2012: In Memoriam

Dear 2012,

I'll admit that I had my doubts about you the first couple of months. 2011 had a couple of really awesome moments (Europe... yay!) but otherwise it just kind of sucked. I had an awful job, I lost weight (which isn't good when you don't have any too lose) and I ended the year broke with no real job prospects. I was relieved that it ended and you arrived with the promise of better things. However, those first two months were not fun at all. Panic attacks and depression... Really? I had thought a new year meant new endeavors and new amazing opportunities but no... you gave me 2 months of the same old stuff I dealt with the last 12 months. You even gave me my first ticket for running a red light that I didn't run! We both know I made that light. I began to think nothing would change and I'd end 2012 in the same place as the previous year. But, I gotta hand it to you, you really pulled through for me. 

By the end of February, I had a job with decent pay and wonderful people. I even got health benefits and 2 weeks of paid vacation. I know 2012 was the year of the dragon but it became the year of the sandwich for myself. Everyday I began to feel more like myself again. The panic attacks ended, the depression turned into happiness and my confidence began to build up. 2012, you returned my self confidence. It was a rather long process and took most of the year but it's back and I feel like the Alison-tour-de-force again. That's something for which I cannot express my gratitude enough. 

I was financially stable enough to go my Nichole in S. Dakota. We went to Yellowstone and spent a crazy couple of days. It was cold and hot and we burned to a crisp. But also had crazy amounts of fun. It was good to see Old Faithful and know that real friendships endure no matter how far apart we are. Thank you for providing the Olympics so Nichole and I could share our Olympic love together. The gymnastics rocked! You picked a PHENOMENAL team, including Makayla Mahoney (vault girl), who was not impressed with her silver. Hopefully, in a year or two she'll realize that she completed BOMBED her second vault but was still great enough to land a silver. She was sitting down... SITTING DOWN and she still got silver. To me that says, "Hey, I'm so much better than everybody else that I don't even have to land my vaults to beat you." I bow to her talent. It was also fun watching Michael Phelps win his 19th medal and watching youngster Missy Franklin just take the world by storm. She's 17 and already won 7 medals!! I just wanted to be her best friend, she was so adorable. Oh and the beach volleyball was fun too. I think I bit off all my fingernails watching Kerri and Misty play. I would've cried if they didn't win. I have no words for the awesomeness of the London Olympics... massive kudos to you 2012. 

Not to say 2012 that you didn't have your issues. I mean you did break my foot... while I was at work. You did cause me to miss a week of work only to find out that my leg is falling apart. I knew it was old and probably in bad shape but I wasn't expecting the ticking time bomb on my knee. They couldn't even fix it or put a band aid solution on it. And then when I went to try and get a new one, I heard the stinging words of "pre-existing condition." Which is a bunch of crap... Why should I be blamed for something I had no control over???? I don't drink or smoke or do any really dangerous things.... I just want to be able to function and live like everyone else. Stupid insurance... ugh. But on the bright side of all this, you did at least enforce the 2010 healthcare reform. For the time being, it can't be repealed (thank you Supreme Court)! Blah, blah, blah... I'm Christian and I support it... so what? I'm also human and would like to make sure that all my health needs are met. I don't use my disability as a crutch, I don't have a woe is me attitude, I don't even have a friggin' handicapped sticker for my car!!!! All I ask is that I be able to use the insurance that I EARN and PAY FOR properly. So all you haters and sit down, shut up and take a number because I've been WITHOUT coverage for my leg for a long time and I'm done caring about stupidity. Maybe it's selfish, maybe it's wrong but I supported Obama's healthcare from the beginning and thank you 2012 for at least prolonging it's life. 

There were some political issues, 2012, but I won't get into that. Long story short, ALL of Congress needs to be fired. They can't even clean up their own mess.

Also thank you 2012 for 4 wonderful years with my man. It's not a perfect relationship but it's ours and he's proved more and more to be the man I always dreamed of. It's funny how God knows things you needed that you didn't. Like why would I ever have wanted to date a picky eater? Well, I get heart burn pretty easily and when I go out with Zack, he picks places that don't give me heartburn. You also provided him with a big boy job.. one that he seems to like a whole lot. It's entry level but he's happy just to be working. It's also funny to hear him complain about the same things I did when I first started working. No social life, meetings on your days off... I just tell him what he told me. "It's ok, hunny." 

Thanks for the continuing health of my family. And for letting my mom lose close to 40 lbs this year! WOOT!  It's truly a miracle and she's happier and healthier. Being around my mom at all, she's just overall happier. I think her optimism is even returning. You provided Kristin with a job at school and a seriously awesome internship in her field. And you provided another one for her at the end of the year. An even better one that is precisely what she wants to do and will grow her so much. Tracie got a full-time job and better health benefits! Holla! Her health has also improved and I know we're all thankful for the lack of seizures on her part now (especially Patrick). I only have one small, tiny bone to pick about this. I didn't become an aunt in 2012. I know patience is a virtue but they've been married 4 years now and she's almost 30. I love them both a great deal and they'll great parents. Is is so much to ask to be an aunt?

You've also provided for my friends too. Everyone got jobs (and I mean everyone). Nichole got a job at a daycare on base, Jen got salaried with benefits, Tristan ran off to Japan to teach English, and Megan had a teaching job before graduating. Megan got married, Nichole finished planning her wedding and Jen is dating a seemingly nice guy named Alex (I get to meet him today so I cannot yet pass judgement). Tristan is still missing from this group but I hear Japan is lacking in that department. And I forgot Susan... my favorite old boss whom I wish I lived closer too... she had a baby!!!!!!! The cutest most adorable baby girl named Addy. I'm so happy for her and Aaron! Yay! 

So overall 2012, you were a great year! I mean a seriously great year! The best I've had since graduating (although those years are still in their infancy). I just wanted to say thank you for being a great year, for providing new opportunities and letting us leave old days behind. Looking back, I wish there was some stuff that would've gone differently (my leg) but other than that, I wouldn't change it for the world. And if the Mayan calendar is correct, then we're starting a new era of something. I'm excited to see what 2013 has in store for me. I do know that it does at least hold a couple of wonderful things. A bunch of weddings (dear friends, please stop getting married in 2013... I will be broke), a car for myself, the college graduation of Kristin, AND most important to me... a BRAND NEW LEG! oh... 2013... i only have 1 resolution to which i have no control over... i would like to be an aunt, please. 

P.S. 2012, thank you for introducing me to a most wonderful creative endeavor... quilting! It rocks.