Over 2011-12 I began to acknowledge my vulnerability. In January of 2011 I learned that I had prostate cancer and began treatment. Earlier this year I started taking anti-depressants to combat the depression which had resulted from the cancer and ithe effects its treatment had on my body.

I have always had a soft side, but I have been reluctant to let it surface. That is no longer the case and I have developed an interest in women’s issues. Not long ago while a fellow employee and I were riding together near USDA in Washington, DC, he made a crack about the backside of a woman across the street. I told him that I was a feminist and his objectifying remarks offended me. He looked at me and said, “You’re a feminist?” Indeed I am although I am certainly an unlikely one.

In 2013 I’ll be looking to connect with progessive folks who truly welcome diversity.

Just returned from my morning walk in Fallbrook, the aspirationally friendly village, and the sign on a neighbor’s gate reminded me of some great 2012 moments.

Lost several people to death in 2012. Makes me appreciate the ones I have left even more. The older I get the more dead people I know. It isn’t fun.

So what was the sign on the neighbor’s gate and what did it remind you of, K-B? You have piqued my curiosity!

2012 was my worst year since the year I turned 25. I don’t really remember why I was so bummed that year but 2012 is the year of the sewer back up that flooded our house with clear but contaminated water and caused the three adults and two canines that made up our family to be out of our home for five weeks. This event occurred on Friday just before Mother’s Day. On the up side we did get to “live” at Pala Mesa Resort in two adjoining rooms, get room service or take out and have the housekeeping chores attended to by the staff at the resort for those five weeks. Most importantly we (all five of us) were able to stay together while the Insurance company which allowed this togetherness was taking care of the bills to renovate our damaged home. Five weeks, house wide new carpet, paint and tile and we were moved back into our home sweet home. Somewhat like winning the lottery but not exactly as much fun!!
Two days after moving back in we celebrated my 60th birthday. Now we were six as our son had arrived from WA state to celebrate my 60th and my sister’s 69th and Father’s Day. This has been a family tradition for many years and although this one was spent resettling our house by the end of his visit things were back to pre-flood condition (more or less) and it felt like home again.
Fast forward to the end of July. My sister’s cancer (for which she had finally denied any more treatment) started showing signs that it was about to win after a five year fight. With the help of Elizabeth Hospice she made her exit from the world we had shared for sixty years to the world she had aspired to since she was in eighth grade and had accepted Jesus into her heart. She was absolutely sure of where she was going when she passed from this life and left so beautifully and bravely.
Christmas 2012 was a mixture of happiness and sadness in our house. Our son arrived form WA to spend a week with us ( Husband, Son-JR and Son-Joseph and Fred and Ginger and myself) We didn’t wallow in sadness but certainly felt the difference one less place at the table made)
The four legged family members no longer spend their days and nights lying near my sister’s bed. I cry a lot less but am still overtaken with sadness and weeps when least expected. The song “Sisters, Sisters” from “White Christmas” turned on the water works. We often would break out singing it at moments of sisterly bonding.
I know that while the events of this year were trying I was blessed to have a wonderful sister for sixty years and thanks to Allstate Insurance we had a crazy adventure and we were all together. Every lemon is capable of being turned into lemonade.
I hope and pray that 2013 will be much less dramatic.

Steve and I have the same sense of losing people, Millie. It’s particularly disconcerting to see all the actors with whom we grew up dying at what seems an increasing rate. …

Click on the link embedded in “the sign on a neighbor’s gate.”

Two steps forward, four steps back. All I can do is keep trying.

Gosh. So much. I’ll pick a random three, because three is a mystical number:

My Aunt died this year and so we lost the matriarch of our family. This made me the eldest female, and thus the new matriarch at the ripe old age of 45. My mind has been active with thoughts that remind me of the strength of women, the history of our unextinguishable, yet mostly unacknowledged power, and the bonds that keep us going.

The elections. Ugh the elections. They reminded me that, for the vast majority, they have beliefs that have become DNA for the sole reason that ignorance begets fear, making the alternatives unacceptable. The chasm seemed so wide between parties, that my very soul seemed on the balance. But when I put it into perspective, if my side had not won, there would always be next time–inconvenient and frustrating as the years between would have been and as much as the setbacks would have cost us in progressing as a human species. Lesson learned: fight the good fight with honor and dignity, but do not let it own you.

My oldest daughter is moving out. The umbilical cord is infinitely flexible and beautiful, but can inflict a whole lot of pain when taken for granted.

My hope for 2013, aside from my ever hoped for mantra that my loved ones live in peace and love, is it’s the year in which my creative soul will find peace.

Every moment of the election is something I relive because my mom watches MSNBC. And they aren’t over it at all.

There were some truly delicious moments therein.
Love you, Rae!

