Good-bye Noughties, Hello 2010!
Happy New Year!
So, we’ve been back in the US of A for about 3 months now and, boy, is this blog behind! We’ve been busy getting settled, getting over what may or may not have been malaria, finding a place to live, dealing with movers, sorting through things that have been in storage for 3 years, buying 2 cars, remembering what it’s like to drive everywhere, getting new phones and phone numbers, catching up with family and friends and making decisions on life-changing events.
Speaking of life-changing events, this past decade has been full of them. Here’s what happened to me during the noughties.
- My nephew, Brendan, was born.
- My nephew, Preston, was born.
- My niece, Sidney, was born.
- I met my best friend, Kate, and we studied abroad in Austria. I would have never left the USA if it wasn’t for her.
- I lived in my first apartment.
- I declared a major that impacted my future more than I ever imagined.
- I met the love of my life and had a secret office romance.
- My niece, Ansley, was born.
- I graduated college with a bachelors degree and masters degree.
- I moved to Louisville, KY with Kate and started my first career job.
- I ran the Louisville Triple Crown of Running and the Kentucky Derby half marathon.
- I married Josh, my love, and we moved to Zurich, Switzerland.
- We spent our first Christmas in Paris without our families and decided we would never do that again. (The no families part, not the Paris part!)
- I sort of learned how to ski.
- I learned how tried to speak German.
- I had a very hard time being away from my family on the 10-year anniversary of my dad’s passing.
- I traveled to 18 different countries while living in Europe.
- Josh and I did a 6 month Round the World trip and visited another 15 countries before moving back to the US.
- I became an adult.
Overall, the past decade was very good to me. I remember being a senior in high school in 1999 wondering what the year 2000 and the next 5-10 years would bring. There is no way I could have imagined these experiences and I wouldn’t change any of it. I hope that this decade is just as wonderful and adventurous.
As for looking forward, here’s a list of things to do in 2010:
- Back-post about our travels and get the blog up to date.
- Finish the 3 Blurb books that I have started.
- Find a job that I reasonably enjoy.
- See Kate, my best friend, at least 3 times.
- Each time I get a new book, get rid of a book or move one book to the keeper pile. Our house is getting overcrowded with books.
- Increase my vegetable intake.
- Attend at least one of my nieces’ or nephews’ birthday parties (if invited, they’re getting to that age…).
- Travel to at least one new place. Our travel budget is a bit depleted, so this may be harder than it seems.
- Get rid of the clothes I’m keeping in case I lose weight. All except 2 pieces for inspiration must go. If I lose it, I’ll just buy new clothes!
- Find a church to attend regularly.
I tried to quantify most of these so that I can actually evaluate if I’ve accomplished them. I don’t typically make resolutions or even set detailed goals, but I do love to-do lists and checking things off the list.
The past decade and 2009 will be hard to top, but here’s to making the best of 2010!
