A little later than usual, a few more ups and downs, but all in all, a second year of pandemic noise that was generally accepted as awful but nonetheless had some incredibly bright spots for me personally; another blog post that nobody will see except maybe my kid.
1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Bought a puppy, sent a kid to college, brought him back, got a colonoscopy, faced spousal retirement.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I should take this question off. I never have resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. We had quite enough of that in 2020, thank you.
5. What countries did you visit?
Nowhere new this year.
6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
A U.S. populace that is not only physically healthy but also unafraid of shadows, boogeymen, air, etc. Also, a new house in Missouri or Illinois by summer.
7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't really do this, either. I do well to remember vaguely the season in which an event occurred.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I believe it was getting the dog housebroken.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope; and depending on what media you follow that puts me in the majority or the minority.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The puppy. Nicky is a doll.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Despite his setbacks, I was immensely proud of my kid for going to Florida and not dying.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Pretty much everyone else's. Right wing, left-wing, fearmongers, the fearful, I found them ALL tiresome.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The dog, a fence, and college tuition.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
See the answers to No. 14.
16. What song will always remind you of this year?
I have reached an age where I don't listen to much new music. i should probably rectify that, but with Sirius XM playing multiple channels of old favorites, it's unlikely to happen.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? there were highs and lows, but overall, about the same.
ii. thinner or fatter? about the same, but in better shape.
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
It sounds like a horrible idea, but I wish I'd checked in with the kid more to help him stay on track.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worked when I should have played.
20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
We went to see my mom. Again. And it was great—much better than last year. JB announced his retirement.
21. Did you fall in love?
This one is an established daily tradition since 1998.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't think I had one. We didn't really watch anything new.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Well, I'm not too fond of the gal who threw my kid into a tailspin.
24. What was the best book you read?
Oh, goodness. I have no idea. I really should start keeping a list.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That I need to listen to all my CDs on iTunes to make sure the files are not glitchy and then start selling them off.
26. What did you want and get?
The dog.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
I liked Belfast a lot. I also enjoyed Last Night in Soho and I thought the Sparks documentary was fantastic.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 50. We went to DisneyWorld (which also turned 50), but that was more in consideration of the kid's last spring break as a high schooler than my birthday.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The kid sticking it out in college. But there's always 2022.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Gym clothes—sweats, shorts, and T-shirts.
31. What kept you sane?
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
I have decided that fat and dumb are the way to be happy. I tried to ignore politics as much as I could.
33. Who did you miss?
All the dead ones—especially the newly dead ones.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
Our new across-the-street neighbors.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned:
Go out whenever you can; connect whenever you can; don't wait around for it to be safer or more convenient or socially acceptable. Fricking do it.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right...
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