I spent a very quiet New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, trying to distract myself with munchable novels but not quite succeeding. I was more ruminating on the last year and thinking ahead to what 2012 would bring.
As you get older, the years sort of become a blur and also with age, shit just happens:
My mother’s health is declining rapidly and has become very worrisome. Because I’m an only child, I have had to change or even cancel plans to accommodate her illness. (This is why you haven’t seen me out doing lectures or book signings.) Things won’t get any easier this year as her doctors and I move toward putting her in a place where she can get 24/7 care. We know this won’t be an easy thing to do (I got my stubborn streak from her), but it is the best thing to do.
Her brother, my one-and-only uncle, passed away Thanksgiving night, after a mercifully brief illness. Fortunately, I was able to sneak off for a whirlwind 2-day trip to California to see him before he left us while my husband stayed behind in case something happened with Mom.
We lost three of four cats in a four month span. You’d think after all the cats who have owned me over the years that I would become accustomed to losing a beloved pet but it never gets any easier.
Those were the downers. On the very bright side:
Thanks to my husband’s stellar performance at work, we had an opportunity to visit Maui in March on the company’s dime. Although Hawai’i was on our list of places to visit, it was pretty far down on the list due to the cost. The brief 3 days only made me want to stay longer and definitely return. (It’s moved up the bucket list a few notches.)
We adopted twin Russian Blue/Gray Tabby mix boys in April. I’d forgotten what it was like to have kittens in the house. They are terrors! But they also very goofy and provide a lot of smiles around here.
My second book, A Green Witch’s Formulary came out in late August. Sales have been wonderful! I know I said I was going to turn my attention to fiction writing but it’s difficult for this stereotypical Virgo to get into a creative mood when Mom is in such bad shape. (I’ve put my “great American novel” on the back burner for now.) Writing about herbs I can do with my logical hat on and thanks to ideas put up by some friends, I’m in the research phase of book #3: it’ll be on baneful herbs. No idea when I’ll finish it, much less get it out but you, dear reader, will be the first to know!
I not only had fun but met some online friends in person for the first time at the New Orleans Witches’ Ball. It was also my first (and definitely not last) visit to that wonderful city.
My grandsons and granddaughter turned 2 and 1, respectively. They are growing so fast!
And then there are all my online friends. My life has been enriched by people I’ve yet to meet in person. Say what you will about social networking … without it I’d never have met so many wonderful people, both witchy and not; some of whom I know would be sitting next to me in the proverbial jail cell saying, “Damn! That was fun!”
Another calendar year gone, another year started. Thank you all for your support during 2011. Maybe I can get out of north Georgia to meet some of you soon. Here’s to a great 2012 and may all your wishes come true!