Rat to Ox.

[bluealoe]

 I'm not making any sort of predictions about 2021. Last year I kept saying that 2020 would definitely be better, and look what happened. So this year, I am NOT going to jinx it.

 

So much happened this year, and somehow I feel like I have nothing to write. So in no particular order, here's a few things that happened:

 

-My family and friends are safe and healthy, and Rory and I still have jobs. I can't be more thankful for that.

 

-In early March, we lost Peter (Rory's stepdad). We knew he didn't have long, but the end came much sooner than we thought. We were able to go back for the funeral, but while we were there the pandemic really hit and everything started shutting down. We just barely made it home before Alaska shut down. It was incredibly scary, and we were left to deal with a wordwide pandemic and our jobs changing overnight, on top of serious grief. We're still dealing with it.

 

-I've been working from home since March. I'm very grateful to still have a job, and my supervisor did a LOT of work to make sure no one was laid off, but absolutely everything about my job has changed. Now it's all virtual events, editing PDFs, and website work. It's sure not what I thought the job of a museum educator would be. Some part of it are okay, and I've gotten good at parts of it, but overall I can't wait to go back to the museum. Despite that, I did have some successes: Two in-person Family Days (before the pandemic), four virtual Family Days, tons of work on the Early Explorers program, learning how to create accessible PDFs, filming and editing videos, and learning how to work with a new website system (mostly by fiddling around and breaking stuff, but hey, whatever works).

 

-Rory got a promotion at the radio station. It's been stressful for him to learn a new job, but overall it's going well, and I think it's been good for him.

 

-Health-wise, a few things happened (nothing COVID-related, though). In May I had stomach issues and went to Urgent Care, which turned into an ER visit. It turns out I was severely constipated, and let me tell you, the pain was AWFUL. Luckily they were able to treat it, but being in the ER by yourself (they didn't let Rory in) in the middle of a pandemic is not something I can recommend. The whole experience led me to follow-ups with a doctor and a nutritionist and a whole food elimination diet for sevderal months (which really sucked). Turns out there's no particular food I'm allergic to, it's just a matter of eating in moderation, having a balanced diet, getting enough fiber, and drinking enough water. So I've spent the rest of the year getting used to that.

 

-In October, I was helping my mom with some projects at her cabin, and managed to step on a nail. That's when I learned that all the Urgent Care centers in this town close at 5 pm on a Saturday. Not particularly helpful. I was able to go in the next morning and get a tetanus shot (which hurt like hell for about a week), and everything healed fine, but I still have no desire to repeat the experience.

 

-My mom's been in Alaska most of the year, and it's been interesting living in the same town as her. Up until now, I either lived with her, or in a different city altogether, so this is a new experience. I spent a lot of time helping her with various home renovation projects. Having Mom close has been good in some ways, not so good in others.

 

-I discovered I love electric jigsaw tools. I even got one of my birthday! I can cut wood and sheetrock and so many things! I have the power!

 

-We bought a new (to us) car, which wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be. It even has a remote start! But that meant I had to say goodbye to Eve, the Subaru I've had for seven years. I ended up donating her to the local women's shelter. I know it was the right thing to do, but I still miss her so much.

 

-Politically, Alaska is an absolute disaster. But I can't express how immensely relieved I am that Biden won the election. It was like I could breathe again after holding my breath for four years.

 

-The absolute best part of the year was Leopold. This bizarre little black cat with no tail is really what kept me going this year. He can be a total asshole, has no concept of privacy, and does things no normal cat would do (like sit in the sink and let the water run over his head), but I don't know what I would do without him. In June our landlord's dog chased him up a tree; Rory had to climb up a very shaky ladder to retrieve him, and I was so scared they were both going to fall and I'd lose both my husband and my cat. Luckily everything turned out okay, and he hasn't gotten outside since then.

 

I had a few things I wanted to do in 2020:

 

Find a counselor: I did that! I started looking in January, made an appointment for March, then the world exploded and it was all put on hold. I finally got around to it again in June, and have been talking to a counselor on a semi-regular basis since then. Still not sure if it's helping, but it's a start.

Read one book a month: I did that! In fact, I read 24 books (possibly 25 if I finish the one I'm reading tonight). Some for shorter, some longer, but overall I'm pleased with how I did.

Start fencing again: Pandemic put a stop to this one. Hopefully next year?

Do something crafty/creative three times a week: I did well at this one too. I did two cross stitch projects, made lots of friendship bracelets, am working on a needlework kit, and made a whole bunch of pom-pom animals. 

Practice mindfulness: Kinda? I read a book about mindfulness, and thought a lot about it. It's a start?

Communication with Rory: I think we did pretty well. It's always hard, especially with the stress and grief and anxiety this year, but we've managed to talk out a lot of things and keep the lines of communication open.

Plan honeymoon: Couldn't do this because of the pandemic.

Go to hunting camp: Another pandemic casualty.

 

For next year, here are the things I'd like to do:

 

-Read a total of 18 books (three books every two months): I want to keep this up, and even increase my goal a little.

-Do something crafty/creative on a regular basis: It seems to be good for my mental health.

-Do something active three times a week (skiing, walking, yoga, whatever): Not for weight loss or anything, but for mental health.

-Practice mindfulness: I read about it in 2020, now it's time to actually do it.

-Go to hunting camp, if possible: Still on my list.

 

That's less goals than 2020, but I think this year has proven that less is more.

 

Goodbye to 2020, and may the year of the Ox be kind to us all.