Sunday, January 1, 2012

Oh the Difference a Year Makes

When I awoke this morning, it could have been any other day in any other year. We were in bed and asleep by the time 2012 rolled in and only the excessive news coverage of last night's celebrations reminds me that it's a new year with new plans, new expectations, and new dreams. Otherwise I would still be writing 2011 at the top of my checks.

So, obviously I am returning well in advance of my anticipated February 1 date. And if I had come back when Neal's deployment was done, I would have been moved back over here around the middle of November. But I waffled about leaving behind new readers and returning to a blog full of good times and the saddest of sad memories. Ultimately, Magnolias & Mimosas best describes my affinity for the full white petals of the deep south trees and justified drinking before noon. And, of course, my enduring love affair with the ampersand.

I would do a year in review, but a) I am not much inclined to spend vast amounts of time and energy reciting the past and b) I think you would be less inclined to read it. Suffice it to say, Neal and the 352 were integral in closing down Iraq (and, consequently, in the quietly televised ceremony of troops crossing the Kuwait border and American flags being lowered for the last time) and I spent my time and our money trying to distract myself from his absence and my loneliness. But I also grew the business to a point where I am now able to pay myself a salary and I very nearly finished our wedding scrapbook...5 years in the making. We learned how to endure involuntary separation with more patience, understanding, love, and humor than ever before. We remembered how to depend on one another again.

And we are leaving 2011, the Iraq War (although, technically, it is termed Operation New Dawn since Congress never sanctioned the thing to begin with), and Skype as our only means of communication behind. We are looking forward to finishing our tour in Georgia and expanding our family when the time comes. But I don't think of today as The Beginning, filled with hope and promise and all that is fresh and new. I closed the door on 2011 the day the 352 arrived home. I welcomed the new year and all that it offered on a sun-toasted day in the middle of November. The Beginning doesn't have to always land squarely on 1 January. It's convenient for calendar sales and comparing resolutions around a break room plate of fiber squares, but it is not wholly necessary.

Therefore, for us, it's just another day. Except for these Paleo eggs that Neal urged me to try...just as I was reaching for the waffle maker.

13 comments:

  1. Welcome home, Ally! You have been missed here in the land of wine-before-noon and trees with big white blossoms. Glad you had some time off to recharge those wonderful batteries. Can't wait to see where we go this year. love to all!

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  2. Miss you girl! I'm not blogging anymore on my own blogs, so now I can live vicariously through yours :)

    Big Boops aka Mrs. Plank aka whatever ;)

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  3. I'm really looking forward to this year. Last year I felt like a giant blob of babies, bottles, and blah. I didn't have a purpose other than to get through every day without falling completely apart. This year, I have my 101 list and I'm on a mission. It feels better to have chosen goals and a purpose than it does to have them forced upon you. I hope you achieve all of your goals, no matter what they may be, and I am SO proud of you and your business. How WONDERFUL that you finally get a paycheck! :D

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  4. It sounds like 2011 made you stronger all the way around. But yay to closing that door!

    Happy New Year!

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  5. Yay! I'm looking forward to reading you at your new home. :) You are in a good place.

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  6. wow. 2011 was a strength builder for you. here is to 2012 and good things happening.

    i am out blog jogging today. I am visiting the blogs of the person who commented before me in the comment thread and commenting on their blog (did you follow all that?)...i came from MiMi @Living in France. i was actually the first comment but came back and picked your blog to visit. glad i did!

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  7. Love that picture. =) And hurrah for new beginnings! Though I also think the new year holiday should be an excuse to ignore any and all dietary goals for at least a week.

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  8. Welcome back. I love the new look here, and it will be great to see where life takes you, or vice versa!

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  9. I'm sorry, but waffles > paleo eggs any day. I don't even know what paleo eggs are and I'm super turned off ;) As far as blogging here, I'm glad to see you back. Yes, it includes the saddest of sad times, but that's made you who you are. I know it's cheezy, but it's true.

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  10. Hellooooo! Welcome back! Excited to see where this year leads you!

    I am also very excited to see your blog-feed thingy over there <--. I see SO MANY blogs I used to read all the time and now I can find them again!! Lets just say I used to use someones blog-feed thingy they had on their blog to keep up with all these blogs but then they took it off their blog and I was lost. (Wow, could I have used "blog" any more in that last sentence!? LOL)

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  11. Welcome back! I'm excited to see where your travels will lead you and Neal together!!! I'm also glad you said it's OK to not start the new year square on Jan 1st - I'm slacking big time. I have a "workout room" full of wedding gifts I have yet to put away... so it makes it hard to start Turbo-Firing my way to a slimmer self. I will get there - first battle is cleaning left overs out of the fridge and making room in the kitchen for those lovely gifts!

    Glad you are home girlie! ox

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  12. It's so great to see you back here, momma. And I love this post soooo very much. I wish you all good things to come in 2012. And I agree. Every day is a new chance to start over; doesn't always have to coincide with the first of a new calendar year. I'm attempting this approach to put behind some of the items from my past and reflect on what's still to come in the future.

    I am excited for you and Neal and the road you will travel together and congrats on your expanding business with Daisy and Elm! So happy for you, sweet pea :)

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  13. a month late: ahh ahhh ahhh AHHHHHHHHH you're back. I've missed your genius writing and your wonderful self!

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That's it, let it all out....