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One of my favorite reads of 2022 was John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed in which Green reviews aspects of the current geological age on a five-star scale. It’s a collection of essays that are part history, part social commentary, and part memoir in varying ratios that touch on subjects from Canadian Geese (two stars) to Super Mario Kart (four stars). Entries are interesting, upsetting, inspiring, and the chapter reviewing sunsets left me misty-eyed in the Target parking lot where I’d sat finishing it before going in to buy whatever I bought at Target that day. Because yes, so much is perfect and loving the beauty that surrounds us is not disrespectful to the horrors that also surround us.
If I go month by month in rating 2022, I think of stresses particularly in the what-to-do-about xyz behavior from Teen 1 or Teen 2, and I don't have reasons to add stars. Raising teens this year has definitely been a low star activity for me. Teaching teens? Much higher. I have been delighted by so many class discussions and writing prompt responses. (Many of) the kids are alright.
Then there was the whole ridiculously quick decision to move my dad in with us and the stress of packing up his house and a rushed closing. Middle age often means taking care of the generation above while putting out fires for the one below. That, and needing reading glasses? There are days (weeks!) when it shakes out to be a one star scenario for sure.
But 2022 overall? I have gotten really good at putting aside the stress and pursuing what makes me happy. Usually that’s being with my favorite people. Kevin and I had a five star Colorado hike and a five star Segway riding date in Palm Beach. The seal swim at Miami Sea Aquarium with Teen 3? Absolutely five stars because of how happy it made him. Playing Topgolf with my nieces over a February trip to Tennessee? All. The. Stars.
Being home brought five-star moments too. A few mornings ago while having breakfast on our patio, I sat watching our hummingbird, gone for months, back and flitting around the abundant blooms of our firespike shrubs.
What’s in store for 2023?
I scored Taylor Swift tickets for one of the Nashville shows, so that’s exciting.
A few big changes are in the works that I’m not ready to share with the internet.
There’s this whole matter of a book coming out through Orange Blossom Publishing in November. It’s about a gal named Dawn from Longview, Texas who, right after high school graduation, makes a spontaneous plan to work in Alaska for the summer. It’s a good idea because it gives her space to actually figure out what she wants instead of what her mom and boyfriend are telling her to want. It’s a bad idea because bears.
Oh, and I chose the fifth to send this because today starts my new year.
45. Here I go...