Closing Out Another Year

2011 is rapidly winding down. Another year is ready to “close out.” For those who celebrate Christmas, the rush of preparation is over. One can quite literally slow down, breathe easier and relax a bit. Even the lights on the tree seem more subdued this week, or maybe it’s just that I am.

This quieter week between Christmas and New Year’s has always been one of my favorite weeks of the entire year, mostly because of many fond memories. It seems like the perfect time to unwind, reflect and just be.

That’s what I’m trying to do anyway.

I’ve decided I’m quite ready to send 2011 on its way and more than eager to welcome in a New Year.

2011 was my first entire year spent in post-cancer diagnosis limbo-land. It was the year I was supposed to define my “new normal.”

I’m going to need a little lot more time.

For me, 2011 was a year filled with more than a few new challenges. There were my three surgeries, plus the “minor” tattooing procedure, lingering side effects of chemo to learn to live with, new aches and pains from Arimidex (or as hubby calls it my daily low-dose chemo pill), dealing with Twang arm (borrowing that descriptive word choice from Feisty Blue Gecko, thank you), adding a physical therapist to my trusty medical team, a “minor” recurrence scare, having my oncologist up and quit on me, gaining a few pounds when I’m supposed to be losing a few and, of course, my continuing vigil waiting for the return of a respectable head of hair that doesn’t need to be hidden under a baseball cap.

I’m well aware that in the scheme of things, I’m very lucky. My challenges have been pretty minor. Many others have been dealing with a whole lot more. I shouldn’t be complaining. At all. I know that.

Still… this is not the life I envisioned a short while ago.

On the other side of the coin, there have been some pretty great things that have happened this year. Daughter and boyfriend are now engaged (no date set yet). Son number one graduated with his master’s degree in history and is continuing on with further studies. Son number two is finding his way at college and continuing to hone his musical talents. My dad had an 85^th birthday party. Hubby and I celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary and finally took our first ever vacation as a couple to a sunny destination during the middle of winter. I had two more magazine articles accepted for publication (more on those later). I made a little progress on my book. I forged some truly wonderful friendships on-line and reconnected with a couple of old “real-life” friends as well. I finally joined Facebook and started Twittering.

And let’s not forget, we got a CAT!

When balancing the good and the bad stuff on the “scale of life” this year, I have to admit the good things definitely out-weighed the bad and this is always a very good thing.

I’m very grateful.

Still, I’m ready to put another “cancer year” behind me. I’m ready to continue muddling my way through this unchartered cancer limbo-land I now reside in.

I don’t know what the next year will bring, but who does?

And that’s exactly why every New Year is something to anticipate and yes, celebrate!

See you next year!

What has been one of your challenges in 2011?

How do you feel about the New Year?