It's that time of the year....

It's that time of the year....

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The year 2010 in a nut shell..

Looking back and taking stock of last year for me.  January started off depressing.  It had been so icy out that Christmas with my kids had to be changed a couple of times.  Alone on Christmas Day 2009 I gathered up goodies to take with me to the nursing home to visit an old friend of mine.  I slid sideways backing out of my garage into the alley.  This scared me enough that I managed to get the car back in the garage and I went back in the house.  I think that I was in a state of depression, no family close by, 100 miles in two different directions.  So the thought began to cross my mind in January that I wanted to move closer to family.  Not Chicago where my son lives, as the traffic is horrendous there.  I love my son dearly but I couldn’t imagine driving in that area. 
That left moving closer to my daughter.  Still, I really did not want to leave my home, 50 years of memories there with Jim.  So I put that thought to the back of my mind.  The winter continued snowy, cold and lots of ice.  I did manage to get out most days to workout at the fitness center.  I was doing really well too, lifting fixed weights, treadmill and recumbent bike.  I had a lot of friends, even a few of them were almost like family.  But the idea was still in my head to move.  I did a lot of soul searching over this.
Time moved along until as I have mentioned before in a post, I woke up one morning in March and picked up the phone and called the realtor that had sold my good friend’s house.  Johnny on the spot he marched his bottom end over, took photos.  Wham, bam, the next day he started showing the house.  On the 5th day my house sold.  Divine intervention is what my Twin told me and I have come to believe that.
Next came a lot of pure hard work on my part.  Doctor visits, dental checkup, and the most daunting task of all, packing up 50 years of stuff.  Sorting, packing and giving away, I did this all myself.  My daughter came to help me with a garage sale.  I made several trips moving stuff in my car and my good friends Rex and Sandi furnished me with all of the boxes that I needed.  Still all in all I had to hire a moving van.
Ok, now on April 15 I found myself living in a city that is 8 times larger than the little town I lived in for so long.  Oh no, there are lots of one way streets here which I haven’t mastered yet. (That is a new year’s resolution by the way)  I suffered so much with homesickness.  I thought I had made a terrible mistake.  As the time has passed I have developed what my daughter calls my “comfortable routes” that I use to go to the stores, pharmacy, etc.  She keeps telling me that I can go another way and for heavens sake mom use the GPS as that is what it is for.  Having raised two kids, I just nod my head and agree and go right ahead and do exactly what I want to do.
Anyway, the bottom line is, I am happy here.  I do miss my house and my friends, but I call them and they call me and a couple of them have come to see me a few times.  I have a lot of family here besides my daughter and son in law.  So summing everything up, 2010 has been a good year for me and I am looking forward to 2011 being even better.
I hope this will be a good year for you all too.
Red heart  Beth

21 comments:

  1. All I can say is great minds think alike. Beth, my thoughts have gone down the same path today and I, too, went back through 2010.
    I am so glad that you are settled in, though. It's not easy picking up and moving from a home that's been a home for so long. But I can think of of ONE thing you're not missing at all -- a certain tree.
    I can still see that tree shedding all those pods all over your old street and sidewalk. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall to hear what the "new folks" think, ha.
    XOXOXO

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  2. With a new year comes new opportunities... new memories to make and share, new friends, new habits, new hopes, etc. But with a new year, we also reflect on the past 365 days... what we did, didn’t do, achieved, slightly missed, things we did that we did NOT plan on, and overall ... it's a time to smile and *sigh* perhaps under our breath at another blessed year gone by.
    My hope for you is that you will have an amazing 2011 surrounded by all the people that matter the most to you. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
    .......... What agreat entry, I really enjoyed it!

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  3. Oh, Beth, you have me crying and reaching for a Kleenex tissue. I remember it all like yesterday. I am so happy that you were able to get through all this and sum it up to being a good year. I wish you many, many, many, did I say many?, well many more good years with God right by your side. Thank you for being such a great friend to both myself and Jaiden. As far as we are concerned, we are family! I hope you have enjoyed the first day of 2011. Goodnight. Sweet Dreams. With love and care from Kerrie and Jaiden. xOx

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  4. I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come on over to my blog and check it out. God bless, Lloyd

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  5. Yes indeed it was a year wasn't it Sis.. divine is the word I would use too.. no one sells a house now days in less than a week!! Unheard of here anyway. I do think things work out for the good so you are where you are supposed to be now. Glad you are now some settled and closer to your family too. Wishing you a healthy 2011!!

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  6. Facing a new year with that kind of hope is nothing short of inspiring my friend. Changes like that are so huge that I figure that they either make or break you and you sound like they've surely made you! Happy New Year indeed!

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  7. (wow, we must have been on each other's pages at the exact same moment -- great minds for sure)

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  8. I am so happy you are closer to family. I loved reading your posts of going places with your daughter and visits. I so recall that miracle of your home selling so fast. It must have been a divine intervention. You are strong Beth. I wanna be jist like you when I grow up!

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  9. Hi Beth

    I definately feel your move was inspired and made happen by divine intervention. You do seem much less lonely and much happier. Here's to a bright 2011 for us all, it will have its down moments, but with Jesus alongside us, we will not only survive, but prosper.

    Love Nita

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  10. Hi Beth it sure sounds as if you have done the right thing, and living nearer to your family.Fifty years is a long time and I know it must have been hard for you.You sound happy now that you have settled. Finding the easy routes yes I think I would do the same. Happy times ahead for 2011 and good health Beth. HUgs Sheila

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  11. So funny, Beth...I came to the same conclusion about myself only a few days ago...there are two ways I can go, not sure which is the best choice for me yet...you made the right decision...I hate to leave what I've built, but I know it's best to do it...

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  12. So happy that you took me along with you through all those crazy days. I might not always comment, but I am keeping an eye on you. Like Toodie, I want to be like you when I grow up! LOL Happy New Year Dear! The best is yet to come!

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  13. Yes, you did that whole move admirably! It IS hard to make such a change and to do it alone, basically. Even though it is scary at the time, you can look back at it and be proud of yourself for accomplishing it in fine fashion! 2011 hopes to be even better!

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  14. I thought about chronicling my year but I didn't as there is a certain sameness to it. I came out on the other side of it though and with gratitude.

    xoxo

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  15. I think it was a wonderful move for you. You have gotten out more in the past eight months than the previous five years. I feel better about you with family close by. Your sister, Rae

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  16. I am glad it turned out to be a positive move. I am reading a book about the brain and it can't say enough good things about doing something really different to stimulate the old noggin. It could easily have ended up feeling like a big mistake - so it is a good thing that it worked out well for you. I guess, in the end, all decisions end up reflecting the decider more than the actual new circumstance...

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  17. I really enjoyed reading this. The move was a big change in your life but it turned out so well for you.

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  18. I am so happy for you as I said so many time when you had moving to close to your daughter.
    Thats best things you has done in the last year.
    After that your health is improve too.
    keep it up and bright happy year for you.

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  19. You are so very brave to jump into the new waters and I'm inspired to now believe I may be able to accomplish similar results when the necessity becomes absolute. I'm really afraid of change and adverse to it completely at the current time. You have proved that it can work well. Thank you and congratulations and best wishes for your good health and adventures ahead!

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  20. Happy New Year Beth! I'm in catch up mode again.
    I enjoyed your year end wrap up. All in all I didn't have a bad year and I feel optimistic about the new one. I'm looking forward for some down time in a day or so. Maybe I'll muster the energy to write a blog.
    I hope you have a wonderful year.
    After all you are the big sister I never had.

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