For me, like many others, it’s not just a song title, ♪♪♪ “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”♪♪♪!
Fall and winter are my favorite seasons because I love the changing leaves, Halloween candy, turkey and all the fixings, and three months of Christmas decorations and music. (Yes, mine stay up through January!)
While many were enjoying the pool and the summer heat and humidity, I already had my Halloween and fall decorations out. And, I almost put up my two Christmas trees in mid-October!
There’s a reason for that, which I’ll get to. But, I didn’t. I actually put them up the first weekend of November — a few days later than usual.
While COVID is still sickening people and worse, the “pandemic” is over. I hope you’re healthy and festive as we head into the holidays.
For some of you, we communicate once a year at Christmas through cards. For others, we keep up with each other through social media, my blog, and a few, by phone or text. (Yes, calls are still a thing!)
I’m very grateful for all that I’ve been blessed with in life. I’ve never taken any of my successes for my granted and I’ve always tried to move on quickly from my failures.
In early 2022, I moved into a more modernized apartment in the same complex.
I also signed on for three more years as the morning meteorologist for the NBC affiliate in Decatur, which covers Central Illinois. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here going on three years!
When I talk about being grateful, much of that is directed toward my sister. Last year’s holiday season from Thanksgiving into early 2022 was not a good one for Tammy. We almost lost her, but she’s a fighter.
Doctors were able to figure out her medication, she lost a lot of weight, and is now healthier than she’s been in decades.
This beautiful photo was taken just two months after the one above in the hospital!
Now, if she’d just stop smoking and exercise and take advantage of this latest lease on life!!!
While a few more coins were thrown my way in the new contract, not much of it went into my savings. I live a simple, no-frills life, so I spend my extra cash traveling. And, since my passport is expiring, I took advantage of it.
After travel was sidelined in 2020 and early 2021, I went to Vegas twice in the summer and then to Greece for my birthday last year once I was fully vaccinated.
This spring, I traveled to Costa Rica. On the week-long trip, I saw incredible fauna and the Arenal Volcano National Park…
walked across eight hanging bridges, some of which were hundreds of feet long and hundreds of feet over the vast forest of trees!
My favorite meal there was a sea bass, which was preceded by a delicious shrimp and lobster bisque, and followed by pineapple cheesecake.
And, Costa Rican breakfasts are much simpler than Mediterranean ones. One interesting staple of the diet there, even at breakfast, is beans and rice!
I met four amazing people that I’ve kept in touch with from southern California (Bill and Sandi and Tim and Kathy).
Because of Tammy’s hospital stays last holiday season, we had to cancel our week-long trip to Cancun, Mexico. We re-booked it for June and enjoyed ourselves.
And, instead of visiting my favorite American city, Las Vegas, I spontaneously went to Atlantic City, New Jersey, in August. Hated it! That’s why I don’t do spontaneity.
But, this view was nice!
And, then in October, before the passport expired, I took the trip of a lifetime, almost two weeks exploring Turkey! It was incredible.
The Spice Market in Istanbul was breathtaking. (I love this selfie because of the little lady behind me smiling. It still bring happiness to me today looking at it!)
The mosques and the architecture…
and cruising the Bosporus Strait was amazing.
It was incredible how quickly the landscape changed from the sprawling metropolis to the vast empty land to forests to big cities again.
The highlight of the trip was a sunrise hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia just 3,000 feet above the jagged, volcanic terrain!
An absolutely breathtaking experience. Check out this spectacular one-minute video I took!
I loved the Mediterranean breakfasts…
the lamb kebabs…
and the desserts, especially the baklava.
However, my favorite food was the persimmons — so sweet and delicious.
And, it was a pleasure hanging out with my new friends Eleanor and her daughter, Allison…
… along with Mike and Apar and Jonathan and Colleen.
Along with all of the fun things I experienced in 2022, there was one bit of sadness.
Betty, a sweet woman that I’ve called “Mom” since 1995, after years of mental decline, passed away in early September.
It was heartbreaking over the past few years to talk “at” her on the phone as she tried to process who she was even talking to.
Miss Betty was Christopher’s mother (we dated from 1995-2004). She definitely loved her grand dogs, Miss ABBA and Mister Panda!
Even after Christopher and I went our separate ways, Betty would still come visit me wherever I was living — Maryland or the Quad Cities — and I made several visits to see her in Ohio!
And, this Thanksgiving, as I feasted on turkey, I thought of Miss Betty. She was notorious for gnawing the last bit of meat off a carcass (okay, a bone)!
So, one Thanksgiving, I convinced her to pose for this photo! LOL
Miss Betty, thank you for the loving me like a son! And, the “Son” ornaments you gave me over the years are on display!
In 2023, there’s still only one concert I want to see — Kylie Minogue.
Maybe it’ll be in “Xanadu” – ♪♪♪ “a place where nobody dared to go” where “a million lights are dancing and there you are – a shooting star” ♪♪♪! And, maybe #Pug20-something will finally become a reality next year!
My friends, here’s to 2023 — a year hopefully filled with love, excitement, happiness, and peace!
“May hope and faith conquer fear and hate this Christmas”!
Anthony
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