2017
I saw this survey somewhere and thought I should do something to take stock of 2017 and perhaps do the same for next year. And look, I know Meghan Markle had a really great year, but the rest of us plebeians didn’t fare so well. I should also note that my memory fails me more each year and to be honest I’m having a hard time remembering much of anything. So here goes:
1.What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?
Called my representatives
Participated in a protest march
Went to a local town hall (Beto O’Rourke)
Moved twice in one year – that was a new one
2.Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I had zero resolutions. I just knew I needed to survive the year. That was it. I had a new baby and a new dictator in chief and I just wanted to stay afloat, people. This year I don’t have resolutions either. Just goals. Read more. Write some. Find some mental balance. Oh wait, my resolution: DON’T LET THE BASTARDS GET YOU DOWN.
3.Did anyone close to you give birth?
No? I don’t think so. Did any of you give birth and not tell me? 2017 was a blur.
4.Did anyone close to you die?
My mother-in-law’s mother died right before the holidays, which was very sad. This was also the year that many of my friends’ and family’s pets died. I feel like I’m at a weird age where parents are still healthy, but everyone’s pets are reaching senior dog status. I know of at least 4 dogs, including my mom’s beloved Smokey, who was 14 years old, who died this past year. Losing a pet is just such a unique kind of grief, and so terribly hard. I’m sorry for anyone who lost a beloved this year.
5.What countries did you visit?
None at all.
6.What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?
Maybe therapy? I mean, seriously. Better coping mechanisms.
7.What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 21st, the Women’s March for sure.
July 28th, my daughter turned 3 and we had a fun party for her.
November 16th, my son turned 1, and we had a fun party for him.
That might be all. I’m telling you, 2017 was a blur and I’m having a hard time remembering anything.
8.What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I guess starting this blog in the midst of being extremely exhausted, stressed, hopeless, and busy.
9.What was your biggest failure?
Not reading enough. Reading keeps me sane. I really let it fall to the wayside in lieu of other dumb activities like screen time, and I should know better by now that my mental health is tired pretty closely with reading great books.
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Besides mental? I don’t think I got sick the entire year until the last few days of 2017, I got strep throat and a 24 hours bug that knocked me off my feet. It was ridiculous timing that somehow seemed in line with everything else the year brought. But I have to be grateful that that was it, and the kids were mostly healthy and continue to be healthy. That’s the most important thing.
11.What was the best thing you bought?
My husband bought me wool socks and they make me really warm and happy. I’m a simple person, what can I say?
12.Whose behavior merited celebration?
Black women who worked their asses off to elect the right people.
Journalists who worked their asses off to protect the First Amendment and vigorous reporting
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Is this a serious question? The GOP is the most atrocious machine on earth right now, risking nuclear war so that they can get tax breaks for their rich ass donors. Paul Ryan, you disgust me. OH WAIT, ALSO EVERY OTHER DISGUSTING MAN ON EARTH WHO SHOULD DISAPPEAR INTO THE UPSIDE DOWN SUNKEN PLACE.
14.Where did most of your money go?
DAYCARE, DAYCARE, DAYCARE, DAYCARE, DAYCARE. And moving. It was by far the most expensive and financially difficult year of my life.
15.What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A picture of Channing Tatum and Roxane Gay together.
16.What songs will always remind you of 2016?
Moana. Moana. Moana. omg get Moana out of my head.
17.Did you make any new friendships?
Right before we moved from Texas, we met some really wonderful friends through our kids’ school. We still miss them 🙂
18.Did you go on vacation?
This is really bad that I can’t remember. We went to Ocean City as a family. The problem is I never count going somewhere with the kids as vacation, because it’s more like taking care of kids in a different location.
19.What do you wish you had done (more and less) of?
Read books, for sure. Wasted way too much time obsessing over tweets and news and updates.
20.How did you spend the holidays?
At home, which was nice. Christmas with the fam and New Year’s with the in-laws (for which I was very sick and didn’t get out of bed and was in general just a very annoying guest). This is a boring question.
21.What new food did you discover?
….?
22.What was your favorite TV program?
Loved Stranger Things 2. A welcome distraction.
23.What was one of your favorite experiences of the year?
For sure going to the Women’s March. I had bought plane tickets before the election, thinking I’d be taking my daughter to the Inauguration of the first female president of the United States. After black Tuesday I debated if we should go and ultimately decided to travel with a 2.5 year old and 2 month old and my husband, and it ended up being a really wonderful thing to meet up with longtime friends, to be in DC, which I consider to be one of my homes, and to be around family. It reminded me to keep friends and family close, and it invigorated me to be more active. To be among that many people and to have an actual visual of how many people were going to fight this administration was an affirming experience.
24.What was the best book you read?
Carmen Maria Machado – Her Body and Other Parties
25.What was your greatest musical or artist discovery?
I suck at music. I’m always late to everything. I really like Milky Chance, but suspect it is a band that only college kids like, which may be my mental age anyway.
26.What did you want and get?
What did I want….? A blog maybe?
27.What did you want and not get?
An impeachment. Sleep.
28.What was your favorite film of this year?
Ladybird was magical. I couldn’t stop crying. I thought of myself in high school, but mostly I associated with the mother character. I pictured bringing my daughter to college. I felt the passage of time. It was cathartic and emotional. Life is so strange.
29.What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 36. I took the day off work and read and did absolutely nothing. Are you still reading this?
30.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Probably seeing friends more, traveling more, laughing more.
31.How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?
WTF is a personal fashion concept? If I got dressed in normal clothes that was an accomplishment for me.
32.What kept you sane?
Oddly, my kids both made me insane and kept me sane. And laughing.
33.Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The Crooked Media guys. Wonder Woman. Oprah.
34.What political issue stirred you the most?
Just stop.
35.Who did you miss?
My friends, scattered across the country. Obama.
36.Who was the best new person you met?
Best new person I met…do podcasts count? Podcasts are my friend. I love this one called Special Guest with Lauren Lapkus. She does all improv and she’s the guest on the imagined talk show. I’ve laughed out loud to it.
37.Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.
That even among despair and sadness and fear and anxiety, you can still have a really good, stomach splitting laugh.
38.Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now” (Ooh, look what you made me do)
“Why?” (Look what you made me do)
“Oh, ’cause she’s dead!” (oh!)