End of year meme
I got this from Hakinimomma. It’s long so I’m sticking it below.
1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
–Adopted a baby
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
–I don’t do new years’ resolutions. I’m more of a good intentions/one-day-at-a-time kind of girl.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
–(In chronological order) Madison’s birth mom (!), my friend K, my sister, my sister-in-law, my friend C. Is that everyone? I think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
–No.
5. What countries did you visit?
–The Land of Little Sleep
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
–I’m tempted to steal Hakinimomma’s here: “An Agent. Multiple book sales.” But actually I’m going to say patience. It’s more useful and more sorely lacking.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
–3/30 when Madison was born and I got to meet her. 3/31 when Brett first held her. 4/1 When we spent our anniversary at the Chinese buffet crying for J. 4/2 When we brought her home.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
–Since Madison wasn’t an achievement (although she was the biggest event), I’d have to say, ummm, hmmm. I’d say that 2004 wasn’t about achievement for me; it was about learning new ways to be a family.
9. What was your biggest failure?
–Oh dear, no failures. It’s the journey, people, not the destination.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
–Thankfully, we are a hale and hearty family.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
–Ever? Lately? I already wrote about the musini. How can you top the musini?
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
–Noah who rose to the occasion to be a loving, devoted and funny big brother. Who has helped the whole family process the adoption. Who has become a bookworm in earnest.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
–Karl Rove’s.
14. Where did most of your money go?
–Paying down debt. Fixing up bits and pieces of the house. Food and shelter.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Madison again! Sorry to be boring. She’s kind of a big deal.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
–I’ll let you know in 2014.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
–Happier!!!
ii. thinner or fatter?
–Just the same.
iii. richer or poorer?
–Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
–Laughing.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
–Worrying. Making fun of a certain online person who is just so make-funnable and plus was not very nice so therefore seemed a deserving target of merry-making. Totally a time waste but so enjoyable that I probably won’t completely give that up. Besides, she makes it so easy.
20. How will you be spending New Year’s?
–If the weather allows, we’ll be visiting a friend. Noah says, “Is Ann our family?” I said that she is a friend who is like family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
–Yes, with my husband, our son and our new daughter. And with our daughter’s birth mother.
23. How many one-night stands?
–For me? None. Goodness.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
–I don’t have one. I watch ER because it’s habit but really, there wasn’t any television that got me hot and bothered.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
–Hate is a strong word, my friends.
26. What was the best book you read?
–Three Junes.
27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
–I (re)discovered some of my fave jazz divas like Anita O’Day.
28. What did you want and get?
–Madison.
29. What did you want and not get?
I’m definitely stealing Hakinimomma’s: “A new president.”
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Rats. I forget. I know I saw movies this year but I don’t remember what I thought of any of them.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
–I turned 34 last January and I can’t remember what I did. Something wonderful, I’m sure, because Brett is a nice boy and always gives me worthwhile celebrations.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
–Can’t think of a thing. In my own small life, everything went pretty damn well.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
–”Wow! Does she look comfortable!”
34. What kept you sane?
–My husband. My son. My adoption mentor who has since moved. (Rats.)
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
–Like all good liberal (straight) girls, I dallied with a Jon Stewart crush. But I was too busy for a celebrity crush this year.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
–Again, Hakinimomma says it: “Equal rights for gay Americans.” But that tied for me with this unjust, very scary war.
37. Who did you miss?
–Mart, Denise, my brother.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
–Besides Madison? Her birth mom.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
–That there is enough time for everything if you assume the right vantage point. That the process is what makes it all worth it because the actual achievement is relatively a very small part of it all.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“and every day you gaze upon the sunset
with such love and intensity
why it’s…it’s almost as if
if you could only crack the code
then you’d finally understand what this all means
but if you could…do you think you would
trade it in
all the pain and suffering?
ah, but then you’d miss
the beauty of the light upon this earth
and the sweetness of the leaving”
Jane Siberry, Calling All Angels
At least one liveral lesbian had a celeb crush on Jon Stewart this year. Every night, I tell my partner, “It’s time to watch my Jonny!”
That is “liberal” not “liveral”
Oh that Jon Stewart, there’s just nothing sexier than a liberal man with good hair and a great sense of humor.
Congratulations on Madison’s birth, as you saw in my list, I had a daughter too, it’s a pretty wonderful thing.
I am stealing this and sending it out as our letter- have whatever member of the family has the best answer to each question fill it in.
End of year
I copied this end-of-year meme from Dawn at This Woman’s Work….