Janingalina

This year has been tough. I said that last year wasn't pivotal. I think this year was. It's been turbulent and knocked a lot of things off their axes.

I haven't been cycling as much, soured off of racing a bit from last year's failures in the Expert class. I broke up and got back together about 17 times, that left a mark. My car got backed into twice while I was parked and a back window was smashed out. I did knit a lot, but not near as much as I wanted to. There's been a lot of turnover at work, friends breaking up or divorcing, considering suicide, or struggling through their own trials. A few people I'm close to moved away - one to Georgia, one to Texas, two to Washington State, two back to Germany.

January - Sewing Machine, Sault Ste. Marie Canada Board trip. Ford took a big old crap and really whomped our industry with their "Way Forward"
February - Ski trip to Boyne with old friends and new ones
March - Visited Sheila in AK
April - Scarlet Fever, Cabin Fever, Pia moved away.
May - Grandfather was in and out of the hospital, lots of family time.
June - Grandfather Passed, Funereal events. Lumberjack with the 'Rents, temps in the 90's, I got heat exhaustion and only rode 50 miles. Grandma diagnosed with Cancer
July - Gramma in Chemo. I was in Germany during the World Cup, great visit with Pia and decision about my potential job there. One cousin bore first wedlocked kid of my generation
August - Gramma in Chemo. A different cousin got married
September - Gramma's Cancer in remission. Hardest struggles about Germany job, I almost quit my company.
October - Great Aunt Passed. Boss/Friend returned to Germany.

It just seems like it's touched everyone this year. Coworkers have lost Mothers, Brothers and Fathers.

I'm just ready for it to be done. My year will end early, or at least my American 06. I'm off to Germany December 1. So I'll be doing all of my retrospectives in November/December. Betcha I'm the first one on the retrospective bandwagon this year..