My End of 2013 Review

I was reading blogs on my blog reader (Feedly, if you are interested) and I came upon This is the Nonsensical Mass That is My Life blog. I cannot remember how I even found her but I have been reading for awhile now. She did an end of year review and I loved the questions. So without futher ado I am stealing her idea and here we go:

The Year 2013 in Review

1. What did you do in 2013 that you have never done before?

I had to get bids to replace the roof on our home. I had to pick which roofer to hire. I had to supervise them. And then write out that huge check. I have let my husband take care of me for years and this home repair stuff is not my thing.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions? And will you make some for this year?

I have never been good at making and keeping resolutions. But I do have some new goals in mind for 2014. I will be writing a post about that soon.

3.Did anyone close to you give birth?

No one really close to me that I can think of. However my middle brother did become a great-grandfather in November, so there was a new little boy added to our family.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I lost a brother-in-law (my husband's sister's husband) in December. But thankfully no one really closer than that.

5.What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

There are two things that I would like to have. One is patience. I get so upset with myself when I lose patience with Richard or the kids. Usually it is myself that I am upset with but I take it out on them. And I would like to have HOPE! Hope for the world. Hope for my family. Hope for my friends.

6.What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory? And Why?

January 9...Richard turned 80!

March....Richard stopped eating, stopped taking his meds, and one day stopped breathing briefly. We started with home Hospice on March 27, 2013.

The Day that we paid off our house!!!!!!

April 8...I turned 62..eligible for social security.

June.....a new roof and a brand new washing machine that wouldn't work fiasco.

November and December..Richard's pneumonia and his continued decline

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Wow! I think my biggest achievement is that I am still holding it all together. Even on those days that I think I have had all that I can take. I then take a really deep breath. Maybe cry some. Maybe scream some. Maybe whine to whomever will listen (which is usually my readers here). And then I do it all again tomorrow. So I am going to say that my biggest achievement this year has been being my husband's sole caregiver in our home.

8.What was your biggest failure?

My biggest failure is that I have no patience. I lose it easily at times. And I am not very nice when that happens. I am a failure at patience!!

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Thank Goodness, no, I did not this year have any health issues. That would just not work out for me at all.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

I would have to say that the best (and most expensive) thing that I bought was a new roof for my house. We had old, old shake shingles and my home owners insurance was going to be canceled if I did not replace them. So I bought a new roof. And it is pretty!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?

That honor would go to my two teenage grandchildren that live with us. These kids really have stepped up to the plate and help with their papa. I don't know where I would be without them. Although there are times he is a bossy, know-it-all and she is a drama queen. They are awesome kids.

12.Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I would have to give this honor to my oldest son and the woman who gave birth to my two grandchildren who live with us! I think about him every single day. And pray! And wonder how on earth this happened....there are others but I will just leave it at these two!

13.Where did most of your money go?

Ha! Ha! The grocery store. The electric company. The gas company. You know, the usual places.

14.What did you get really, really, really excited about?

There hasn't been a lot of things around here to get excited about. But I was pretty happy when we paid off the mortgage. That helped to relieve a lot of the financial burden that was brought about by my having to stop working and stay home with Richard.

14. What songs will remind you of 2013?

Another Year Has Gone By....Celine Dion

15. Compared to this time last year...happier or sadder?

Without a doubt, I am sadder.

16. Thinner or fatter?

Ha! Ha! I have not stepped on a scale in over 8 years but I would bet on fatter. I am a stress eater.

17. Richer or poorer?

Compared to this time last year we are richer. I started drawing a monthly social security check and that helps!

18. What do you wish you had done more of?

I wish I had spent more time just laughing! 

19. What do you wish you had done less of?

Bitching! Feeling sorry for myself. Being impatient.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Since Christmas is over, I can tell you that on the actual day, December 25, we laid around all day watching TV.

21. What was your favorite TV program?

I fell in love with The Good Wife. I went on eBay and got all the previous seasons and watched them. It is now my favorite show!

22. What was the best book that you read?

Grief, The Great Yearning by Pat Bertram. I have not lost my husband to death yet, but this book has helped me more than I can begin to tell you.

23. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Adele.....I love Rolling In The Deep

24. What did you want and get?

I 'wanted' a new washer and dryer. And I got one from my son and his lady this past year in January.

25. What was your favorite film of this year?

I don't watch that many movies and I can't think of any that I would have called my favorite.

26. What did you do on your birthday and how old are you?

We didn't do anything out of the ordinary and I turned 62! Yipee!

27.How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

My personal style!! Ha! Ha! Now that I have picked myself up off the floor and settled back into my chair.....my style is mostly yoga pants or shorts and a tee shirt. All the time. Occasionally I will put on a pair of jeans.

28.What kept you sane?

My youngest son is 'who' kept me sane. And my computer. Both connect me with a world that is not about care-giving.

29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy most?

I am not much into celebrities or public figures. I enjoy the British Royal Family and the birth of the new baby. Otherwise, I just shake my head in wonder at why some of these people are even in the news....know what I mean?

30. What political issue stirred you the most?

The failure of the U.S. government to NOT pass any type of gun control continues to keep me stirred up. There is a proliferation of gun ownership in this country. Concealed carry permits are out of control. We need mental health exams for every person purchasing a gun and a yearly exam on all of those who continue to own them. There were 24 mass killings in the United States (a mass killing is the murder of more than 4 people in one spree) after the Newtown killings of all those kids, in December of 2012. We need gun control in this country. It is a hot topic. It is okay if you don't agree with me. But I will NOT change my stance on the subject. I don't believe their is any organized effort of our government to try to control us. I don't think it is infringing upon my rights in any way. I think some idiot who is allowed by law to carry a gun and decides he wants to be a 'hero' in some movie theater and kills me or one of my loved ones is much more of an infringement on MY right to live. Let's move on....okay?

31. Who did you miss?

I have written about this. It hasn't changed. I miss my husband. Yes, he is still here. Lying right there in the hospital bed, right before me, at this moment. But I miss him and what he used to be. And what our life used to be like.

32. Who was the best new person you met?

Without a doubt, that would be Cristy from Cristy's Crazy Corner. I haven't actually, in real life, met her. But she is in my corner. She has my back. And she is my greatest cheerleader! Love you Cristy!

33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

Unfortunately the lesson that I continue to learn each year is that LIFE IS NOT FAIR! We were NEVER PROMISED A ROSE GARDEN. Life isn't easy. We need to tell our loved ones every single day how much they mean to us and how much we love them. We need to try to fix stupid little family problems and put them behind us. We need to be nicer to people....all people. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. And we can't fix things tomorrow if that becomes our day to leave this earth. Or, God help us, if it is the day a loved one leaves......

Have a Happy and healthy 2014!