T.W.O....Y.E.A.R.S ! ! ! ! !

I'm TWO years old!!!!!!

Yep, today is my blogoversary. Two years ago, Caroline convinced me to begin a blog, and against my better judgment, I tried it. And .... as the saying goes .... the rest is history. It is hard for me to believe that I am beginning my THIRD YEAR of blogging!

So much has happened in my life during this period of time. I was in Kansas City, working my butt off, trying to get my home of 30 years ready to put on the market. I was alone except for my three dogs. My husband has died about six months earlier, and I felt angry and deserted in the house refurbishing. I think Caroline knew a blog would be a good outlet for my emotions and would help me to feel connected with the world outside my house. It was a good thing. I think having the blog did a lot of good, even more than the above. Thanks, my dear friend!

Since that day ....

• I finished, with the help of some dear family member and friends from time to time, getting the house ready, on the market and sold
• I moved to New Mexico, staying with my stepson for about 5 months until I found my home
• I held my sweet Mai Lin, the first Shih Tzu in our family, as she left this world to run over the Rainbow Bridge
• I bought a house ... by myself, scary!!
  
• The house in KC sold about the same time I was moving into this one
• I bought a truck with just myself as an adviser
  
• I repainted the interior of this place, had carpet and tile laid
• I made decisions about new appliances, a filter system for the well, refinishing the driveway by myself, and even though I sometimes trembled inside, I made those decisions, and more, for my future
  
• I moved my belongings from KC to NM
• I sorted through the stuff I moved here, downsizing from 2700 sq. ft. to 1300 sq. ft., then had a garage sale to make it manageable
  
• I hosted my friend who was moving to this area for six months while she found a job and house
• I found a part-time job (even thought I wasn't looking) and began meeting people in the community
• In the new job, I've learned , in a baptism by fire, two new professions, the world of art and public relations
  
• I became a contributing writer and photographer to the local newspaper
• I joined a book club and became involved in community activities and groups
  
• I've made several road trips, one which took me to Georgia and South Carolina, where I met Dawn and Patti
• I joined clubs and organizations to fill my time and meet new friends (and a couple enemies, too!! LOL!)
• I've met lots of people and made new friends, IRL and online, too
  
• I've become an activist for the ecology and the green, clean future of my state
• I'm becoming a political activist to a degree, mostly as I learn that some politicians/parties are idiots that don't care about the future of our planet, what our children will inherit, and the quality of lives other than their own
  
• I've learned that it's OK to be a woman alone, on my own, strong enough to hold my place in the pecking order, and soft enough to still cry when it hurts
• I'm more comfortable in my own skin than I've ever been
  
• I'm seeing my life in different eyes these days; not good, not bad, just different from anything in my past
• I am proud of where I've been, what I've done, even the mistakes because of what I've learned
  
• I'm in a new place in my life, one that is giving me a more clear vision of the future, thanks to the experiences of the past
• And I LOVE BLOGGING!!!

It has been a good two years, and I'm happy with my life. It is one that I have truly developed for myself, no regrets. Well, OK, few regrets!!! If nothing else, I've learned that ....

Life is beautiful!!!!

PS - I just found out that at www.blogoversary.com there is a list of everyone who has one on this day! Is that cool or what? I'm gonna go send good wishes to them all! Cool!