2011: A Retrospective

How did we get here already?

Another 365 days gone by and as each year passes, it boggles my mind how time goes so quickly. Someone, please tell me how that happens.

Continuing my tradition of looking back at year’s end and reflecting on the highs and lows, I present the past year in a nutshell.

Drumroll, please!

January: My work at the opera makes it onto the front page of the entertainment section of the paper! I am egg farm! A night with the wonderfully weird George McFly aka Crispin Glover. Omg! Omg! Omg! Interpol! A chicks and baby party for Shizuka.

February: Year of the kickin’ bunny rabbit feet. Surprisingly, not freaking out about turning another year older. Birthday dinner + a movie. Company-wide blind-siding. A dozen of us get the chop. Little ole’ ladies having afternoon tea.

March: It may not have been ROH’s, but RWB’s Alice in Wonderland ballet was pretty darn entertaining. Happy 2 year anniversary! May have been the best place to view the supermoon. Ever. Sean and I spending our 2nd anniversary out in the valley. Earth hour day with Mr. Ed.

April: It’s not Japan but it’s still a very nice sakura days at Van Dusen Gardens. Cavalia trots into town. Yearly ritual of admiring cherry blossoms at QE park, plus one of the first date places. Jonesy had a swinging time. I’ve been issuing words out into the blogosphere for 3 years now. Practicing for the real thing.

May: The red pill or the blue pill? 2 competing job offers and I chose EA over future shop. We could sail to Hawaii on a 28 ft boat, right? I’m so not cut out for the cruising life. Landsickness, Battlestar Galactica exhibition and a visit with 2 boys in Sea-town. Back-to-back sailing, cruising and a rockin’ train ride does my nut in. I am an avatar, bitches.

June: If aliens ever abduct me, I have no one to blame but myself. Now I’ve done it. Got myself a brand new iPhone and used it at Whytecliff Park. Jonesy as a model.

July: Hanging with bunnies and goats and my first look at their gumball machine pooping style. We can’t seem to go to the park without Jonesy. Channeling our inner DYI inventor/scientist/geek at Maker-Faire. Me Tarzan. You Jane. Let’s swing amongst the treetops.

August: Sean wants to make his own Salvador-Dali lobster phone. Family day at the park where I also found out that a cat can give one mean side-eye. Birthday fun in Gastown. Keep your computer locked or suffer the consequences! I haz wonky heart syndrome and get hooked up to an EKG.

September: Overheated and not in the good way. A trip to K-town. Giddyup at Southlands. Bus. no. more. The day my heart was stolen. Welcome Charlie! They make me feel like a cougar of a groupie but I love them anyways.

October: Warning! Charlie cuteness overload here, here, here and here. McSquinty no more.

November: A day in Richmond. Why yes, I do have a few people who’ve sworn to bust me out should I ever be detained there against my will. We get freaky for Halloweeny, parts un and deux. Getting yourself a furry face could save you from going to therapy. My one and only vacation this year and I chose to spend it roaming around in the desert. Chillin’ with the big cat at Watutu. At one with nature at Joshua Tree National Park.

December: You could totally guess what kind of mom I would be. Influenced by Legend of the Guardians, not Harry Potter. Charlie really is the cutest thing ever. I did say Charlie is the cutest thing ever, right? That came across, non?

So, how to sum up 2011 for me? It was a year of unexpected surprises – both good and bad. A year that I hadn’t planned for. A year that threw out the window what I had originally wanted to do this year. It was a challenging year, professionally. The loss of a much loved job and the start of another.

It was also a year of emotional growth and development. There were many wonderful highlights, for which I am thankful for. And any challenges that presented themselves have hopefully made me a better partner, a better human. With all my soul-searching and re-evaluation of late, I’d like for more of my dreams realized next year.

But if 2011 taught me anything, it is to try to roll with the punches yet at the same time, not to lose sight of what I want and what is important to me.

And that will remain my focus for 2012.