Hello Neighbor!
Happy New Year! I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say that I was not sad to see 2020 come to an end. It certainly was a year like no other. It challenged us in ways we would have never thought possible and made us re-evaluate our priorities. So it is with relief, excitement, gratitude, and happiness that I look to the new year and all of its possibilities. While it is typical at this time to set resolutions and look forward, I have always felt that reflection on things past should be a part of the process. That being said, I took away some lessons from this past year that I thought I’d share. While some are funny and light-hearted, they are all conveyed with the knowledge and understanding that it is the friends and family whom I treasure most that make this crazy ride that we call life worthwhile.
1. My teenage son enjoys eating. Alot. All day.
2. I now understand what all the hype was/is about Downton Abbey. Consider the Kool-Aid drunk. In a Johnson Brothers China tea cup. With my pinky properly elevated.
3. I will never again take for granted the wonderful privilege it is to leave my home to go to a job that I love each day.
4. I’ve learned how to auto-program my Cuisinart coffeemaker. I am so ready for the return of early morning appointments!
5. I’m so happy that I have always made the decoration of my home a priority. After almost a year of sheltering-in-place, I have so enjoyed reaping the benefits of my passion for interior design.
6. Of all the different banana bread recipes I have tried, the Nutella-Swirled and Cinnamon Crunch will be my go-to’s from now on.
7. There are between 500 to 900 different species of rhododendrons. I’m hoping that the English Roseum that I planted in my continuing pursuit to replicate an English garden in the western suburbs of Philadelphia will prove successful. I added some coffee grounds (see #4) to help the process along.
8. My three children really do enjoy school and all that comes with it; friends, teachers, activities, and even academics.
9. Instagram Live videos saved me this past year. Watching my favorite celebrities chat with their colleagues and friends was like going to a fabulous cocktail party and circulating through different conversations that just got more and more interesting as the night progressed.
10. Going forward, a date night with my husband, coffee with girlfriends, and hugging my parents will engender an entirely new appreciation.
Until we meet again, Dear Neighbor, I wish you health, happiness, and time to appreciate the lessons.
Fondly,
Gina