walking down the 2018 memory lane

With very little of the year documented here on the blog, this post may be even more important than any of the past eleven years' posts someday when I'm trying to remember back to the year that was 2018. I feel like it's said every year, but man, oh man, what a crazy ride of a year it was. Every time we think the political scene couldn't be worse, another headline adds fuel to the dumpster fire that is our government. But, this isn't the place for bemoaning the disaster that our current administration has wrought. Nope, this is the end of the year tradition of highlighting the big -- and little-- moments that brought me and my family joy and happiness.

Yes, it's a tradition here alright- one that started all the way back in 2007! In the time since, I've tried to end each year on a positive note, and because my love of lists is never-ending, this format works well and has continued through 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Without further ado, it's time for:

The Top Ten Things that I Liked, Laughed At, Smiled About, or Generally-Remember-in-a-Fond-Way of 2018:

10. Hello, my name is Dawn, and I'm addicted to television. 
But damn if it's not a golden age to indulge in this vice! Network and cable television are putting out some quality stuff, and add in Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, and I could become one with my couch if I'm not careful. This year brought an insanely unique and incredible show into my life, along with a group of friends with whom I could share my obsession. Technically, Hubby and I were introduced to The Good Place exactly one year ago today, as we were trying to stay awake to midnight by scrolling through our viewing options. I remembered a friend had recommended it, but I hadn't gotten on board when it was airing its first season. At the end of the first episode, we looked at each other with joyful incredulity on our faces, still reeling from what was totally unexpected. I was hooked immediately. To make things even better, a group of pals got hooked, too, and we even went so far as to form a 'Viewing Society' online in which we shared our impressions and perspectives on each episode and generally geeked out together over what is clearly the smartest, silliest, and most unique sitcom I've ever seen. For the season three premiere this fall, I hosted a viewing party complete with TGP-themed snacks for which I made labels filled with jokes from the show. Because I couldn't be forking dorkier about my adoration for this show. Holy motherforking shirtballs, it's so good.

Geniuses, every damn one of them. (But most especially D'Arcy Carden, aka Janet!)

Stupid Nick's Wing Dump and B-Dubs (the nice one, not the one above the gas station) were kind enough to deliver!

9. What would we do without these people?!
At the end of every year, I am filled with gratitude for the family and friends in my life without whom I know I wouldn't survive. These are my people, my tribe, my crew. They know the reality of what it means to hang with our crazy family. They laugh with recognition when I say, "We are A LOT."  They somehow stick around, year after year, even after being witness to the anxious mess that my brain can manifest. I love them to fucking pieces.

We were lucky to be able to travel to Connecticut this summer for my grandmother's 90th birthday, which was filled with tons of crazy family fun, including a contest involving Dunkin' Donuts munchkins in which I BLEW AWAY the competition. This was also a year with not one, but TWO, 'Ladies' Weekend' getaways with a crowd of pals! We were thrilled to host our besties from Maryland as they made their way out on a cross-country trek (and again for a short time on their way back!). We even had friends come all the way from Louisiana to visit, and the stars aligned to have other mutual friends driving through town at the same time, allowing for a big group brunch! We once again made our yearly return to our old beloved city for a whirlwind Labor Day weekend filled with friend time. While we didn't tent camp at all this year, which totally stunk, we did spend some days around Thanksgiving 'cabin camping' with friends, sharing a delish meal and hanging out by a November fire. Add to all that, a slew of late-night hangouts by our own fire bowl and nights out in town with pals. Hubby and I have a strong pull to socialize, and we're thrilled to have formed some fantastic friendships after two years in our new town.

Goofball runs in the family, and we're all aspiring to have Grandma's awesome hair!

Friends are welcome any time!

Whether the group is big or small or somewhere in between, we know how to have a blast!

Traditions and pals old and new!

