2017

My first year of being fully retired.

It was the year we adopted two rescue kittens.


They are the most affectionate, cuddly kittens I’ve ever lived with. They have brought us many laughs and much joy.





I got to see Cate live on Broadway and her amazing Manifesto installation.





I shared a trip to NYC with Beaner to see her heart throb Jake Gyllenhaal in
Sunday in the Park with George.







I managed to get my entire family to Las Vegas to see Celine Dion and then went on an incredible hiking adventure with Peachie to Sedona and Page, Arizona.













We all went to Yankee Stadium on Mother’s Day to see the retirement ceremony for Derek Jeter.






I cried as I watched my favorite bonus daughter get married, with Beaner standing by her side.

Spent the lazy days of summer rebuilding the camp deck (still not finished) and enjoying sunsets at the lake.





And hammock snoozing






Did a lot of gardening and canning the first fruits of my young orchard.






Peachie invited me to go kayaking on the Charles river in Boston.





Martha and I went to DisneyWorld without kids


and got to be kids ourselves.





 had one of my healthiest years in a while with only one trip to the hospital for a procedure to figure out why I was having esophageal pain. The procedure was unsuccessful but the symptoms subsided as mysteriously as they had appeared.


Mentally I had only a few stumbles into PTSD and quickly recovered. They were just enough of a reminder of where I’ve been, but more importantly, how far I’ve come.


After a year of having a Fitbit constantly tell me to move, hitting the gym 3 times a week, and upping my fruits and veggies, I weigh exacting 1 pound less than I did last year. At this rate it will take me another 7 years to make my goal weight.


As for my family -


My great nephew came through some seriously scary cranial surgery with flying colors. This is him in his new helmet.





My 40 year old niece was diagnosed with breast cancer. She just had a lumpectomy and is facing 6 weeks of radiation. Like mine, it was an aggressive tumor. Like me, early detection probably saved her life.

Beaner landed a new job with a great raise and amazing benefits, including summers off. Come May she will be moving closer to the job and to us.


Peachie and her boyfriend bought a new house, two blocks from the ocean. (I can’t wait to visit) They will keep the 2 family house they live in now as rental property. And she is being courted for a new job that will require more travel but also more money and benefits.


I think they will finally be out of my wallet!!!


With all the crazy happening in the world today (it still amazes me how one man can create so much havoc) my world has been relatively calm, restorative and fun.

My resolutions for 2018 are to further reduce my environmental impact, work harder against crazy politics, up my volunteers hours, and most especially to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone. 

And to lose at least 1 more pound.




Here's to seeing lots of squirrels in 2018