Happy New Year To You!!! Welcome 2013!

Happy New Year!!! As like many, it’s hard to believe that it’s 2013. Last year had many ups and downs. There were happy times with lots of smiles and there were definitely sad time with lots of tears.

Probably the hardest blow of the year was the loss of my grandfather. He was a truly amazing and gentile man. He was not just my grandfather but also my father. When my parents divorced when I was young my mom and sister and I lived with my grandparents. When I was 8ish, we moved three houses down from them. My sister and I walked home for lunch when we were in grade school (yes, we were actually allowed to do that!) and got to see pop-pop before he went to work at Boeing. Because he worked a 2^nd shift, gram would always cook him a dinner for lunch and packed a lunch for dinner. After we ate, we had time to watch a quick episode of Gilligan’s Island, Hogan’s Heroes or Hawaii 5-0 before my sister and I had to go back to school. Days off were great because the three of us NEVER missed an episode of The Price is Right! When I got older, my grandparents and my mom decided to put the houses in Overbrook, Philadelphia up for sale and buy a house together in the burbs. In 1996, two months before I headed off for college, we all moved to Havertown all under one roof again! I loved walking into the house and seeing him sitting in “his chair” with a clicker in hand talking to the television. He would sit down every day at 3:00 with gram and watch General Hospital. Nothing like being able to have a conversation with pop about what Sonny, Jason, Carly and the Quartermains were up to in Port Charles! He didn’t like Oprah (such a smart man!). He liked watching the Phillies, Flyers and Eagles but was the calmest Philadelphia Sports fan that you’d ever meet in your life! Towards the end of 2011 things took a turn for pops. He got Shingles, which really took a toll on him. Not too long after that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and didn’t bounce back. Even after surgery we found out that things spread too much to for the doctors to help him. So, in late April Heaven gained another angle. The holidays weren’t the same. Especially at Thanksgiving when it came time to carve the turkey. That was pops job…but my brother-in-law did a fantastic job of stepping in and taking on the task!

The loss of loved ones is always hard. Financial blows suck too. This year home/car ownership was a killer! New AC compressor in late August. Yippie! Just what every homeowner wants to happen after a sweltering summer! And the cars…oh, the cars. I’m not even sure where to begin or if I even want to! The two cars we had as the start of the year were each 10+ years. Big risk…we know! Let’s see, what did we go through this past year? Hubs, roters, tires, a windshield, a serpentine belt, a shot of freon, new battery…I think I’ll stop there. And I’m pretty sure we called AAA at least 4x to tow one of the cars somewhere. (PS – If you don’t have AAA I highly recommend you apply!!!) There finally came a breaking point…well, a broken car on the side of 422 had to be towed -- where we had to replace one of them. So at least in 2013 we only have to worry about one car instead of two!

But even with all this stuff, there’s so much that I’m truly grateful for. And I know I’m blessed. I am employed and have healthcare insurance, where so many people are not as fortunate. My husband was very lucky to find a job after being unemployed for over a year. I have a car, even if it may not be the most reliable. I have an amazing family and friends that I love and they love me (or at least I tell myself that…hahaha). My kids and husband are my world even though they drive me completely insane, but I would not change it for the world! I can put food on the table and a roof over our heads, where many people are struggling to do just that for their families.

I’m not making and resolutions for the New Year. Yeah, we all say that we want to eat healthier and go to the gym…blah, blah, blah. That’s all fine and good. But this year I just want to do my best to be a better person – a better mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, etc. I think that it’s something we should all do.

How about this year we all try to be a little nicer to one another. The hate and violence in this country is out of hand. Even if you can make one stranger smile, isn’t it worth it? Work hard for what you want and don’t expect things to be handed to you. This may sound harsh, but you are not entitled to everything or anything. Be grateful for what you have because you don’t know if/when it will be taken away. Don’t take anything for granted.

Ok, getting off the soapbox now. I wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year! I hope 2013 is good to you all!!!