8. Books bring me so much damn joy.
(part one)
Though we've missed a couple of years, there's a tradition that I hope we'll continue to keep more often than not-- The National Book Festival. Even after moving, we've been fortunate enough to be able to travel back for a long weekend each of the three years so far. And, honestly, it's my favorite event of the whole year. There are always a slew of authors I want to watch speak, and never enough time. This year, Red and I split up during one particular author's talk so that she could get in line early enough to be able to meet the very same author for her book signing time immediately after her stage time. Because an opportunity to meet Jacqueline Woodson is NOT TO BE MISSED. I was happy to see several children's authors and illustrators who I adore including Dan Santat, Kate DiCamillo, Harry Bliss, David Ezra Stein, Matt de la Peña, and Loren Long, and I was even able to split from the kids one more time to squeeze myself into an uber-packed giant room to listen to an interview with Roxane Gay! Oh, and can't forget our quick exchange with THE Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as she left an on-air interview and walked by us. All year long, I immerse myself in books, and once a year, I find myself in a crowd of thousands who are of the same mind. It's delightful.

So much excitement!! Can you see the tears in Red's eyes at meeting a beloved author?

8. Books, and wine, and the best barkeep in town, bring me so much damn joy.
(part two)
Yeah, yeah, there are two number 8s on this year's list. It's my tradition, so I get to mess with it anyway I see fit, and there's no way getting around the fact that a ton of my smiles and giggles this year took place in my favorite place in town- Athens Uncorked. A wine bar that always has my favorite sweet Moscato at the ready and literally the place where everyone knows our names. This would be enough, but on top of that, we've become dear friends with the man who owns the bar, and his friendship is something I treasure. And this friend is another bibliophile who runs circles around me and my reading habits. I'm thankful to him for all the books he's brought into my life, especially through the book club he runs at the bar, which is always my favorite night of the month.

Is that my favorite book as August's book club selection? Why yes, yes it was!

7. A repeat vacation, four years later, means more fun and tons more happy memories.
Lightning can, apparently, strike twice, and 2018 saw our whole family piling into vehicles with two sets of grandparents and heading to Deep Creek Lake for a week of board games, cribbage, Lakeside Creamery ice cream, walking in the woods, birthday boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and general familial merriment. Seriously, what a great week it was. We're so lucky to have four grandparents who love our wacky kids and can handle an entire week in the wilderness that is living with us! We've always lived far from extended family, so any opportunity to be together is welcomed, and this week away with everyone was the epitome of awesome.

So. Many. Smiles.

6. I got my hyster ectomied!
Okay, so far, maybe this development hasn't brought more smiles than grimaces, but in the long run, I'm confident that the decision to have a full hysterectomy and pelvic floor reconstruction surgery will be one that brings me much joy. I've just got to get through the full 12 weeks of recovery and hopefully I'll be merrier about it all. It's been a slightly bumpy road thus far, but it is definitely getting better, and the loss of the myriad of issues I had before has been lovely as hell, no doubt.

I may have already gotten a little bit of the fun stuff pumped into my arm at this point.

Could this cake BE any cooler?!?!

5. "My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet." -Edith Wharton

Make that times two, because 2018 was the year that our family got even bigger by way of a black and white dachshund mix, who came to be called Minny, the perfect adopted sister for our beloved Max. We heard about a local woman being charged with animal abuse and hoarding after 100 dogs were removed from her home, which actually ended up being 103, according to the woman at the dog shelter. Hubby and I had only half-seriously talked about the crazy idea of getting another dog, because it's expensive and time-consuming to own multiple pets, but for some reason, we went to shelter anyway, "just to look." Yeah, right. There were cages stacked three high and puppies in pens, and that was only the portion of the dogs that our county's shelter was able to house, as groups went to other area shelters! We each held a couple dogs, but then I saw her- #D037, according to the paper collar she was wearing. She was so scared-looking that I couldn't walk by without wanting to snuggle her close. She sat in my lap for a little while, right there on the gross floor, but I didn't care because I felt so drawn to her. We came back the next day with the kids and Max, and it didn't take more than a few seconds in that family room to see that she was going to become one of us. Max sniffed her and was cool with her immediately, and the paperwork was filled out. It's been almost a year since that fateful day, and she's still a bit of an anxious dog, but she's come so freaking far in her general comfort. She's a fun-loving dog and more playful than ever, and she's my constant companion, especially in the weeks following my surgery when I spent much of each day lying down on the couch. She and Max became fast friends, and the sight of them lying down together always warms my heart.

Her first few days involved hiding under chairs and not understanding how food trays worked.

Max continues to love lying down and looking at you with soulful eyes.

Buddies forever, and forever my little loves.

