So, I’m a bit behind in wishing everyone a Happy New Year, but it’s all about the sentiment, right?

Summing up a year like 2012 that some real highs and lows isn’t easy. Offer on the condo and two weeks to find a house to buy (and finding a house that we really liked) was great. The moving and settling in was tedious, but the being settled was great. We had two great open houses – one to show off the new house and one for Christmas. Stan and I had great trips to San Diego (for my nieces’s wedding), to CA to camp with our friends, and driving to Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Stan celebrated his ten year anniversary at his job. We attended dinners, games days, beer trips, and other great events with our friends.

And then there’s the elephant in the room. Yes, dealing with the death of Jo Ann was a shock. We were able to lean on our great friends and families, a real blessing. They helped us get through the first foggy days with few issues. The learning curve was steep, but we did come to understand estate issues that can only come in handy in the future. And we have only one major item, selling the house, left to finish things up.

Sadly, life doesn’t work like a scale that evens up by the end of the year. But the longer I live more I am sure that (as I said back in college),”It’s the pain that makes the pleasure worth it.” Bittersweet. Topsy-turvy. Unpredictable. Unscripted. Life.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2013 for everyone.