Retrospect and Introspect

Happy New Year!!!

Sognatrice inspired me with a 'look at last year' meme... it is important to look back in order to gain a good perspective of the untraveled road ahead. We must remember the ground we've covered, and learn from our experiences.


1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? Many things, some of which are: Started this blog, did ALL homemade Christmas presents (will not do that again any year soon), started a second novel, been the photographer in a photo shoot, bought furniture from out of state and then left it in the state I bought it in, got up VERY early to drive to the mountains to take photos of the sunrise on the Rockies (cold... so cold...), marched in the Martin Luther King Marade in Denver (YAY!!!!!), gone to a movie at the Mayan... and much, much more.


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make resolutions at the new year - but I do look forward to accomplishing goals that have already been set.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes! My brother and his wife welcomed their third son. Yay!


4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, Colton Brice. Rest in peace, sweet boy.


5. What countries did you visit? None outside of the US in 2007.


6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Time... balance... more focus, more determination.


7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? As many as possible, I hope, to remember the wonderful times with fondness and the hard ones with solemnity and wisdom.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? There was no single biggest achievement; I think so many little things that we accomplish build us up, improve us individually and improve our lives and the world around us, that singling one thing out would diminish the positiveness of the little things.


9. What was your biggest failure? I fell below my own standards and failed myself when I allowed my temper to get the better of me with someone who is an unpleasant constant in my life, instead of taking the high road and being patient, tolerant and peaceful. The extremely negative ensuing results lasted three months before they were resolved.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, internally and externally, some of the worst I've known, but I recovered and am much stronger for it.


11. What was the best thing you bought? Time


12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Every one of my good friends


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My... how apropos. Those few who I believed I knew well, and who proved to me that I did not.


14. Where did most of your money go? As soon as I figure that out, I'm plugging that leak.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? I get excited about many things, I don't know that there was one thing that rose above the rest. Family, friends, holidays, trips, events, there are so many things to enjoy!


16. What song will always remind you of 2007? One song? One?!? Right.


17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Happier with myself, sadder from the loss of friends, thinner in trouble, fatter/broader in mind, richer for the love of family and friends, poorer in short sightedness.


18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I'd been kinder, wiser, more patient, more balanced and more productive. I also wish I'd read, painted, written, traveled and danced more.


19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Leaving things unfinished.


20. How did you spend Christmas? With family and friends; enjoying all of it. This was one of my best holidays ever.


21. Did you fall in love in 2007? Of course! Every time I see the beautiful state I live in, every time a child gives me a hug or a kiss, every time I read a great book or watch a wonderful movie - in particular, Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird... and Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind.


22. What was your favorite TV program? I don't watch TV. Only movies, and yes... they are different.


23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? It is a cardinal rule of mine not to hate. No good comes of it, which consequently makes it a monumental waste.


24. What was the best book you read? Too many good ones to choose just one. Although, I love 1000 Days in Tuscany, enough that I carry it with me often, and I also love "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci".


25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Again... there were several worthwhile discoveries, but I very much like Mozella.


26. What did you want and get? I wanted to spend wonderfully memorable holidays with my family and friends ~ And I did! I wanted good grades, and got them as well. I wanted Katy's cheesecake on my birthday and got it. Actually, this could wind up being a long list, I usually get what I want, if it's not outrageous or unrealistic.


27. What did you want and not get? World Peace, healing in Darfur, Benazir Bhutto to be Prime Minister of Pakistan again, ....a vacation...


28. What was your favorite film of this year? Once, which I enjoyed watching at an obscure little theatre with a very dear friend who treated me to it for my birthday.


29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was at work all day and school all night, but I did get to have a pre-birthday party with dear friends - it's impolite to ask a lady her age. Hush.


30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Traveling to places I actually want to go to.


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? an improved work in progress.


32. What kept you sane? Who said I was sane?


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? The same one I always admire the most: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., time does not diminish it.


34. What political issue stirred you the most? Darfur, and Benazir Bhutto.


35. Who did you miss? Everyone I love who isn't near me.


36. Who was the best new person you met? Storm


37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. There are SO many to chose from, several lessons were refreshed, but I think it would be something in between "That which does not kill you makes you stronger" and "I am stronger than I ever knew".


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. The Beatles... "Here Comes the Sun"