books of all time.

4. Is there anything better than an iced Christmas cookie?

I seldom have iced Christmas cookies ... but during the summer, nothing beats a gelati from Rita's. Nothing!

5. Have you knit a gnome?

No, but I have a couple of little ones knitted and then felted by someone else that I've bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool a couple of different times. One is just a cutie, and one is a Santa gnome.

6. Are you more excited about your Christmas tree or your summer garden?

I've been fixing up our garden, and it's really nice.  The Tim has a deck garden where he is growing veggies and herbs.  They are great.  But nothing is better than a Christmas tree!

7. You've just created your favorite winter colorway.  What do you call it?

Santa's Stripes
Rudolph's Red
Snowy Evening Walk in the Woods

8. Someone is secretly knitting you a Christmas gift.  What do you wish it to be?

Christmas themed/colored socks or fairisle mittens.

9. If you need snow for the perfect Christmas, what do you need for the perfect 4th of July?

Temperatures during the day in the upper 70s, sunny with no humidity, and a cool, clear evening.

10. Let's make the last one yes or no; are you knitting in the air conditioning today?

At home, no because our house doesn't have a/c.  But I do have to go to a dr's appt, and they will have a/c.  So yes and no. ;-)

What about you?

*****

Thank you again everyone.  For every single thing.