last year, right before the new year, i compiled a list of memories that made me smile from the year before... and i like that that did... it reminded me that despite what may have seemed like a dismal year, there were plenty of good things.
this year, i will do the same.
so.... my favourite memory from…
January: despite being at the peak of my pain, i spent a ton of time with friends. i really pushed myself to get out of the house. i also got to spend a lot of time with my family after Christmas, which is unusual. Missy's dance show, babysitting, LOTS of vegan cupcakes, and birthday parties. i got a good reminder of how much i LOVED life as a student.
February: though i was REELing from my car being broken into, i had no time to think about it... as my little niece was born on February 7th (also my sister's birthday). she's been simply one of the most incredible things to enter my life. i'm constantly reminded of the blessings i have... through all of my nieces and nephews - and she was no exception. plus - it was the first time a child was named after me... and for that, i was honoured.
February: though i was REELing from my car being broken into, i had no time to think about it... as my little niece was born on February 7th (also my sister's birthday). she's been simply one of the most incredible things to enter my life. i'm constantly reminded of the blessings i have... through all of my nieces and nephews - and she was no exception. plus - it was the first time a child was named after me... and for that, i was honoured.
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| my new little niece GMAA |
March: quite simply, in and amongst the back, food poisoning, and some other wonderfully hilarious things, i got to spend time with friends. every chance i get to spend time with my laurier friends, is a lucky one. the weekend that 4 of us did a road trip for a st paddy's adventure (not on st paddy's day) was a wonderful reminder to me.
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| laurier friends at our impromptu st paddy's celebration |
April: again, despite the car accident i was in with 2 of my cousin's over Easter, April marked the 1 year anniversary of the closing of la perlerie - the bead store i worked in. the store - though seemingly insignificant as a part-time job - was life changing, as it solidified my love for jewelry and creations, as well as introduced me to some of my best friends in the world.
plus! i got my new computer, AND celebrated the 30th birthday of a great friend slash big brother... who i am also VERY lucky to have (and was exceptionally lucky to have in high school as a guardian).
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| mike's 30th birthday |
May: and again, disaster. i found out i owed a ridiculous amount of money in income tax, because the company i work for had not been charging me enough for the past 2 years. however, the highlight? mini olympics with laurier friends... and finding out that the first of my friends (my very first roommate from university and my good friend matty) were going to have a baby!
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| mini olympics in May |
June: i not only got to spend an entire weekend with my little niece, but also got to spend another weekend at our annual family picnic... which i am so lucky to be able to have. so many families have so many issues and - though we have MANY of our own - our family is one who sticks together, and loves spending as much time together as possible.
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| family picnic |
AND i got to go on my first trip since i hurt my back - to visit my mom's side of the family in sault ste marie. indescribable.
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| sister, cousin and i in sault ste marie |
i got my first taste of what it was like to be a writer... with negative backlash to something i wrote. the most interesting part was that the entry solicited not only angry backlash, but the most positive response i have ever received from friends and readers throughout cyberspace. it was empowering, to say the least.
July: it was almost like all the bad culminated in july to produce one of the best months ever. i not only got to spend a week 'camping in luxury' with some of my best friends in the world, but i also got to visit friends and my sister in vancouver, as well as a quick jaunt to vancouver. in between then, since i was in mega planning mode for my lovely friend Mary's wedding, we did a little bachelorette, AND shower. how could i pick just one thing??
August: easy. Mary got married. no question the best moment of my summer. though it was a whirlwind 3 days, involving a bit of drama on wedding day, and not a lot of sleep overall, the whole weekend was amazing, beautiful and so worth every second of every day. i only wish it could have been longer, so i could have spent longer with the amazing people i got to meet, and, of course, 2 of my favourite people in the world - mary and reuben. then, to top the month off with a million jays games? perfection.
i will also say - though this isn't my favourite memory - that august also brought sadness, as my hero, jack layton, passed away from cancer. i could go on and on about what this meant to me, but i did so immediately, right then and there. my reflections here.
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| the wedding party |
September: i got to spend an EARLY 30th birthday with my dear friend cole, AND i had another addition to my barage of nieces and nephews - the 4th of the clan was born... and i was yet again, elated.
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| cole's birthday speech |
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| new niece - GSLP |
October: spent this month, and the next exploring what it meant to be me. made some MAJOR life decisions.... and, to be honest, spent this month just enjoying happiness for the first time in a long time. i also got to spend thanksgiving with my mom's family, for the first time in a LONG time, with my friend denver. the weather was perfect, and man... my family is amazing.
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| thanksgiving campfires |
November: annual movember, and another baby born. tons of time with nieces and nephews... and lots of love to share. i am a lucky woman.
December: december is obviously filled with amazing Christmas visits, food (lots of food), etc. but i also got to see bon iver for the first time, in what could easily be described as one of the best concert experiences of my entire life. it was perfection. like a snapshot in time that i'll hold true, after the rest has been left to embers. our little nugget was also born - our university friend's son... the first baby in that group of friends, which was surely cause for celebration.
i also coordinated my first art/jewelry show... which was daunting, time consuming, and in bad timing.... but it went off as expected, and with some success. a good moment of encouragement for more shows to come. |
| alex and cat at 'a curious gathering' |
it was a year. a good year. a year of cottage visits, mexican madness, another birthday, time with nieces and nephews, some pain - physical, emotional, and heart related - but above all, it was a year for life changing moments with friends and family. and 2012 will be no different.
what are your favourite memories of 2011?