Friday, January 1, 2010

Here's to a better year


My wall calendar, "The Secret Garden," consists of beautiful gardens around the country. Sometimes I just stand in front of the calendar, imagining myself in one of those gardens.

Today I ceremoniously dumped the calendar. Good-bye 2009. Good riddance. It was a very bad year. Well, it started in December 2008, when I relapsed. But the part where I almost died was in 2009, so that's the year that really gets me. Here's to a better 2010.

Good things, of course, did happen. I send my love and appreciation to everyone who made those things possible. And by the end of the year I'd made big steps, so in ways 2009 was a good year. Also I am thankful for my donor, who came to me in 2009 offering hope for a new chance.

I thought about the year while spending most of New Year's Day just hanging around the house, cleaning up, reading, doing things that needed to get done, and, yes, ceremoniously hanging up the new calendar.

I walked the dog, and then Deb came over with Mary Margaret, who at nine months old is nearly Maddie's size. (Maddie is almost three.) They wrestled and tugged on Maddie's toys and pulled each other's leashes. It's fun watching them. They make us laugh.

The flipping of the calendar reminds us how things change quickly. The kids grow up. So do the puppies. One minute you're healthy, the next you're sick. There's nothing you can do about it. Just keep flipping the pages.


Deb tries to keep Mary Margaret, left, and Maddie
in line for a photo-op.


Maddie (chocolate lab) and Mary (black lab) are almost the same size, above.
Below, just months ago Mary was just a tiny puppy.

10 comments:

PJ said...

I'm with you on 2009--I burned my calendar. Here's to a much better year, filled with health and dogs!

Jim said...

Love the dogs!

I raise a glass to you, Ronni, that 2010 will be a much better year. You deserve some peace and quiet.

Jim

Unknown said...

Happy New Year Ronni.... 2010 will be a great year for you.

susiegb said...

Ha ha - I didn't burn my 2009 calendar - in fact it was one I'd made with iPhoto using photos of family and friends! And Ronni, your Secret Gardens calendar sounds like just the one I'd like to have for 2010 - currently I'm left with a free one I got from the fish markets, or the Leunig cartoons one I usually keep in the office. Hopefully I'll find a nice one on sale somewhere ... :)

And I really wish all of us a wonderful 2010 - much better than whatever last year was for each of us. You were coming from a really low one Ronni - you so deserve a healthy and peaceful new year ... :)

Nelle said...

2009 was a bad year for me and I actually missed four months from work. Am going to miss a month in 2010 too. My hope and prayer for both of us is a much better year filled with all things energetic and healthy! You've come so far Ronni I look forward to the days you are blogging about your tennis games and running. :)

Greg Kopp said...

hope 2010 is a better year!

Naqvee said...

Hullo, there lovely wiews. i was also living heavy with 2009 and it gave me "thyroid" also ! i hope new year brings "BETTER" times.

love Naqvee

Margaret said...

Miss Ronni,

To me, 2009 was all about your inner strength and underlying health and fitness which allowed you to climb out of a deep hole. Let's focus on the end of the year and those beatiful blood levels. Here's to another year of friendship!

Love, Margaret

Unknown said...

Dearest Runder-Woman,

Happy Healthy and Joyous 2010! filled with the affirmation and frolic of the Dog...

You bring joy, hope to so many people, and are an inspiration -- i cherish you...

your dogster-sister-friend,

xop

Adrian said...

Very happy new year 2010 ronni. The dogs are really very cute.