29/4
It's the 29th of
February. I haven't been able to say that for 4 years. (Has
anybody? ;) ) I couldn't pass up this opportunity to write
SOMETHING on this day. After all, I won't have a chance to write
something on February 29th again for 4 years. And who knows where I'll be
then, or if this blog will even be around! So with that in mind, I'm
listing 29 things that have changed since the last February 29th.
1.
Obviously the biggest
"thing" is that 4 years ago there was no Bfth's Boring Blog.
Thanks to a Michael Nesmith Concert and some inspiration, look at what
happened!
2.
On the Last February
29th, I worked for a different company (and I made more money). I love
the people I work with now, but I still miss the close group of people I spent
over 5 years working with.
3.
It was on the last 29th
of February that I heard the news one of my teen idols had passed away. I
was lucky enough to see Davy Jones as a solo performer in a small venue where
he sang "Girl" just to me (ok, maybe not just to me, but it was
pretty close). I also got to see him on tour a member of the Monkees more
than once.
4.
My son could barely
read. (He was in 1st grade at the time.)
5.
My 1st grade teacher was
still teaching; and teaching my son to boot! (She retired at the next
year.)
6.
My son was also shorter
than me; now we're neck and neck and pretty soon he'll overtake me. (Scary
thought: he's only in 5th grade!) His feet are also larger than
mine now!
7.
My son walked to school
pretty much every day. Elementary school was only a few blocks away and
an easy walk. Now that he's in middle school and need to be in a music
class 3 or 4 days a week by 7:40, I drive him (and friends) downtown.
8.
Since my son was only in
1st grade, I wasn't aware of PARCC tests and the Common Core. Ignorance
isn't bliss, but not dealing with standardized testing sure was.
9.
My son had yet to go to
sleep away camp. He would try it for the first time the next year, with
fantastic results. (He's already signed up for 2 weeks this summer.)
The ability to do a partial week to "test the waters" at Camp
Johnsonburg (http://www.campjburg.org/) was a great comfort to me.
10.
Great Grandpa Murray was
still alive. Miss him still, but am grateful that my son got a chance to
know him. How many kids get to play with a great grandparent?
11.
My brother was still
alive. I wish he was around to read my blog posts; I'm sure he would have
provided lots of fodder for them!
12.
Superstorm Sandy had not
yet destroyed a part of NJ that I hold dear to my heart. It will be four
years this October and despite what you may have heard; things are NOT yet back
to normal. (Although things continue to improve.)
13.
My father still had 10
toes. I would never have imagined that he would get an infection that
would land him in the ICU and eventually cost him 1-3/4 toes.
14.
My
"go-to-mom," the woman who was the 2nd mother for my son and so many
other kids in our neighborhood was alive and keeping an eye on all
"her" kids. I've taken over one of her traditions (the Easter
Egg Hunt) because it just felt like something I had to do. But no one
could ever do what she did, the way she did.
15.
We hadn't discovered my
husband's eye problem (a complication of his diabetes). Years of
treatments (for the squeamish I won't go into the details) have been trying,
but FINALLY progress seems to be made. A reminder: don't let things
wait, especially when it comes to health issues.
16.
The Thrift Shop where I
volunteer did not yet exist. Not only did it provide me with a place to
"work" when I was unemployed, but I became one of their best
customers. Thank goodness for it, as it has helped so many people in my
community.
17.
I had never stood in a
pulpit and given a sermon. I am still sorry that our pastor decided to
retire and never imagined all the work that I would have to put into the new
pastor search committee, but a side result is that I've been able to try my hand
at something new. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it.
18.
I hadn't attempted my
"Pulitzer Project” (I'm still slogging through "The Executioner's
Song" for those who are keeping tabs on me.)
19.
My son didn't play an
instrument. He may not be the best trumpet player in the world after two
years, but music is an important part of his life and I feel should be an
important part of the school curriculum.
20.
I'd never stayed
"home alone" while my boys went on spring break trips (with my
in-laws) to Washington, DC and Philadelphia. While being on my own had its
advantages, I missed "my guys." (But I'm glad they had the
experience and am still a little jealous.)
21.
I didn't have a smart
phone! (How did I live without it?)
22.
I'd never Skyped!
(When did that become a verb?)
23.
I'd never had guacamole
or even tasted an avocado. Oh Chipotle, what have you done to me?
24.
I'd never sprayed/dyed
my hair (and my son's) a crazy color. School Field Days turned out to be
more fun when your hair was the same color as your team (red or blue).
25.
Paid more than $60 for a
purse/handbag. (Curse you Dooney & Bourke!)
26.
Gone ice skating on the
1st of the year. (Two years in a row! I don't even want to think
how long it had been before that!)
27.
Revised
"traditional" family celebrations so that they better met our
family's needs. Traditions are great, but as times and people change, so
traditions need to as well.
28.
Going away with my family
(including my parents) to ring in the New Year (2016). Watching
fireworks; balloons dropping at midnight; we were all together to celebrate it.
29.
Continuing to dedicate
time to myself to write this crazy blog and tell my story. It may not be
thrilling or star studded, but it's mine. I've been writing since I was
my son's age (and I'm thrilled to see that he does the same), I'm not going to
stop!
Comments
Post a Comment