2011 in my rearview mirror

This has been the biggest year of my life. The biggest change is the concept that I can have what I want,  in a timely manner, the way I want it. This is a first for me in my lifetime! I'd like to think that is hasn't changed me much, but who am I kidding?  I bought a house with acreage we didn't need,  just because I wanted "property." I bought a Ranger Crew Cab UTV just to have something to ride around in, even though there is seldom anyone here to go riding with. I bought I car I didn't even like, but only because my old reliable '95 Ford Taurus suddenly started falling apart at an alarming rate. I had a wheelchair ramp built outside my front door, even though I am not in a wheelchair. I bought a rolling walker and had the back steps and the deck steps both re-built so I can go out to the dog yard or into the back yard or over to the picnic shelter whenever I want to, even when there's no one around to help.

I am purposefully saying "I" instead of "we". The money for all these purchases and projects came from my inheritance, and I did all the planning, research, interviewing, hiring, firing, and bank account juggling. Bill just shows up at the end of the day and takes credit and ownership of it all. Yes, Bill's name is on the car, the Ranger, etc, etc. But I digress.

The driveway project finally got underway in October and took weeks instead of the few days I anticipated. Also I was not anticipating a full garage. But, I now have a full garage, and it will soon have automatic garage door openers and the chest freezer in it. My car, Bill's truck if he wishes, a snow shovel, some Saf-T Salt, and that's it. Nothing else of Bill's is allowed. I should have had Pete put up some shelves along the walls, just above head-height, then I could store a few things from the house out there, such as the Christmas tree, some of the ornaments, my diecast collection and anything else not likely to be damaged by damp air or mice.

I still find myself running around turning off lights and the TV when Bill leaves things on when he leaves the house. I still shop the sales at the supermarket and the dollar stores. I fret over the insane prices the Doherty Hotel charges for their holiday dinners now, when earlier this year they were so reasonable.

I have gotten fatter. I had to buy a size larger everything, and I'm not pleased. I am buying healthier food and eating so much better, with more fresh produce, more fiber, less junk food, and yet I've gained about 13 pounds this year. My house is so much bigger, I have a huge yard which I enjoy as often as I can, I'm on my feet and away from my desk more now than I've been in a decade. But I keep getting fatter. I also went the entire year without having an illness that kept me off my feet for more than a day at a time; had no diarrhea, no vomiting, no horrendous colds that made swallowing difficult. Maybe I need to have a bout of something, Bark Out Loud!

My brain is fine, and I have the scan results to prove it. So is my hearing and my heart. I confounded a neurologist when my nerve tests indicated that my legs are too "dead" for me to be able to walk, and yet I still do. I get to keep my transplanted kidney for another year. I am planning a charity lawn mower race to benefit the National Kidney Foundation and I volunteer some of my social networking time and work with a group that assists pet rescues. I quit going to church. Sorry, Lord, but I still feel that panic when anyone approaches me in a church setting. Whatever they want to ask me, the answer is "no." I don't want to serve on your committee, thank you. This is the biggest reason I fled Prince of Peace. Staying home Christmas Eve will feel odd.


That about covers it. Now I want to start looking forward to the next year and what changes I can bring about, now that I feel that I finally have a little control over my life.