wrapping up 2022

My gosh where did this year go?

There were many aspects of 2022 that were like previous years.  Lots of on-line art classes, many hours in the garden and the studio, time in NYC, visits to see my mom and family in Virginia, international travel and much needed quality time with good friends. 

There were a few new things too!

Sound baths! Sound meditations! How did I live without them?  For anyone not familiar…It’s truly an amazing experience for the body, mind and soul. You lay down and relax, and the sounds and frequencies of the variety of sound instruments vibrate though your body.  It’s a unique experience and has been such a healing process for me.  I’ve let go of a lot of stress that’s been plaguing my body for the past ten years. 

Added to that…therapy! Why I waited so long is beyond me.  My stress started years ago when my dad’s Alzheimer’s worsened. He ultimately ended up in a care facility right after a hospital stay and I was frantic knowing the cost involved with his care. Thankfully I found an eldercare attorney to handle the Medicaid application and to protect what little savings they had left. He passed away several days after Medicaid went into effect.  Not long after, my mom had a bad fall and landed in the hospital and it was downhill after that.  The stress of that and getting caregivers for her (24/7) and managing (from Arizona) a large home on five acres in Virginia just about did me in. Then it was the sale of the farm when her money ran out and her move to a local nursing facility in Roanoke.  Add incompetent people and inadequate care at the facility and it all wreaked havoc on my body from the stress and worry. I never had a clue that stress could do such crazy things to one’s body. In addition, this entire experience really opened my eyes to the aging process. Therapy really helped me in a number of different ways and I’ll be forever thankful for taking that step.

Oh…and the news.  It has taken a while, but I made a huge reduction in my intake of news as the year progressed. I’ve always wanted to understand the issues, but not so much that it would create stress. It’s a difficult balancing act.  It took a while, but another great decision to turn that shit off.  Well, most of it.  I did, however, watch every single moment of the January 6th Committee hearings throughout the year. But in general the reduction in news has also eliminated stress.

And then there’s covid.  It’s hard to believe that after a trip to Kenya, followed by a trip to NYC and Virginia to visit my mom…that I’m home for a week and somewhere I pick up covid. It was awful. I don’t want to do that again.  It wasn’t your typical runny nose and cold like symptoms.  And…my pulsatile tinnitus exploded during the worst days of my illness.  It really took about three weeks to feel like my old self again.  All I can say is I’m thankful for the vaccinations and all the boosters. I am SO thankful for good health.  But, will Covid ever end? What about long covid?

On the “home” front…literally…we eliminated our lawn and installed artificial turf. I’m so happy with the outcome. I also removed fifteen rose bushes.  Less work and not to mention a little contribution to the ongoing concern of water shortages. A win win. 

On another note, over the last few years our little street beside our home has become quite busy, thus noisy because so many are using it as a shortcut within our neighborhood. As I age, I want to be in a more quiet environment.  I love outdoor living and here in the desert it gives you the opportunity almost year round.  So we hired an architect to help us with potentially building a wall for noise reduction, as well as plans for perhaps a future art studio/casita on our property. The process of creating a plan and submitting it to the city for approval has taken an entire year.   Even as I write this at the end of the year, we’re still currently waiting on a building permit from the city of Scottsdale.  The rate we’re going I will be almost 70 before I’d see a wall, not to mention an art studio. So there’s been more time thinking of alternatives…as in selling our home and moving elsewhere in the desert.  2023 will tell the story, hopefully?

There were a couple of events during the year that are newsworthy as it relates to “amazing humans.”  We hosted two individuals from SouthEast Asia for a week.  We’ve known Sarakk from our many visits to Cambodia over the years and he came to the United States on a scholarship to attend Madison University.  His college roommate, Phil, from Thailand joined us as well.  It was such a fun time hosting and witnessing them experience the desert here in Arizona.  I’d wake in the morning to the amazing aroma of Thai food wafting throughout the house.  Phil is an excellent cook and we had homemade Thai food throughout their entire visit.  I loved how both of them just made themselves at home, especially in the kitchen. I cried when they left.

Another “amazing humans” event was at Thanksgiving. A young woman who has been in our life since she was a child hosted her first Thanksgiving in her new home.  So proud of her accomplishments…a good job where she’s recognized as a top performer and not only is she able to care for herself, she recently purchased her first home. I stay in awe at her ability to maneuver this world in complete darkness as she is sight impaired. So very proud of how her parents raised her and her own drive and spirit.

I’ll end this update with travel notes and more “amazing humans” experiences.  A fun road trip in July with our son to Silver City, New Mexico…relaxing at the wonderful Bear Mountain Lodge for a few days. There was a short weekend trip to meet some folks in Palo Alto, California to better understand a nonprofit we were interested in supporting – called Oliveseed.  (More on that in a future post.)  But once again…more “amazing humans” who want to help those in need in our world, specifically in Morocco and Kenya. We added a few days in Moss Beach in California and stayed at The Seal Cove Inn.  Now that was a treat!  

The big travel of the year was to the Maasai Mara in Kenya, Africa for two weeks in September.  It deserves its own post when I finally finish up reviewing and deleting photos from that trip!  

So here we are…days away from entering 2023.  Can only imagine what’s in store for this upcoming year…setting my intentions for good things!