Just taking stock of all that happened in 2010

With two days left of 2010, I suppose it’s time to take a look back at what the year held. Well, the year started with January as it always does and then came February and then March…oh, I guess it was more exciting than that. There was snow and then there was sun and then there was hot sun and then there was snow again. Okay, okay, that’s not that exciting either.
Really, this year was filled with things that didn’t happen the previous year. Right? Oh, I guess I should list those things. Here I go, in no particular order and all in one breath:
My book Cup of Comfort for a Better World came out in March and I was featured in the Tecumseh Herald and my old hometown newspaper the Canton Observer. Kid One and Kid Two finished their final year at Britton schools and moved on to Ypsilanti, which is much closer to home, but the transition was a little rocky for Kid One, who misses all his friends. Kid Two misses her friends two, but she is slightly less shy. Who am I kidding? The kid doesn’t have a shy bone in her body. The “rents” came to hang out with us for a while. My mom, a fabulous painter, turned my writing room into an art studio. My dad got to know the U of M crowed at Smokey’s Fine Cigars on Stadium. We spent many evenings on our crazy huge deck, also known as the landing pad, eating the fine foods created by my mom and J. Another book came out, Sweet Lemons 2: International Writings With a Sicilian Accent, which included several of my poems that paid tribute to my family and our Sicilian heritage. I taught college writing classes and Community Arts of Tecumseh classes and loved every minute of it. My novel was rejected 13 times, which seems like a lot, but really isn’t. I learned to bead a Dutch spiral and create charms out of beads and wire. I kicked the caffeine habit and completely changed the way I eat and live, so now my clothes are fitting a little bit better. I’m sure there is more, but those are the major highlights.
What did I learn in 2010? As always, my family rocks and I wouldn’t be who I am without them. Writing is hard but worth every drop of blood it pulls from me. Adjustment is hard but change is a part of life. Getting lug nuts off a flat tire is hard but where there is a will there is a way. Playing with small, shiny glass beads makes me happy—mostly. It’s okay to make mistakes because that’s how we learn. The more, the merrier is true—mostly. The best thing about teaching is that I learn, too.
What will 2011 hold? I don’t know, but I’m laying plans for the best of intentions. So, that’s a good start.
Happy New Year to all!!!