Good Riddance, 2009!!! and I Resolve.....

With only a few hours left to the year 2009, I've been thinking what kind of a year has it been?   I had some good times, I had some bad times.  For the most part, I'm happy to see 2009 exit and I'm hoping that 2010 will be a much better year ahead for me and my loved ones! And for you too!

I did a Pro and Con sort of thing with the events of the past year.  A lot of the events have both Pro AND Cons to them!  Sounds odd but you'll see what I mean soon enough.

This past year brought a lot of stress and worry with John's cancer coming back not once but twice!  His oncologist (a brilliant woman at University of Pennsylvania Hospital) told him this Lymphoma was the kind that likes to keep coming back again and again, and boy was she right!   They did an autologous stem cell transplant (they used John's own stem cells) this past summer, and so far (knock wood!) it seems to be working!!  John is as strong as he was when I met him over 3 years ago!

But this year also brought a lot of joy to go along with the cancer, strange as that may seem.  John's illness brought us closer and closer together.  We made a pact to fight as a team and not think about the possibility of John dying.  We did, however, make sure his wishes were in writing to protect him.  You know, I never once thought he might die as a result of his treatment.  I sure am glad he proved me right!

This year, my youngest graduated from high school and went away to college.  On the plus side, MY YOUNGEST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE!!!  WOO HOO!!!   Empty nest!!!  I have my life back!

Like so many others, this year has been a bit of a strain financially.  Thank goodness I still have a job (and more importantly, so does my ex, since he has to pay me spousal support for 5 more years!)   I did miss work here and there with John's illness but my boss has been fantastic and worked with me when I needed the time off!

I got to meet (virtually at least)  a LOT of truly terrific people here on Blogger!  What a fantastic community of caring people!  We've shared births, deaths, loss of jobs, getting new, better jobs, new hairdos, weight loss, illness, recovery... so many things!

We've laughed with (and sometimes AT) each other, cried at losses, got pissed for the each other when someone did you wrong, rejoiced at marriages, mourned the loss of marriages.  

We've journeyed all around the country with travelers, lived vicariously through those of you who live in exotic places, dreamed of seeing some of the places you've all described.   You know, I've always wanted to see so many places in the world, and this past year, it made me realize there are so many wonderful places to visit right here in our own country (Oh Lord!  Now I sound like Dorothy Gale!).  I'd love to visit Ireland and Greece but I also REALLY want to see Alaska and the Grand Canyon and Florida and Arizona and Hawaii and the Great lakes and Canada (I know it's not part of our country, silly, but it's right there!  Just north of me and it's connected to us even!)

I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions.  The last time I successfully made a resolution was 1991, when I resolved to quit smoking.  I'm proud to say I haven't picked up a cigarette in 18 years!  I KNOW if I do, I'll be buying a pack before the day is out, so I don't dare!  And even after 18 years, there are times when I crave a cigarette!  I am sorry to say, however, that I have become one of THOSE ex-smokers, who really dislikes being around cigarettes. (I swore I never be like that).  I am not unhappy that smoking inside restaurants has been outlawed in Pennsylvania.  Hey!  That's just me!  :)

But this year, I thought I'd try to make a few resolutions that I might actually be able to keep.

I resolve to try to take better care of my finances and maybe I won't get hit with overage charges to my checking account.  All the money I spent last year on overages,  I could have taken my vacation last summer (who am I kidding?  John was getting chemo the week I was supposed to be in Ocean City, MD).

I resolve to try to get my blood glucose levels under better control.    I will lower my carbs, stop buying candy and other junk food.  Hey!  Maybe I might actually knock off a few pounds in the process!

I will try to read as many books as I can in the next year (I read 20 books this year!!).  With my Kindle, all the print books I've bought and haven't read yet and all the audio books I download from the library, this should be an easy resolution to keep!

So, good bye 2009!  Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out!  And hello 2010!  I hope you are a kinder, gentler year!

I hope everyone has a very happy and healthy 2010.  I'd like to wash away 2009 and start fresh!!!