So, it is the last day of 2012, and following my annual tradition, I have a cold. Honestly, it's a tradition I would gladly do away with, but maybe it's the Universe's way of telling me to slow the heck down and take time to reflect on the past year.
2012 started with a tree falling on our house. No joke. It wasn't a big tree, and it really didn't do any real damage, but it certainly got our attention, and the rest of the year kept us on our toes until right about now. That dinky little tree must have been some sort of sign that 2012 was going to be testing us on quite a bit more than the strength of our roof.
Oh, and test us it did. In 2012, I found myself in the midst of attending graduate school, student teaching, quitting my job, and planning a wedding. To give you a small tidbit of what my mind was like during those months, there was a moment when I was looking frantically for my keys, and kept searching throughout the entire house, maniacally looking at the clock and freaking out about how late I was to some class. I kept yelling at everything, as if it was Newton's, Ampersand's, or Evan's fault that my keys had gone missing. As I was ranting, waving my hands around angrily and cursing my house for being a black hole that swallows keys, I realized that they were actually in my hand, and had probably been there for a while. Yep, that's how intact my mental faculties were for the majority of 2012. It's a miracle I didn't try to make floral arrangements with my 7th graders and teach Roman history to my bridal party.
2012 was tough on us in other ways, too. On September 3rd, one of my oldest and dearest friends passed away. His loss absolutely broke my heart, along with many others', and I honestly feel like the world has lost some of its light since his passing. It has been impossible to understand, but I find comfort in remembering him for the amazing person he was, and the impact he had on so many lives.
In remembering the harder moments of this past year, I can't help but feel so incredibly lucky to have such amazing family and friends that helped me through it all. I'm more than fairly certain I would have never made it to today in nearly as good of shape (they always downplayed how deep and dark my crazy deep/dark my under-eye circles were) without all of their support and love.
Even though there were difficult times this year, there were some amazing moments, too. For example (and I'm pretty sure you can all guess what I'm going to say) July 27th, 2012, was a phenomenal day. I honestly feel like I floated down the aisle (a miracle, considering I was wearing three-inch heels and walking on uneven grass) because I was totally lifted by the hope, love, and support all around us. On that day, I married my best friend, and we began a crazy, life-long adventure, which has already featured parasailing in Hawaii, hosting Thanksgiving without giving anyone food poisoning, cutting our very first married Christmas Tree (and consequently killing it because we forgot to make to cut the stump again, therefore it wouldn't absorb any water), nearly going bankrupt over a feline, surviving No Shave November with minimal razor burn, and learning the Canadian sport of Curling (a post for another day, trust me). Also, I got over my crippling fear of cooking, and embarked on making some edible meals (others, not so much. I'm working on it) more complicated than grilled cheese or Ramen noodles.
My Dayquil is wearing off, and so therefore, is my endurance for typing on my very old, crotchety laptop. I wish I had the strength to write about every amazing moment of 2012, because really, there were a lot. I wish I could go into so much more detail about Grey's Nights, Sushi Dates, and Baking Adventures. But all I will say is that they are all moments that I will carry with me through the end of 2012, into 2013, and for many, many years afterward.
And so I say goodbye to 2012, with a kiss and a slightly hacking cough, and say hello to 2013 with a smile and so much hope for all the memories to be made there.
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