Looking Back on 2012

When I was driving home from Christmas 1980, I heard Barry Manilow on the radio singing "I made it thru the rain" and it hit me. I made it thru a difficult year. I grew in unexpected ways. I had experienced trials before like death of a cousin, uncles and a neighbor before that awful year, but not this closely related. Looking back at that year, I realized at 22 years of age that I didn't want to go back to the life before December 26, 1979. Life before had it challenges, but none that had strengthen me like 1980 had. I learned what having faith was.
I wrote the above around the first of May 2012. I had attended a one session class about change. One of the bosses for our division at University of Utah strongly advised that the employees under her attend the class.. Little did I realize then that 2012 would be wrought with change. At the time, life was good and nothing on horizon indicated change. But as fate would have, things started happening during the summer that brought another big change in my life. My mom passed away from cancer.

In this summary, I will start at the first of the year, when life was calm. 2012 wasn’t all bad and I want to remember that, even though it was another year of growth. So glad I had that class when I did. 2011 would have been too early and 2013 would have been too late.  And like 1980, I feel like "I made it thru the rain" again. But then again, I still feel as if I will be still dancing in the rain when 2013. There is still unfinished business to complete.

We are doing okay. We enjoyed more blue skies in January than any other January in recent history. My iPad and cell phone documented this little known fact quite a bit.

Between Jay’s birthday and mine, I volunteered once more at the Race for the Cure. I helped out the day before the race activities. I had to pass a background check first because I took donations. It was at new venue this year. Because the race outgrew The Gateway, it had to be moved to Library Square. The numbers were down this year because of a certain beneficiary causing a controversy. But there was still a large turnout, thanks to those who have hope for a cure.

Summer was okay. There were more than usual range fires close to homes in Utah.(and Idaho and Colorado, my other home states.) Jay and I were never in danger, but others were. I didn't go anywhere, not even to Park City. Jay and John went home a few times. I don't like traveling during the summer that much. Too hot.
Things got a bit too eventful as fall approached. Three or four weeks after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, my mom left us to reunite with my dad. Although I didn't see her until a few hours after she passed, I did cherish the moments I got to hear her voice. It was weak, but thanks to my parents' sacrifice when I was twelve, I got to hear her voice. (I had an ear operation before I entered 7th grade.) My sisters took care of Mom in Washington, but the services were in Idaho where she is resting now.
Looking back on the past year, I find that I am grateful for kindness. Crystal was thrilled when she got a gift card to Cafe Zupas. Tracina thanked me for the Swedish Fish I threw in a package at the last minute. A lot of people sent my mom get well cards. Mom did her best to cheerful toward the nurses. My work gave me funeral chocolates instead of flowers. I liked that. But the most comforting kindness I knew that people were praying for Mom and my family in our time of need and being kind to my older brother even though he didn't deserve it.

Although I am glad 2012 is almost over, I am glad I went thru it. I've learned quite a bit and still will as I continue in 2013. Sorry the world didn’t end 12/21/12. Marty McFly went back to the future in 2015. For once Hollywood got it right.