So Long, Sweet 16

Remember when we thought the world would end (or close to it) when the calendar turned to 2000? Remember we survived?

So many people thought 2016 was such a bad year, yet we survived, didn't we?

Maybe the elections didn't go how you wanted them to. Maybe there was too much violence. Too much negativity. Too much sadness.

Maybe. But we also had great time celebrating the Olympics. Remember? And, in my own little world, there also was joy at our son's graduation. Pride as he started college. Gratitude that the year ended without the loss of a loved one in our family.

Extra special gratitude that I got to spend the last day with a few special friends.

My BFF Christine was in town so I got see her (right) and her sister-in-law Jenny (my scrap sister) downtown late this afternoon. Along with about 10 or 12 others. We old people need to go out early! Home a little after 6 p.m.

At 6:30, we headed down the block to our friends Mark and Brenda's house where 11 of us got to eat, drink and be very merry, talking stupid, playing cards and losing money. (I did, anyway.) Made it until midnight and then some! Take that, young people!

Speaking of young people, Carter is staying at a friend's and Tony had to go to bed early because he has to work at 5 a.m. So somebody had to ring in the new year.

Hope you have fond memories of another passing year and appreciate how far you've come. May 2017 bring you everything you are hoping for!

For me that is more time with the many special people filling up my heart.

Happy New Year!