A year in review while aging well.....

What a year! I cannot believe this year. It has been a wild ride. I look back and am amazed that it has only been a year and all that has occurred.

First, it was February, and we had the ice storm from hell. It was stressful and we were still in a pandemic. It was like the universe told 2020, I can out do you. Louis and I were lucky that we did not lose power but most of my family members did. What a nightmare.

Then there was the hailstorm in April. Oh my, it caused so much damage to our roof, plants, and windows. Our street looked like a war zone. The new plants and shrubs had already been through the biggest freeze ever, now they were being beaten down by huge golf ball size hail. My garden looked like someone had taken a weed eater and demolished all the newly planted plants. I was horrified but relieved that they were still hanging on.

A couple days later, I was told they were eliminating my job. I had been there for 37 years. I drove home and thought to myself, what is going to be the next chapter? I have never looked back. It gave me time to clean up the yard and gather my thoughts. Louis was planning on retiring after his 63rd Birthday but things were different. I was no longer working. He of course must have been devasted but has never made me feel bad. He has been totally supportive. In fact, he told me the other day that I was much easier to live with since my early retirement🤷‍♀️.

Luckily, I had been working on my future self. I knew that I was burned out in my job and wanted something different. I was tired of someone deciding when, where, and how I needed to spend 80% of my time. As I told you earlier, I had been taking courses and found a love for Psychology. I remembered taking a few courses as electives many years ago and back then they were some of my favorite courses. I told Louis that I was going to not only get a degree in Psychology but a master's degree as well. He is a jewel. Totally supportive and willing to help in any way. I had found out a earlier that I had to retake algebra because they would not accept the course that I had taken over 40 years ago. I was furious. They are the ones that placed me in the class when I was majoring in Home Economics. Yes, Home Economics. Many young kids are not even sure what that means. I always laugh. I am still baffled why I did not change degree plans way back then since I enjoyed the psychology. Fortunately, it was very useful in my life. The textile courses were beneficial to my career and the nutrition and food prep was terrific for my homelife. So, I decided to tackle the damn algebra. I registered for a Counseling, History of Psychology, and the dreaded algebra class. I of course enjoyed the first two and dreaded the last. After many hours of studying and being tutored by Louis, I made a B. I don’t think I have ever been as proud of myself as I was when I came home from the exam and pulled up the grade. I was praying to pass. I made an 82. I was shocked. I asked Louis if it was correct. He laughed and said, “you did better on the exam that on the other 4 test”. Now, Louis knew how hard it was on me (and him😜). I would keep ahead of my other classes in order to spend the other 80% of my time on algebra. Funny, my younger son is getting his PhD in mathematics and his mother was just trying to pass algebra! I called everyone in my family. I was thrilled. It is over, and I immediately threw away all my notes and worksheets. Louis quickly reminded me that I now will have statistics🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️.

After the final, on December 9th, I began to enjoy the season. I finished up my shopping, wrapped all the presents, and watched several Christmas movies. The Bishop’s Wife was one of my favorites. Still have lots more to watch. For the first time ever, Julie and I had a cooking day. We made pralines (in theme with our Louisiana faire Christmas dinner) Granny Sagers’ Oatmeal cookies, and Fudge.

See, it is never too late to start something, try something new, or give up on something that is not beneficial to us. We get to choose. I am choosing it is never late to be the best version of myself. I can sit back now and find more things to explore in 2022. I have already registered for my statistics class and another counseling. I am in no hurry. Of all that has happened, I have had a fabulous year. I have a lot to be grateful for. And, 2021 was the year of my herb garden🤣🤣. I have totally enjoyed. Louis and I dug out the spot for cut flower garden. Need to visit with my little farmers from OKC this week and get some good advice. I promise to post some pics once I am finished.

#Agingwell #itisnevertoolate #findthingsyoulove

I am writing this on Christmas Eve morning and will post on Christmas Day. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and hope you all stay safe and wish you all a FABULOUS 2022!

I only put up two trees this year but did manage to get out my nutcrackers!