Year-end Lists 2022: Personal

For me, 2022 was dominated by two big events I haven't shared until now. They illustrate the circle of life.

My mother's health had been going downhill for quite some time, especially after she broke her hip at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. She passed away on March 22 of this year. We saw it coming, and tried to make her last days as comfortable and meaningful as possible. She was 85. It doesn't matter how much you think you are prepared, saying goodbye to Mama will knock you on the floor. I chose not to mention it on the blog because I had a lot to process and couldn't deal with any more than I already had on my plate at the time. She is sorely missed by all who knew her.  

Mom's was a simple but meaningful funeral. Way more people came than I expected, considering her age and COVID. Mom touched a lot of lives over her 60 years in that small town. Her friends in the Red Hat Society showed up in their outrageous purple clothing and big red hats, which gave the funeral director a moment of panic, but we loved it.

Then there was the monumental task of dealing with Mom's estate. She was certainly no hoarder, but even so, her home was filled with furniture and possessions, things my dad left thirty years ago, tons of photographs, and neatly-stashed records going back decades. While my brother's family got some things, the furniture mostly went to my daughters. Their homes, in far-flung states, now both look eerily like Mom's place. A lot of household stuff was donated to Eastern Kentucky flood victims. The photographs and files are an ongoing project. A file of 40-year-old medical or financial records can be shredded, but I have to sift through them first, because I keep finding gems like diplomas or pictures of ancestors in them. The house needed some repairs, and finding workers with the time to tackle them was impossible, so my brother and sister-in-law ended up doing the work. We probably missed the real estate bubble, but that's life.

The other big event of the year happened in October, when Princess gave birth to my grandchild! It's a boy! I was calling him Junior months before the birth, and so far I just keep calling him that. His parents will eventually be quite annoyed. I got to see him on his first day, even though it was a long-ass road trip, which I made several times to make sure Princess was recovering properly. Two months later, this little boy is growing rapidly and hitting all his milestones ahead of time. It's a joy to watch him taking in observations of the world, and to see him practice making sounds and facial expressions and trying out his muscles. The family doesn't want me posting any pictures, and I respect that. Rest assured that he is the most beautiful baby in the world.

My daughters are doing well. Princess, besides having a baby, became a homeowner! Many folks would  call it a "starter home," but with three bedrooms and a fenced-in yard, it will serve the family well for years to come. Except for an intense January session, Gothgrrl has completed her veterinary classes. In February, she will receive the title of "Dr." but still must complete 16 months of clinical practice under supervision before she is licensed. She and her boyfriend plan to marry when he gets his PhD, soon after she gets her DVM. Yes, I'm quite proud of my girls.
 

Finally, I adopted a new kitten just last month. Her name is Ice Cream Sundae, and I call her Sundae. The name is because she's the colors of vanilla, chocolate, and caramel. She's tiny and has only two gears: rocket mode and asleep. The other cats took some time to come around, but they have accepted her as part of the family. 

How was your 2022?

See all the year-end lists here.