Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary to ME!!!

It was actually two days ago, 5/27, that was the anniversary, but since I was not near a computer, I didn't get anything posted on the right day. As I look back, in some ways it seems that it has been much longer than a year. It seems as if I've "known" all of you for a long time. And so much has happened in this year that it is hard to believe that it hasn't been two or three years. Another thing is that I feel so at home here that it seems I've been here forever.

On the other hand are the things that make me realize just how this year has flown. In some ways, the second reason above, so much happening in this year, also makes it seem that time has just evaporated. I've been so busy that I've not had many gaps of time to have to fill in, so it does seem brief.

One year ago ...

• I was in Kansas City
• I was a widow just seven months
• I was two and a half months into remodeling/repairing my home of thirty years to prepare it for sale
• I had no realistic idea of the work that I was facing
• Two months earlier I'd been so depressed that I didn't get dressed but a couple times in over two weeks; being back in the house was hard, and I was still struggling against depression
  
• My son-in-law, granddaughter and brother were helping me paint the exterior of the house
  
• I knew I was going to move to New Mexico, but I had no idea what part

In the last year ...

• I finished the house and listed it
• The last few belongings were put into storage, except the personal items that I kept with me
• I drove myself pulling a UHaul trailer to New Mexico, not an unusual feat, but an extremely humorous, and sometimes challenging, journey
• I stayed with my step-son for five months before moving into my (future) home
• I joined a book club
• I bought my first (alone) home
• I bought a new truck, made decisions about it alone
  
• I arranged for a future showplace for my photography (my first real belief that I might do so)
• I volunteered at the Chamber of Commerce
• I started a whole new career in the fine arts field

What I think about who and where I am today ...

• I've learned a lot about who I am without another person in my life full time
• I have a nice level of self-confidence
• I like who I am and where I am physically, emotionally and spiritually
• I'm ready for more new parts of my life to open professionally, personally and socially
• I enjoy my time alone as well as the time I spend with others
• I know who I like to be around and who I don't, and I won't waste my time on the latter
• My life is beautiful
  

These are just a few in each category that have crossed my mind. It has been a good year, a hard year with lots of challenges, and I don't think I would change much about it. I have more challenges ahead and I'm welcoming them with an open heart, because that is the only way I will continue to thrive and be happy. I plan to live to be very, very old, and if I go soft and quit experiencing life now, I won't make it. I want to be ornery and spunky when I'm 98. I hope I can still hold my own in a debate and still have the sense to know when to shut up. Oh, wait, I don't do that last one even now, so forget it!

That's all for now. I have so many thought tumbling around in my head that I can't even get them out quickly enough to write them down. I'll be back later or tomorrow with a little bit about my weekend (I have a few pictures, but not many; too busy to take a lot!!), the upcoming week plans, and heaven knows what else! Till then ...