Three hundred sixty-five and one-quarter times around the sun. Twelve months.
Another year has passed by and 2019 is almost finito.
I thought I would take each month of the past year and share one or two things I remembered about it (good or bad) and see what kind of picture is left.
January – Horrible winter month. I worked from home one day, toward the end of the month, because the wind chill was -50F (-45.5C). Brrrr.
February – Mom made her way to heaven on the 15th. Her funeral was the 23rd, a Saturday, when we had blowing snow that turned to icy rain and back to snow again. And cold. The weather did not improve and the next day there was a 131-car pile-up on Interstate 41, the largest in the state’s history. This was not a fun weekend.
March – I took an online creative writing course and prayed very hard for spring to come.
April – Still waiting for spring to come and I spent a total of six days in Madison, learning the ways of a supervisor and discovering new places in the city during off time.
May – Spring flowers! This is the month that I run to the local greenhouses to find the perfect patio plants. Begonias and coleus work best and they were lovely through the first week of October.
June – Nothing stands out about this month other than the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and it’s bike-riding season. All pluses.
July – I took a staycation to relax and start writing a book about my mother, her family and her influence. I made initial progress, but haven’t done much since. It’s been the way of my life, the too many other things that eat up time. For those of you who write books while working and doing the life thing, I commend you. Heck, I commend the bloggers who post three to four times a week, or daily, and hold a regular job. I don’t know how you do it.
August – I helped out with my church’s Arts Camp, attended Mile of Music and had a long-overdue lunch with two cousins. One of the cousins surprised me with a cassette tape that her brother had made with my mom and dad decades ago. He asked mom a lot of questions about growing up and her family, which will help when I get back to writing that book.
September – Best.vacation.ever. The biking buddy and I rode our bicycles for a week in southeastern Minnesota, laughing lots, eating lots, drinking a few beers, and putting 122 miles on the tires. I was in heaven and the glow of a fabulous time lasted well after I returned home.
October – Watched the leaves change color and fall to the ground, and the days become shorter. The kids, my cats, slept more and their bird friends left for warmer weather.
November – Another vacation, this time with family over the Thanksgiving holiday. I love visiting the D.C. area as there’s always something new to discover. This year, I tested the brew at the Guinness experimental brewery in Baltimore, saw the Christmas lights at the National Zoo and the decorations at the botanical garden. I had amazingly good food, a chance to visit with brother and the girlfriend, hang out with Odin the dog, and remember why flying can be good (takes less time) and bad (motion sickness and wind do not go together well) (no, I did not have to use the bag) (ginger ale always saves the day).
December – We all know this is a crazy, busy month getting ready for and celebrating Christmas. There was food and charitable donations and stockings filled with treats at work. I spent a Saturday shopping for needy families through the church. Ran here and there, buying stuff for friends. Ate too much, per the usual. But what I remember most about this month is sharing time with the people who I love. I wrote a poem about that a couple of days ago you’ll find HERE, and it even ends with the word year. How cool is that?
I wish for you peace and joy in 2020 and many blog-worthy moments. Photos in the gallery are from throughout 2019.
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is the brainchild of author Linda G. Hill. Every Friday, Linda provides her followers with an inspiring blogger’s prompt. It can be a word or words and sometimes bonus points are involved (my favorite). Linda asks us to write without editing, other than correcting spelling errors.
Just go with the flow.
Like a babbling brook or rain drops. Click HERE if this type of writing floats your boat or helps with your decision-making. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “year.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Mary J Melange 
What a wonderful way to reflect back on the years that’s passing, Mary. I remember you telling us about many of these things, so it was fun to look back with you. I had to laugh, because I remember Gibbs grumbling when you were away at training. I’m happy that in looking back, you found good things.
Gibbs is still grumbling and singing the song of his people at inappropriate times. We are currently in the bedroom/home office with the door closed so that he might calm down a bit and I can read posts and respond to comments. Some things, I fear, will not change with the coming year. *sigh*
Poor poor pitiful kitty.
Sounds like a wonderful year overall! Good for you for starting that book! I started one about my parents. We will get back to them one day!
Yes, JoAnna, it was a pretty good year. I hope the coming year is a good one for you and that we both take time to work on our books.
Yes! Let’s! 🙂
I saw the thing about US 41, and since it also runs close to my house I started wondering why I hadn’t heard about the accident, but later clues told me you’re a lot further north than I am…
Happy New Year!
I think I am at least three hours north of you, John. That was a horrible accident – one person died, many injured, and the brother and his girlfriend were supposed to head to the Milwaukee airport that day via I-41. Thank goodness we had a late breakfast and they found an alternate route around the east shore of Lake Winnebago.
I liked looking back and of course, knew these a lot of these things, and it reminded me of blogging friends being real life to me and that is a good thing. Online friends saved me this year. I am not looking back tooo much tho Linda did get me to rant. Hoping just a tad bit for a better decade next! xo
I love my blogging friends, including you, Katie. It’s a piece of light in my world. Also hoping for as better decade to come for all of us.
Such a wonderful way to remember 2019. A nice slice of life. Me? I’ve no recollection of anything prior to now. I’d have to sit and really think about it which means I should start journaling again. Happy Saturday Mary!!
If it wasn’t for my calendar and the photos I’ve taken all year, I may have forgotten some of it. Journaling is a good idea, may have to work on that.
Happy New Year to you and the kids, Mary. I cannot believe it is almost 2020…..
Happy New Year, Lois! Time flies when you’re having fun. 🙂
What a year of living fully, Mary. I can’t believe it is nearly a year since your mother passed. You don’t have time to write because you are living fully. More material to work with when those days of weiting come around again. 😊
Except for losing mom and the not-so-great weather, I can’t complain too much about this past year. I found plenty of good things, blessings, that I am grateful for. Writing will come eventually and perhaps it’s simply waiting for me at retirement. We’ll see…
One moment at a time….
Beautiful photos, partial to the yellow 🙂
Your year in review is keen. I don’t know that mine would be as interesting to read. Mostly work and driving with — a few grand joyous days opposing the contrasting days of illness or parenting crises. Probably a bit typical, but it’s my life and I wouldn’t trade it. Not even for the Jaeger Schnitzel 😛
From reading your posts, your life appears full with husband and kids, furry critters, working with your mentor and much more. And you make people laugh because you are simply hilarious. I don’t blame you for not wanting to give that up for yummy food, although it appears that you can make yummy food, so there’s that. Enjoy the remaining days of this year and happy 2020 to the Joey family!
That was extraordinarily kind, Mary. Thank you!
Welcome!
Beautiful moments that will be cherished as memories.
They will! Thanks Damyanti!
Excellent recap of your year, Mary. I hope for your year, there’s a Packer win for the super bowl, less snow overall and lots more biking trips for you. And that you find a way to keep working on the book. I finally finished the children’s book (inspired by my mom) on 12/31/19 (it only took 20 years to write). Happy New Year to you and your furry friends. I love that one is a pain, and one snores – my two do the same thing!
Great news on the children’s book, Shelley. I’ll think positive thoughts about the publication. And that one day our furry kids will behave and be silent! Happy 2020!
Thank you, Mary! I appreciate all the postive thoughts. :-). Ah…I think the cats know we love their quirks, they’re clever that way!