That Year in Review meme...
That Year in Review meme...
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Be with someone when they died.
Become a widow.
Travel to Japan
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I have goals to work towards, rather than make resolutions. I worked towards last year's as best I could. The next year is about gentleness, healing, me-time, and creative things.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friends Jo and Nova had a gorgeous boy they have called Silas Michael. Several others had babies or announced pregnancies.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My beloved husband, Mikey, wrapped in my arms. I miss him so much. Wonderful brave man
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan.
Indonesia.
The sphere of life and death.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Time off from the demands of the world. Less stress. More time just for me.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The date Mikey died. The date of his funeral.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I was so glad I was able to be there for Mikey, both as a wife and carer.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Chemotherapy for Mikey. It bought him 6 months of life, and so was priceless.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mikey, who was so brave and uncomplaining under dreadful circumstances.
All of the medical and support staff who cared for him.
All of the family and friends who supported us.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nasty people in the world doing ghastly things. The public ones (shootings, attacks against women etc) and the ones not in the public eye.
Anyone who made Mikey and my life more difficult than it had to be.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Chemotherapy, other medical costs, then mortgage as a distant third.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Under other circumstances, going to Japan would have been the most exciting thing. It WAS very exciting, but I was also grieving.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
The songs for Mikey's funeral:
a) Entrance the opening theme from Star Wars episode IV
b) soul vocals of "Down to the river to pray" from "Brother Where Art Thou".
c) "Don't you forget about me", Simple Minds.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Meditation. Creative things.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing over annoying people and things.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Mikey's family. It was the 6 month anniversary of his death.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Continued to be in love with my husband.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Same.
24. What was the best book you read?
"Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper" series, by Nathan Lowell. Mikey asked me to start reading it to him in Bethesda, and I finished the series after he died.
26. What did you want and get?
A new over locker.
27. What did you want and not get?
A cure for brain cancer.
29. What did you do on your birthday?
The SilverChain respite people came in the afternoon so I went to high tea with a bunch of wonderful friends.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Mikey not dying.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Practical. I love the MadMen inspired fashions too.
32. What kept you sane?
Sharing a laugh with Mikey. Good friends and family. My sketch book.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nigella Lawson.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Violence against women.
35. Who did you miss?
My beloved Mikey.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
AMAZING medical and caring staff who are inspiring, especially the palliative care nurses. I got to know some people better and appreciate again how incredible they are.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Don't you forget about me", Simple Minds.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Be with someone when they died.
Become a widow.
Travel to Japan
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I have goals to work towards, rather than make resolutions. I worked towards last year's as best I could. The next year is about gentleness, healing, me-time, and creative things.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friends Jo and Nova had a gorgeous boy they have called Silas Michael. Several others had babies or announced pregnancies.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My beloved husband, Mikey, wrapped in my arms. I miss him so much. Wonderful brave man
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan.
Indonesia.
The sphere of life and death.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Time off from the demands of the world. Less stress. More time just for me.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The date Mikey died. The date of his funeral.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I was so glad I was able to be there for Mikey, both as a wife and carer.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Chemotherapy for Mikey. It bought him 6 months of life, and so was priceless.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mikey, who was so brave and uncomplaining under dreadful circumstances.
All of the medical and support staff who cared for him.
All of the family and friends who supported us.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nasty people in the world doing ghastly things. The public ones (shootings, attacks against women etc) and the ones not in the public eye.
Anyone who made Mikey and my life more difficult than it had to be.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Chemotherapy, other medical costs, then mortgage as a distant third.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Under other circumstances, going to Japan would have been the most exciting thing. It WAS very exciting, but I was also grieving.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
The songs for Mikey's funeral:
a) Entrance the opening theme from Star Wars episode IV
b) soul vocals of "Down to the river to pray" from "Brother Where Art Thou".
c) "Don't you forget about me", Simple Minds.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Meditation. Creative things.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing over annoying people and things.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Mikey's family. It was the 6 month anniversary of his death.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Continued to be in love with my husband.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Same.
24. What was the best book you read?
"Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper" series, by Nathan Lowell. Mikey asked me to start reading it to him in Bethesda, and I finished the series after he died.
26. What did you want and get?
A new over locker.
27. What did you want and not get?
A cure for brain cancer.
29. What did you do on your birthday?
The SilverChain respite people came in the afternoon so I went to high tea with a bunch of wonderful friends.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Mikey not dying.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Practical. I love the MadMen inspired fashions too.
32. What kept you sane?
Sharing a laugh with Mikey. Good friends and family. My sketch book.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nigella Lawson.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Violence against women.
35. Who did you miss?
My beloved Mikey.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
AMAZING medical and caring staff who are inspiring, especially the palliative care nurses. I got to know some people better and appreciate again how incredible they are.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Don't you forget about me", Simple Minds.