Happy Friday!

I am 11 days younger than Madonna. I have survived another year, another trip around the sun.  I am another year older, another year wiser, another closer to retirement, another day closer to the end. We are celebrating my birthday in Manhattan, going out to lunch, shopping, sightseeing; the first out of town trip in over a year.  I will check your comments when we are in the hotel.  

By all measures, this was a weird year.  Working from home, covering our faces to enter a business or bank.  Strange for me not traveling.  My first real staycations.  Slowly returning to a deserted office, 250 desks and maybe 10 people in the office, yet everyone (nearly everyone) is still employed.  Every life needs a little weirdness- 2020-2021 was a lifetime of weird.  

I have had fun.  I have taken more long walks than ever in my life. I have slowed down, maybe not enough, but I am seeing things I missed in my rush through the years. I have rediscovered my love of photography, and captured some incredible images. I have grown what is left of my hair to an all time length.  I have discovered that I have a beach body and enjoyed floating in the pool. I have found wonders in my backyard. I have baked cakes, made tarts, pickled things, and cooked things.  I have read, I have learned.  I have shared.  I have taught.  I have found new insights into old topics.  My critics may not believe me, but we agree on more than we disagree on.  I have spoken up a few times, probably to few times.  I eliminated a few toxic people from my life.  I have tried to make the world a better place for having been here this year.  Financially it was a good year, income was up, expenses were down, savings passed a long term goal.  I have written, 365 or more blog posts. I have written professional articles, a few long letters, and the text for a book about my walks.  I have loved and been loved.  I have tried to be there for friends. I have recognized tipping points in my psyche, and worked to restore balance and happiness in my life. I have lost, a dear blogger gone far to soon, and some faith in the media and our political system.  

The good, has outweighed the bad.  It is a year I won't forget, and at the same time one I wouldn't want to repeat.  But I am not one for reliving the past.  

My wish for the coming year?  For everyone to have safety, security, good health, good friends, to make the world a better place for having been here.  

 My parents were not much for baby pictures, I was born in August, my best guess is this was taken either in December of that year, or March of the following year on my sister's birthday.  It is one of the earliest photos of Me! 

The views from lunch on Thursday.