It is a bit difficult for me to look back on 2024.
There were a lot of good and happy times that happened for me and my family, but there were a lot of hard, tough and upsetting times that happened as well.
Our year...
The good stuff...
In 2024, Briana finished up her senior year with a 4.0, attended her senior prom, earned the culinary student of the year award and graduated from high school. She had her wisdom teeth removed. She started college at SCAD in Atlanta, got on the dean's list for her first quarter and learned to live away from home for the first time. She turned 18 and voted in her first election. Doug and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary. Doug, Bri and I visited NYC and Amelia Island, Florida. Doug and Briana visited Colorado. Doug changed jobs and traveled a bit for work including a trip to Madrid. We all had many awesome get togethers with friends/family (including several graduation dinners) and reconnected with friends that we hadn't seen in a while.
This was also a large portion of my year unfortunately...
I started the year with an arthritic flair-up in my knees and continued Haglund's deformity pain (which persisted until I had my surgery). I started physical therapy that helped my knees but not my heel. I had my first routine colonoscopy (I got a good report). The medicine that I had taken to help my heel and knees ate up my stomach (heartburn and acid reflux). So, I got an ultrasound, fibroscan and an endoscopy to check it out (changing doctors in between tests because my first doctor was a nasty prick). I was put on Nexium and luckily, I am feeling better in that department now. I had a spot on my face in the spring that made me nervous, so I had it checked by my dermatologist and it wasn't anything to worry about. I decided to get a full body (skin) check about a month later because it needed to be done (that was fun).
My heel was still killing me even with PT, so I had to quit PT, switched to a new doctor and finally got the MRI of my heel that I should have gotten months before. I found out that I did have a tear in my Achilles and my Haglund's wasn't going anywhere. I needed surgery. Over the summer, I felt a lump in my breast and it scared the crap out of me. I had a breast exam and a mammogram and found out it is just the makeup of my body and not cancer (hallelujah). I decided to also get my blood drawn to check my hormone levels because I am in the depths of peri-menopause right now.
I had my surgery done in September and I was non weight-bearing (on a knee scooter) for ten weeks and Doug had to help me with literally everything. It was a really rough recovery. During that time, I worried about Briana adjusting to the growing pains of living away and somewhat difficult roommates and had to talk her through that a bit (she really did great with it overall though). I was finally allowed to wear a walking boot, but being off my foot for ten weeks and then wearing a heavy boot threw my back/body out of whack (which I anticipated), so I am in physical therapy once again.
Not to mention that I still deal with sinus and tonsil issues every so often and I caught some sort of virus over Christmas.
There are a few other things that are weighing on me that I didn't mention in this post because I would like them to remain private.
To say my anxiety is through the roof is an understatement.
Oh - and throw in an election that didn't go the way I had hoped (I was seriously crushed) and I am kind of a mess about it. I am trying to move on but I will NEVER get over it. Ever.
And this is what we are dealing with (a tale of two presidents)...
So, I cannot say that I am super thrilled about going into 2025. I am tip toeing in cautiously and begrudgingly. People often say "I'm going to jump in and start fresh/anew in the new year!" Unfortunately, I am dragging some of my 2024 issues into 2025 - and it isn't really something I can control. I dread January 20th coming. I'm sad Briana has to leave for school again on Sunday (happy for her, sad for me). I know it will take quite some time for me to walk normally again. To me, it just feels like every year that comes along gets tougher. The boomer generation is getting older and the gen X generation is getting older. Things get more difficult, sad and complicated the older we get. It just does.
Life. Is. Hard.
I'm truly not trying to be a negative. I am just being real and honest. You have to try to find and/or create the happy moments. I do count my blessings as often as I can (fantastic husband, awesome kid, loveable cat, great family and friends, nice home, food on the table), but there are times it still just feels like I am drowning.
I hope that 2025 will have less difficulties than 2024 for everyone. I hope there will be so many more good times than bad ones.
Happy New Year to all of my blog reading friends. Thank you for following my life's journey. Thank you for your kind words and support. It really helps me get through everything.
I am grateful for you all.
