This post was originally a post done in 2008 but Bruce seems to think I should update it annually for you. So here goes mid year update – July 15, 2020.
A hidden secret about me is my issue with time. I believe only Bruce and my parents, perhaps one of the Erin’s, understands my secret about time. And now I shall share it with all of you. I have no concept of time. I remember hours upon hours spent trying to understand the concept of time as a child. Quarter hour, half hour, tomorrow, yesterday. And god help me, I love you more today than yesterday… Bruce bought a lovely charm on my bracelet with that saying. I said ohhh thank you. He’s like you don’t get it do you? And he’s right I don’t get it. I live in the moment. My poor mom trying to teach me what tomorrow is, my response always was how do you know? It might not come? Now, I’m not pessimistic by any means can you really be pessimistic at 4? My thoughts, you can only count on what you have.
This all ends up with me telling time by Laverne and Shirley’s. How long will it take us to get there? 1-1/2 Laverne and Shirley’s. Now, that’s something I could see and comprehend in my mind. Now that I’m older I rather like to think it’s an Einstein thing seeing time in belts that weave together. It sounds like some theory, doesn’t it?
So as 2008 rolls by I have to reflect on yesterdays and tomorrows and it makes me incredibly uncomfortable not only for remembering but my own internal issues.
BITS OF WISDOM AND REFLECTIONS
BUSINESS
2008 Professionally brought in a 48% increase from 2007. Brought tons of new clients and forced me to say no to projects. Learning to say no is so hard and it’s a process but it’s really saying yes to what you want and need to do. Bruce, Kerry and my mom would probably tell me to weed out about half of my clients but alas I’m too emotionally involved.
2019 kept the design business steady and I have a new business Savor Your Thyme which we started jeez in 2015? I still hate saying no. It gets me into tons of trouble. NO MORE OVEREXTENDING MYSELF!
AGE
2008 – I actually made it to 33. Not understanding time this was quite an accomplish all in itself.
2019 – I’ve got enough grey hairs not to tell you my age. Do the math and Damn I’ve been keeping a blog along time!
MARRIAGE
2008 – Marriage- 4 years and counting. Eight years in total. I still laugh when my single friends look like I have it all together because I’m “married”. What I’ve learned so far is that marriage is wonderful but only wonderful if you realize it and work at it everyday. Somehow I think those single girls think that after “I do”, it’s all done. They’ll learn. What’s the perfect gift for the 5th anniversary? What has meaning? What can I give next? To always want to give and not sure how, is not always easy either.
2019 – Yes to all the above. All hard work every single day. So worth it though to have someone in your corner supporting your dreams and being there.
BALANCE
2008 Learning to balance life, work, and play is something in constant strain with me. If left up to me I would work probably far more than I should. Since we got back from vacation in the fall, I’ve tried to breathe more. I don’t feel the need to get up at 6am and work till 7pm anymore? 8am will suffice. Fitting in breakfast and a work out is allowable. And really what kind of life is it to have if one doesn’t have time for breakfast? Having my own business doesn’t mean I have to give up breakfast and time with my family. It means saying no… And if a client doesn’t like the time-line they can choose someone else. The people before them got their project in before them? That’s not my fault.
2019 OHH well Yeah balance… Hmm I’m better than I was? No way am I working 12 hour days. You can try but I don’t think there’s any about of money that will balance out my need for sleep. Breathing I got down with meditation and I still need to do more yoga. I’m in the office at 9am. My morning I spend working in the garden, going for walks with Bruce and the dogs and sitting down and eating breakfast.
INSPIRATION
2008 I need to be inspired. Doesn’t matter what a new cd, new book, new sights… I need to be creative and feel whole.
2020 Still True
WHAT I’VE LEARNED IN THE PAST YEAR
2008
- We learned that Zebra’s barked.
- That sometimes we need to put the book down not all literature is good- A.K.A Love in the Time of Cholera. Bruce’s demon was the Biography of Walt Disney. ( I kinda want to read it though )
- Glogg catches fire even with the lid on.
- Friends. Sometimes it’s ok to let them go to make room for new. Don’t have to forget but sometimes it’s for the best. It doesn’t mean you’re not there for them but you gotta move on.
- You can’t fix crazy.
- If it’s broken, you don’t have to fix it, you can take it to a repair shop.
- Off the list. If I get stood up you’re off the list!
- Bad butter is disgusting.
- It’s best to drink wine quickly. Vinegar doesn’t go down so smoothly.
- And of course, That’s how it goes whenever it snows!
- Paying with cash saves money.
RESOLUTIONS TO DO
- 2008 – Another one we always say we’re gonna do and never do. Concerts at Allen Park in the summer. (SORRY JULIA! I still haven’t done this. And now in 2020 there’s a pandemic!)
- Play a game of Bocce cause we were slugs last year! (We have played bocce at the new place but I know it’s been years so it’s back on the list!)
- 2008 Wine Pairing at Town Club never have done that! (This is no good. The town club is no more. Therefor I need to go to some kind of Wine Pairing after we are free from COVID.)
- 2008 Bruce wants to finish a short story. (AHHH Bruce this one’s yours!)
- 2008 Ohhh lord, Bruce is laying it out we’re going to the Smithsonian. ROAD TRIP!
- 2008 Sit at the dining room table once a week, bring back the old family values. Remember the Walton’s? (EEks once a week?? Yeah I don’t do this every week.)
RESOLUTIONS COMPLETED
- Go to Forte. I’ve gone once with Brickley! It was a long time ago. Still don’t go enough.
- Watch a sunset, I haven’t really noticed one in so long. I can’t remember a sunset with Bruce. Bruce, sunset picnic coming your way! (New house in 2015 has lots of sunsets and sunrises!)
- Take Kasper for more walks. His floppy ears make the day better no matter what.
- Gotta try the new Fenton Grill (I went and loved their clams and a bottle of red. Sadly they went out of business)
- We never made it for wings last summer at the Casino! Bad! (I make sure to do this every year. I haven’t done it yet this year but I will if there open stupid pandemic!)
- Make room for new friends.
- 2008 Read more – Bruce is pushing for 25… That might be a wee bit too aggressive for me. 2020 I’m already at 26 and it’s only July!
- 2008 Work more outside of my boring office. WiFi is out there. 2015 I got this taken care of with Savor Your Thyme. I got lots of time outside.
- 2008 Truly learn Flash and not just dabble. (HA! I never did this but I’m a winner winner chicken dinner cause Flash was just a flash in the pants.)
- 2008 make a family tree, learn our roots. Rattle a few skeletons in the family closet. (Oh well yep Ancestry.com fixed that and we found some cousins we didn’t even know about.)
- 2008 experience the classic in life, movies, literature, visit the haberdasher and bring back the hat (Bruce’s thought)… whatever happened to the 40’s? (Trust me Bruce makes me watch enough Black and White movies and I mean I got enough antiques. I call this one complete.)