I am charrmed by your references to life in lovely Fallbrook. I grew up in the 1950s near San Marcos (not that far from Fallbrook) when things were largely bucolic and we were running loose like leprechauns. It was a delightful time — and so, I feel, can these be, if we just slow down and look up from our electronics and gaze around at nature and people once again. I am getting elderly and have had many difficult experiences that tried me severely; yet I feel fortunate to view with a different eye some times and it can be a joy, for there is much to see in this new world that is evolving around us. I am concerned about the speed of life these days and I wonder if we don’t miss seeing and experiencing many things, but life is a moving experience and it won’t stop because we are angry or frustrated or undone. Perhaps if we looked around our own beautiful Fallbrooks on occasion and met some more of our own neighbors it would be an enriching experience. I feel I am old enough to try — instead of losing a great deal of time and energy being angry and undone. I have done that in this long life and it isn’t a worthy game. I wish us all a gaze around our own Fallbrooks and a deep breath of air to start the day in joy.

Have to share this one, emailed from a Buddhist friend: Thank God, Romney didn’t get elected!

2012 was quite the year for me…I had made a decision to move to Fallbrook. Had been living in Portland, Oregon for 42 years…so rich in culture and friends and work and the best Church you could possibly ask for..The pastor was an x-wrestler, and so beautifully educated..so inspiring, so I left everything I knew..I also had an artists group that I saw and was part of and sold our wares with great success…I left my circle of zydeco dancing folks as well…but I knew I was time for my next chapter…a quiet town, beautiful surroundings, and an hour from my sister and her family…My Mom had passed, I finally understood unconditional love…It sure took me long enough, but I got it. I loved her with everything I had..and she knew it..It made a difference…and so after she was gone, I was free to start my new life…I sold my place and bought a house here, sight unseen…my sister and realtor both said yes…and I made the leap of faith..eeek… and they were right.. Still, I pinch myself as I make fresh tangerine juice and sit in the sun every morning..Has the move been difficult.. oh my…yes. but I know that I made the right decision…Do I want to holler at the politics of most Fallbrookians, oh yes…but I try and understand and talk to the conservative guys at the donut shop.. Some of them do make sense…anyhow..It was quite the year and I know that my life will unfold in a quieter but rewarding way…but I sure miss walking around the corner and hearing an amazing blues or soul band at my local….

Outside of the election, the other major event in my life in 2012 was my move from my beloved San Luis Obispo to Seattle, Washington to be nearer 2 of my children. I’ve been in Seattle nearly 3 weeks and my head is swimming from all the changes I am experiencing. So I am looking forward to 2013 and hoping for peace in the world and peace in my heart and head.

Is it possible that Congress has always been so stuffed with fools? Or are we the fools? Are we really as dumb as they think we are?
This year, some people I know, smart people, voted against their own best interest.
It used to be that even though I didn’t agree with some political ideas, I could understand how that person came to the idea. No more.
But despite all that, the right guy won, I am not sure of the reality of Obama, but I sure like the idea of him.

For me, this was a year of breaking and healing: five bones–four ribs and one hip. And thanking God for the outcome of the election.

Patty

One of the most important principals of life is not to dwell on the rotten side so I won’t – I will summarize it in one sentence.
The human race is brilliant when it comes to technology but people are (dangerous) nincunpoops when it comes to sociology and they even reject the idea that change and drastic improvement are needed – very sadly, that attitude has not change since the Stone Ages!
Those moments that remain imbedded in one’s consciousness are nearly always horrendous – 911, assassination of President Kennedy, the bomb that fell on our house at the beginning of the Siege of Budapest, Hungary. Those must be moved to a subconscious part of our memories where such memories can help to improve society to be more humane, sensible and friendly.
Noticeable changes take time and the effort of people who see the world with rose colored glasses. Below I list some such developments:
A human being was re-elected as the President of the USA. Perhaps Americans will once again focus on the future and live in the present rather then living in and wishing for the past.

China and India are slowly but surely bringing their hordes out of dire poverty and starvation.

Sweden is creating energy from waste and is importing the garbage of other countries to provide the needed energy for its population.

The western World is beginning to realize that our political culture does not fit all.

The “environment” is beginning to be a meaningful word in most languages in the World.

America’s NRA was left speechless for a short time after an even more horrendous massacre – it may lead to a tiny little change in our social spider web.

Europeans begin to realize that creating a true union will take a lot more then words of wisdom and a name (The European Union). Cultural and social changes must create an interdependency that supersedes national pride and independence.

Hopefully these few positive signs overwhelm the many negatives that are due to the social spider web caused human frailties.

I love you and your perspective, Peter!

Now that the new year has arrived, the old year survived,
I see ahead a path, of achievabilities.
Of discoveries and surprise.

Of Awakening To True Nature,
A glimpse of your Face
Before you were born,
Of Love, continually re-borne.

Willing to return,
Joy to be alive!

—

One of my first discoveries, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chabon
(Sorry about that. The comment function doesn’t provide linkage. I encourage you to look him up. Oh yes! Check out his wife! [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayelet_Waldman]).