What can I say? I find it hard to believe another month has slipped through my fingers...let alone a whole year! Where did it go? Why can't we seem to hold on to every precious moment and savor it and treasure it before it is suddenly gone?
Actually, as I search through the cobwebs of my memory, I do find some moments hat were savored and treasured. Follow me down the little path known as the year 2016.
It began simply enough...after a wonderful New Year's Eve party in Lincoln City with the Lincoln Pops Band playing wonderful music from the past and eating and dancing with friends. Twenty-sixteen began the moment the clock finished striking twelve-midnight.
January found me doing some research on the condition of my eyes. I have Macular Degeneration that is quickly proceeding to the wet stage. My vision is important to me and it grieves me to think that I might lose even 1% of my eyesight, let alone nearly all of it! My Opthalmaoogist, Dr. Hayes, informed me that there are shots that I can take routinely over the coming year that can stop the progression. It is not a cure, but a deterrent to further loss of vision. I prayed hard about this procedure and decided to go ahead and get the shots.
February didn't have too many moments to treasure. We got our Taxes done and found that we owed $3,000.00! That was not a happy moment, but it was better than last year...I guess that is one way to look at it. Needless to say, Dean was not a happy man. So, we needed a get-away to calm some nerves and give us a break from the routine. We went to see Dad for a few days in Washington. He is always a good relief from the doldrums of every day life and he gave us a few moments to treasure.
March...ah, March! On the 24th, my daughter, Kim, flew me to Orange County to go spend a week with her...for her Birthday celebration on the 26th. It was one of those trips that I wish I could take every month...to each of my children's...and there were just so many, many moments to savor and treasure. Thank you, Kim, for being such a thoughtful and loving daughter.
April didn't have very many moments that I can recall. Dean is playing his trumpet in a coastal orchestra and they put on two concerts. I went to one of them and enjoyed the music a great deal. These are Dean's moments to treasure! He loves to play his trumpet whenever he gets the opportunity.
May was the month that wee waited for for an entire year! We planned a trip to San Antonio, Texas to see what there was to see there. Dean had the River Walk on his list...and Church with Max Lucado! And I had the Alamo on my list. Neither one of us was disappointed. It was a wonderful trip! We walked everywhere we went...and my feet paid the price for so much walking...in sandals! We loved the River Walk; we were moved by the sermon Max Lucado gave in his church; we visited the old Mexican village; we toured the old flour mill and some of the original houses in the area; we toured several cathedrals; and we visited the World's Fair grounds still there from so very long ago. All in all, it was a memorable trip and will live in our memories for a great while.
At the end of our trip, we took a short detour home through Las Vegas and St. George. I had to carry on as the family representative and hold a memorial for my beloved little sister, Patricia, who passed away last December. There was a great turnout of family who told their stories and memories of Patti. Chrisie sang a beautiful song, "Wind Beneath My Wings," while she accompanied herself on the guitar with a grandson, Trace, who was also there to playmharmony on his guitar. I loved it.
The last night before we flew home, we just ran around Las Vegas! It was crazy to watch all those very interesting people! We went up for a ride on the giant ferris wheel, patterned after the one in London! Ah, memories.
June found us moving... again! Weren't we moving just last June? Yes, we were. The house we were living in had a very steep set of stairs that I was finding more and more difficult to maneuver every day. So, we searched for a one level home and found one just one block away! It was an interesting and memorable move! And, I hope we never have to do it again! But, then, I say that every time. And I know that we will at some point in the distant future...and I am hiring a moving company!
July was a distress filled month. I had a misunderstanding with my only sister, and I have lost her. I have never in my life felt such excruciating pain. Not even when Patti died. It took me weeks to finally resolve myself to the idea that this life is difficult, people make choices and it is but a brief moment in our "full life's span." Everything will work out in the end. Father in Heaven will take charge and make everything right in the end. I will look forward to that day.
August,.,.not a very exciting month! September...w got to go to Redmond for a visit with Billy and Alicia and the girls. Love that little family. Billy really did good finding that girl. What started out "iffy," tuned out to be an enormous blessing for everyone!
October...no memories made this month! November..ah! Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for this year, I have received about 6 shots into my left eye for the AMD and can testify it has saved what vision I have left. It isn't the best, but it is good enough that I can still drive. Also thankful for Dr. Prinz, who is helping me conquer my foot pain (Plantar Fasciitis). It has been with me since May and could be with me another year or so. But, at least, it is better and easier to walk...as long as I support my foot! My list of things to be thankful for is a mile long, but just suffice it to say, I am thankful for my life...the whole of it! The ups and downs; the ins and outs; the good days and the bad days; well, just the whole of it!
December...this brings me to this month, and oh, what a month it has been. On the 6th, we flew to Salt Lake City to enjoy a masterful performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for their Christmas Concert in the Conference Center. Debi was abler to snag us some amazing seats and the four of us (Dean and I, JerriAnne and Debi) all had an amazing night of it. That was near the top of my Bucket List, and will live in my memory for a very long time! Dean also wanted to hear the Organ play in the Tabernacle, so we caught a Saturday afternoon concert. He was mesmerized! A memory to savor for him!
When we flew home (actually to Seattle), we picked up Dad to bring him to our house for a while. We wanted to keep him here till Christmas, but he wouldn't hear of it. So, I drove him home the week before Christmas and drove back home by myself. I had to make a little side trip to Portland to see another Eye specialist who would advise me on my lazy eye. He prescribed a prism lens for my right eye and no surgery! I was glad to hear that. Actually, the prism lens works miracles for me. Science is wonderful.
Dean and I had a quiet Christmas alone this year. Talked to nearly all of our kids and shared a burnt Lasagna! (Dean was a trooper and ate it anyway!) I am failing in the cooking department these days!
That pretty much brings me to tonight. Dean and I have no plans, but it is always a joy to reminisce over the past year and give thanks for the many blessings that have come our way. He isn't feeling very well the past few days, so we are just staying in and will watch the ball drop on Time's Square and wish each other a Happy New Year!
God bless all of His children...wherever they may be this night. I pray for peace to come to the earth in the coming year. We have a new President (forgot to mention that) and we shall see where he takes us.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
