35. Thirty-five. THIRTY-FIVE.
Holy shmoley, I’m old.
And as the aged are wont to do, every year at this time I feel the need to reflect on the year that was. Or wasn’t. Because this past year sure as shinola seems to be the year that wasn’t.
Originally I wrote this whole long post that was insightful, yet decidedly boring. So I deleted all that drivel and wrote a post about how I’ve come to see my parents very differently over the course of the year. But then I decided to save those posts for Mother’s and Father’s Days.
So finally I came up with a list of 35 things in 35 years (because your age is actually a count of the years you have accumumlated outside the womb – when you turn 1, you have lived a year breathing oxygen, etc). Here’s a roundup of the year’s highlights, some things I’ve learned and experienced and felt during the past 12 months:
1. Reisling can take the edge off.
2. Self-hosting mah bloggity blog ROCKS. Being a volunteer blogger for the Illinois Tourism Bureau rocks even more.
3. A raise would have been nice, but I’ll be happy with not being laid off.
4. Failed IUIs suck bad.
5. Failed IVF cycles suck way worse.
6. Self-adminstered injections can be fun, kids! Especially when blood shoots across the room and splatters on the wall. It’s fascinating, and kinda like art, and only slightly horrifying.
7. Blog giveaways are also a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to lots more!
8. You can’t stop hoping, even when it seems pointless.
9. Challenges can be opportunities for self-improvement.
10. The book, The Millionaire Next Door, changed my life. I’ve never been so determined to save and invest than during this past year.
11. Even though it makes me broke as all get out, I’m super proud of how I’ve saved money this year.
12. My student loans are a noose around my neck.
13. This year has taught me patience: Patience in trying to concieve, patience in finances and patience with friends and family.
14. I’ve been loved. A lot. And I’ve loved right back.
15. I made some great friends this year. I’m looking at you, SHARON.
16. I may only have a 25% chance at having a baby, but I am going to keep trying. The only way I will know for sure that I can’t have kids is if I stop trying.
17. This year, I’ve gotten really, really sick of people judging me. I’ve stepped back from friendships because said friends were too judgy.
18. The public library is my friend.
19. Novalima was one of the best concerts I’ve ever experienced, and I’m now a fan obsessed to the point of stalking.
20. Habib Koite and Bamada’s beautiful music has helped me get through many a miserable night.
21. I am so very, very grateful to live Chicago. It’s the greatest city in the world, and I love it more than I could ever say with words.
22. I celebrated Obama’s election in Grant Park, with thousands of my fellow Chicagoans.
23. I had my heart broken in Daley Plaza when the IOC voted Chicago out. It may have been sad, but at least I had similarly affected company. (And congratulations, Rio!)
24. I spent a lovely Thanksgiving with my aunt in Tennessee.
25. My sister came to visit over her Christmas break!
26. I have received so much support over the past year, I can’t even begin to explain how much it has meant to me to have people support me in TTC. And to have people understand what I’m going through. That’s so huge, you know?
27. YAY for the IVP!
28. My cats became seniors. Regrettably, this involved switching to a more expensive cat food, and it has not stopped Hooghley from attacking my toes in the middle of the night.
29. Nothing is more magical and wonderful than summer in Chicago.
30. Few things are as painful as Chicago in February. VERY few things are as painful as a failed injectible IUI cycle in February in Chicago. (OK, OK, so the cycle was December, but believe me: February sucked, too.)
31. Hot pot at Lao Sze Chuan can improve matters considerably.
32. It’s nice to get a good performance review.
33. I miss diving. I dream of diving.
34. It is so FRAKING AWESOME to be going back to school. I can’t wait! I was surpised that my profs remembered me, and I was even more surprised - stunned, even – that they thought highly of me. And here I thought I annoyed them.
35. I’m nervous and excited about the upcoming year. I’ll know for sure if I can have a baby or not, school is going to be INTENSE and I’m looking forward to seeing what my savings and investments will look like in 12 months time. I’ve learned a great deal about patience over the past year, and hopefully, next year will involve a bit more resolution (happy resolution?) and a little less waiting.
You can’t stop hoping, even when it seems pointless.
that, i like. a lot.
agreed about chicago too. i love this city. most summers are less than magical due to humidity and heat, which are my nemeses, but this past one was milder, and kind of delightful.
incidentlaly, it was the summer i turned 35, and it was a great birthday, despite the whole oh-noes-milestone-ish-getting-old thing.
Happy Birthday! That is a great list. That is very cool about the blogging for the tourism authority. I hear ya on the student loans…ugh. All the best for the next twelve months.
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday!
35 is so not old! I really hope this year brings you everything you wish for
Happy Birthday! I hope you are having as wonderful a day as you are.
Thank you for this thoughtful post.
Happy Birthday Miss Thang!!! Have a beautifully fabulous day!!!
Happy birthday!!
(from LFCA)
Happy Birthday! You are not old. Oh to be 35 again! Have a great day!
Happiest of birthdays to you! You helped me a lot this year. You were one of my first commenters (the 2nd?) on my very first blog, and the first to give me tears in my eyes at your kind comments. You gave me unbelievable support through my “difficult time” and I am proud to know you any way that I can.
I love reading your blog. I love this list. I love seeing the world through your eyes.
Happy Birthday, Friend. You done good.
Oh my, now you have ME tearing up!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope you have many more wonderful insightful years on this planet!
Happy Birthday!
If you think 35 is old…oh never mind – I don’t want to ruin your groove.
I hope your 36th year on earth is wonderful and full of many fantastic new experiences.
Happy Birthday! I can’t wait to see what your next year brings!
Happy happy birthday. I am so glad that this was the year I met you.
Indeed! I was thinking of you when I wrote 15 and 16.
Oops, I meant 15 and 27.
Did you know that you are a pretty amazing person?