4. Watch out, the kid has a bow and he knows how to use it!
Really well, actually! After being introduced to it in his PE class last fall, Pudge decided to join his school's archery team, and the beginning of this year saw us at various tournaments over a lot of weekends. With each week's practices, his scores at the tournaments kept improving, and it's been incredible to watch him learn the skills necessary to shoot. We've seen the benefits extend way past just archery, and he's had such an incredible year of maturity and growth. His ability to center and calm himself has gone far beyond when he's holding his bow and placing an arrow. This kid is just plain amazing. He's helpful and considerate, and he's been a lifesaver for me during my recovery this fall and winter. Archery season has begun again, and he's been to one 'fun shoot' so far, with another improved score. He received his own bow for his birthday, and he loves having his own gear, carrying around his decorated case with care and pride. Tournaments start in a couple weeks, so we'll be ready to sit quietly in the stands again, cheering him on in our heads and feeling so proud of him for taking a chance on something new.

Archer extraordinaire!

3. She had a taste of the big city, and she loved it!
Twenty-five days. That's how long Red spent away from home this summer while off on adventures with her grandmother! She spent a week in the Big Apple, and our evening chats were filled with excited stories of sightseeing and touristy business. While she says she never wants to actually live in NYC, she definitely wants to head back for more visits in coming years. Then it was back to her grandparents' house for a week or so on her own with them before being joined by Pudge for another week of summer vacay. They're so fortunate to have a grandmother who is a bundle of energy who simply adores them, and they both had a blast. After being gone for almost a month, she looked taller and more grownup upon her return! We were so happy that she got to have her own adventures this summer, her last before becoming a teenager. Now she's a middle-schooler and she's growing up, figuratively and literally, super fast right before our eyes.

The preteen traveler in all her glory.

2. Speaking of being a grown-up! He made it!!
Boy, oh boy, this was a remarkable year for JAM. Not only did he wrap up his high school education, but he graduated WITH FREAKING HONORS, which apparently was a surprise to him when he was presented with his yellow cord at registration. There were many a time in the last few years of homeschooling-turned-online-schooling when I wasn't sure any of us was going to make it to the finish line intact. But, he persevered and succeeded, and we couldn't be more proud. This summer, after he aged out of his previous employment (it's a bit of a cool story, but not a bloggable one), he once again became gainfully employed and worked as many hours as allowed. He ultimately decided to take a 'gap year' this school year to earn some money before heading to college, and he's been learning important skills of responsibility and time management as a result. He's now working two jobs, which is wonderful on all these levels. He's officially a grown-up according to the powers that be, but he's still our first-born kid who will always be a big old goofball.

Most perfect t-shirt for this kid and the chocolatest cake ever made.

1. And they said it wouldn't last...
Well, I'm pretty sure there were some who said that, but who needs that kind of toxicity in your life? Nope, not us, and certainly not after twenty years of marriage. There have been ups and downs, but the ups have always been stronger and longer lasting than the downs. This guy has seen me through three pregnancies, and even more impactful, three labors and deliveries! He's made me laugh countless times, and he's my partner in both adventures and regular, day-to-day life. We started our anniversary morning with a breakfast reminiscent of our time in Paris last May, and then we spent our actual anniversary day celebrating Red's 6th grade graduation. That evening, though, we made the kids sit through our wedding video, which I'm not sure had been watched in at least a decade. They laughed at how incredibly young everyone was! We were able to sneak away for a special dinner and night out the following evening. I even snuck our wedding flutes (which were SO 1998!) to our favorite local bartender who brought us out champagne for a special toast. Twenty years is nothing to sneeze at, but I hope it's just the beginning with this guy. There's no one I'd rather be on this wild ride with than him.

Twenty years of marriage looks damn good on this fellow! 

Looking back on previous years, I always enjoy seeing how I closed this particular post-- what I wished for or hoped would come to fruition. Last year's closing especially still rings true. Unfortunately, our Congress still hasn't ITMFA, but maybe 2019 will bring that joy, but only if it comes with getting rid of the whole damn administration altogether. Sigh. I'm still longing for equality and representation that is missing on so many fronts for so many people. I'm ever hopeful that our country can rise up and stand for justice for all. On a personal note, I'm looking to 2019 as an opportunity to be the best person I can be-- for my family, for my community, for myself. May we all continue to seek our best selves in the new year.


And there's a hand my trusty friend,