Blimey, what a year that was

2011 - make a list - write - go ...

The year of the nieces, when three of them visited me for the very first time. One is a Great-niece, which reminds me ...

I turned 62 in 2011. This means that I am now officially considered a Senior on Amtrak, which is most useful for travel to New York City for my delicious haircuts with Olivier, or to have lunch with my son.

I was voted in as Chair of our Department for another three-year term, and all year long I have spent brooding on, and brewing up a new book - brewing, brooding ...

We created a garden of my dreams - or should I say Laurel Hill Gardens landscaped it, while I worked in it, sometimes weeping with joy at having my own beautiful garden after years and years of longing for one.

This past year I traveled back and forth from Israel to visit with family especially because my mother became very ill. But then, she became well again and even managed to knit me a beautiful woolen blanket, which warmed our visitors' laps this Christmas and Hanukkah Season as we curled up together on the couch to watch Christmas movies like The Family Stone.

2011 was the year of the iPad for me, in a number of different ways. Acquiring one - traveling with it all over the country and even across the Pond - using it for writing and presenting, emailing and playing my Scrabble games. Finally, acquiring a number of them for our faculty, which earned me, Goodnight IPad, a haiku and a limerick of appreciation - moments that become memories for a lifetime.

Therapy this year has been mind, brain and heart blasting. It almost feels as if I am confronting my ancient wounds and feelings for the first time. My therapist probes in the gentlest but most direct way - like an artist of the mind - bringing me face to face with a different reality of my Self. Indeed, it seems as if I am allowing myself to experience feelings authentically for the very first time.

This year was the first time I ever made Kutia and Uzvar. Yes indeed, on Christmas Eve, we celebrated Sviata Vechera for the first time.

And, without divulging too much information, suffice it to say it was one of the greatest gifts I have received in a very long time.

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: Still here ...