2023, like every year, was the best one yet — but this one was exceptionally good!
1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Visited San Antonio. Visited Tahoe. Drove on Bonneville Salt Flats. Got NYAB to attend dance lessons.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Every year I say I'm gonna diet, and every year the Still Youngish Prince (SYP) is right to scoff at me.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. A couple friends, but we aren't particularly close...
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother. But she had been absent for so long that it didn't really feel all that traumatic.
5. What countries did you visit?
As usual, just this one.
6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
New siding, but that's on hold.
7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I still don't do dates like this.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Pulling the trigger and going part-time at my job. Totally life-altering and game-changing. I'm ecstatic.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only age-related aches and pains.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
Travel, travel, travel. And my zippy Mazda CX-5, Jackie Blue!
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The kid, the kid, the kid. I'm continually impressed by the grown-up traits he demonstrates (even if they are tempered by occasional lapses.)
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Assorted folks on my periphery who made life harder for people I care about and then acted like they were the victims.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Same as last year: the house, travel, tuition.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Traveling with JB. Winning big on the penny slots on our Notre Dame trip.
15. What song will always remind you of this year?
Miles and Miles of Texas by Asleep at the Wheel, heard live at the San Antonio rodeo, which was totally awesome.
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? SO MUCH HAPPIER.
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter and less fit but I have joined a gym and have good intentions.
iii. richer or poorer? We're doing just fine.
17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Yard work. Travel.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worked, but that's fixed now! Next goal is to retire entirely!
19. How (did) you spend Christmas?
SYP home in early December; party at our house the 16th; Christmas Eve with JB's family at my niece KC's house; Christmas and Boxing Day at my mom's.
20. Did you fall in love?
This one is an established daily tradition since 1998.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't know. With streaming, we watch a lot and it's hard to keep it all in mind. Maybe The Crown.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Too happy to hate this year. It's a nice feeling.
23. What was the best book you read?
I read some bad ones. I'm looking forward to reading some good ones in 2024.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
See No. 15.
25. What did you want and get?
Reduced work hours
26. What was your favorite film of this year?
To quote the SYP: Barbenheimer (although I liked Oppenheimer better of those two).
27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 52. Spent the day in St. Louis at our first Cardinals Opening Day. It was gorgeous.
28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year: More play. Less work. Also, if I could reconnect with a couple friends who appear to have dropped me for good without explaining why—but I guess they have their reasons and I'm unlikely to change, so maybe it's for the best.
29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Big and baggy. A lot of sundresses.
30. What kept you sane?
For once, the main thing was not NYAB or sleep—it was going part-time at work. Of course, that meant more time for NYAB and sleeping, so ....
31. What political issue stirred you the most?
I refuse to be stirred by that stuff anymore. It's become SEP.
32. Who did you miss?
All the dead ones—especially my grandmother at her memorial, but my dad a lot, too, for some reason.
33. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably Johnny Boggs and Debby Arnold (who introduced us).
34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned:
It's easier to stay in compliance than try to bring everything back up to speed.
35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Here's to the good times, here's to the sunshine.