Happy New Decade 2020! As I look forward with anticipation to what is to come, I reflect briefly on what has been during the past decade as well.
In 2010 I started working at Sub-Zero Group, a position which enabled me to rebuild my retirement fund, after living my dream of owning a small business and the financial devastation that followed. My rebuilt retirement fund now allows me to look forward with anticipation to what is soon to come.
In 2013 Tim and I went on a music cruise, Cayamo, and upon our return I started playing the fiddle, something I likely would never have undertaken had I known how difficult an instrument it was to learn, yet something which gives me such joy.
In 2013 my fathers both passed within 2 months of one another, the one who raised me and who I loved and knew my entire life, and the one I never got to meet.
In 2014 I reconnected with a childhood friend, thanks to Facebook, before Tim and I went on two back-to-back music cruises and I played fiddle on stage in front of 700 people–No fear!
In 2016 my Mom suffered a debilitating stroke from which she never recovered.
In 2017 I met my full birth siblings for the first time, and it was amazing to be face to face with siblings I never knew existed!
In May 2017 my mother passed away and was laid to rest with Dad, according to their wishes, and I truly hope they have reunited in a place of happiness, free of pain and disease.
One week after Mom’s funeral I met and spent a week with my birth Mum for the first time. It was a precious experience, and one I will forever be thankful for.
Since then I have met two additional siblings, and bunches of nieces and nephews.
In 2018, I sadly lost a sister who I never got the chance to meet. I think I would have liked her…she loved to cook just like me.
Later in 2018 after much soul searching I realized I had finally achieved my goal of rebuilding my retirement and I left my position at Sub-Zero Group to spend more time taking care of my health, and focusing on things that bring me joy.
2018 ended on a sad note with the passing of our precious kitty, Beast, much too soon. He was my boy.
In 2019 I started writing a book, which is far from complete. Tim and I invented a game, which we hope to publish in the near future, and which we hope everyone will enjoy as much as we do. We also formulated a plan for building out our dream van and traveling the country with our two adventure kitties along.
And looking forward, by this time next year we hope to have the van built out, and the house emptied and ready to go on the market so we can begin the next chapter of this adventure called life.
I wish you all health, happiness, friends, family, and adventure for the coming year and the decade. May they be the “roaring twenties” once again!
Happy New Year! XO-LL