12.31.2010

2010: A Year in Review

I am a sucker for "best of"/"worst of" lists. My December magazines are read from cover to cover as I indulge in what these writers consider to be the highlights and lowlights of the past year.

So I decided to put in my own personal retrospective of 2010, as I experienced it.

THE BEST OF TIMES

1. Shaun and I got married on May 8. There were some mild stresses (our church told us in January that we wouldn't be able to use their space due to renovations, so we had to move to a new church AFTER the invites were printed, and also develop a transportation plan since our original church was right next to our reception location) but being surrounded by family and friends really made it the best weekend I can imagine. I will never forget the cheers as we were officially pronounced "husband and wife," the beautiful toasts from my Dad, Judith and Kevin, dancing all night and the party lasting after the reception ended. We have awesome photos of the day (Devon, you are amazing) and I truly could never ask for a better day.

2. Finished grad school. Masters Degree? Check! Will I go back for more school? Probably. I really like school. I also really liked NOT having class from June on, so a break is good too.

3. Work improved greatly in one fell swoop. I was miserable for a long time, and then it got better. It's amazing how a toxic work environment impacts your entire life. I will be forever grateful that work got better- I never thought it would happen.

4. Weddings! We celebrated in Disney World for my oldest friend Kate (not in years, in amount of time I have known her. I have known Kate longer than I have known my sister) and it was great to see her and Matt so happy. We also went to Penn State in May to celebrate Jill, our dear friend and former neighbor from Wynnewood. Both of these weddings were extra fun because of the great guests that were there - it's great to celebrate people you have known for a long time, because you know their families too!

5. TRAVEL - I went to India in January of last year. I will admit I was scared to death to go across the world basically on my own. Then my luggage got lost and there were many great moments of misery. But I learned a LOT and got to see part of the world that I never would have seen otherwise. (Details are available on my India blog). We also did a mini-moon in the Berkshires (Porches Inn was amazing) and our BIG honeymoon trip on a Mediterranean cruise, which is what I always dreamed my honeymoon would be. So yeah, in 2010 I was in Europe and Asia. I feel so world traveler-y. My bridesmaids also took me to Disney World in March for my "bachelorette weekend" - drinking around the world at Epcot, Jellyrolls, Celebration Town Tavern. It was awesome.

6. Friends. I can't get over how lucky I am to have such great friends. Whether it was wedding preparations or venting over the aforementioned work-related misery over GChat, or just grabbing a beverage after work - I am amazed and humbled by the number of awesome people both Shaun and I have in our lives.

THE WORST OF TIMES

I could very easily say that 2010 was the best year ever... but I know that it wasn't because too many people lost someone they love this year. The one that touched me the most was Lauren. Lauren is my cousin's 4 year old daughter who fought a hard fight against neuroblastoma since May of 2009. I hadn't heard of neuroblastoma prior to Lauren's diagnosis, but learned an awful lot about it through her mom, who wrote so honestly and eloquently of Lauren's triumphs and struggles. It is appalling to me that children's cancers don't get the research funding that adult cancers do, yet the kids are the most defenseless of all. Kids shouldn't have to suffer, and their parents and families suffer almost as much as they do. If you're looking to support a cause that really needs it, check out Cookies for Kids' Cancer or Alex's Lemonade Stand. Lauren earned her angel wings in October, and too many other kids have suffered too much.

I am still driving the same old car, still living in the same apartment. I need to take better care of myself, need to make more of an effort to see my family... there are lots of things I want for 2011. It's already shaping up to be quite a big year for us.

I hope everyone finds what they want in 2011. Work together, make people happy, find an excuse to celebrate something.

2010 was a big year for me, but I can't say it was the best year ever, because who knows what is to come?