The End of the Worst Year in Recent Memory
When I think about New Year's, all I can think about is thank God 2025 is done. It's been an awful year.
Why?
April 1st will live in my brain as the worst day of my professional career. Half of my deaf folks at work (across the country) lost their jobs for absolutely no good reason. I lost some of my favorite hearing people as well. It let me know that my job and everything I depend on is vulnerable.
My heart broke into a million pieces when we had to say goodbye to Sophie. She was my first real pet and I loved her in a way I didn't was possible. Thinking about her still makes me cry.
After a few months, I really missed having a cat in the house. So we adopted a brother/sister duo who were funny and soft. Mango is a huge boy (and a typical orange cat). He's very sweet. Dizzy was the reason we adopted them, if I'm being honest. She was the softest cat and was admittedly slightly different. Her head tilt and crossed eyes won my heart immediately. She had an illness we (and the shelter) were unaware of prior to adopting her. She died within a week of being with us. Several folks commented that she chose us so she wouldn't die in a shelter. I have no idea if that's true but my heart broke all over again. Mango is doing his best to fix it.
There was a lot of sadness in my world. I had friends die this year and friends who experienced the death of parents, spouses and partners. I had friends battle cancer. It all affected me.
There were small bright spots in the year, too.
As my job responsibilties kept changing (seemingly every week), I changed with them. I learned new skills and really became the SME (subject matter expert) for my agency. I didn't get knocked down, at least not permanently.
I took a bunch of jewelry classes. I went to Lancaster, PA for 4 days of all day (and I do mean all day - 9am - 9:30pm) classes. I learned a ton! I also worked with my previous instructor at his home studio quite a bit. I learned a lot and spent a lot of time being frustrated. But I have pretty things to show for it.
I saw a pink Spoonbill bird. I don't know why that sticks out in my head but it does. I have never seen one before! Turns out, I love South Carolina in the off season. There were many more signs of acceptance of others and diversity this time. It gives me hope.
I saw the Wanamaker light show in Philly once again. There are so many emotions tied to being in the city at Christmas. I thoroughly enjoy it.
Mango. He's still with us and I still love him.
I bought a car all by myself. I dragged Andrew with me but I asked the questions, test drove the cars, selected and paid for it all on my own. That might not seem like much to some but it was a big deal for me. While I loved my old car (a Hyundai Santa Fe), I really love not having to only go forward (because when I went in reverse, it felt like I hit a small horse). I'm a new Subaru convert. And I'm happy about it.
I'm still happily married. That's saying something!
Mostly, I feel like I survived a terrible year. 2026 has to be better.
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