'Should old acquaintance be forgot?'
The twenty-fifth one
And just like that, another beautiful year has gone
By and I’m reflecting on two big things that unexpectedly happened to me
Certainly there were quite a few small things
Don’t get me wrong, there were moments that mattered
Especially in the middle of the year. But I figured I’d start here—
First, I want to thank
God for all he’s done for me this year
He is such a good, good father, and sometimes
I forget that he cares about little ‘ol me. It all started in
January, as most years do. The days dragged on, slow and steady
Keeping me sure of how the year would unfold. But
Little did I know how quickly things would change;
Most of the changes were waiting for me, just around the river bend
Never did I imagine my year would shift this way—it was not included on my vision board Okay so first I was laid off from a job I really loved and I took it
Personally. I started to
Question my worth and ability to add value to a team—it was
Really tough.
Secondly, I had to put my daughter in daycare, which is something I never
Thought I’d do or would be able to do—I mean, it was just very
Unlikely that I’d be in that position. But it happened, and I was
Very apprehensive about it. I called my mom crying about it and shared how
Worried I was for my daughter. My mom told me it would be a
Xenial moment to see her thrive in a new environment. But I just felt like she was just too Young to be away from me. But she loves it, and has made so many friends. It’s brought such a
Zen feeling to see her flourish.
For the past seven years,
my husband and I have created a video to welcome the new year. It started casually during our first year of dating—one evening, I pulled out my phone and suggested we record our resolutions for 2017.
Since then, every December 31st, we’ve kept the tradition alive, and the videos have grown longer each year. It’s funny to watch how much we’ve changed over time: my husband’s loc journey, our fluctuating weights, my ever-changing collection of glasses, the different apartments we’ve called home, and, of course, the evolving topics of our conversations.
In 2022, we got to include our little girl to be part of the tradition, and watching how much she’s grown each year has been the most beautiful part.
Our tradition also includes enjoying a favorite bottle of wine, though now that we’re sober, the drink has shifted, and something sweet. Preparing for this little celebration is part of the fun. The week before, we place our order for wine and dessert. This year, I opted for a box of chocolates instead of cake, but my husband is staying loyal to his favorite chocolate cake from our local bakery, Martha’s. For the drink, we’re going back to the classic Apple Cider.
Earlier this week,
I found myself Googling the lyrics and history of Auld Lang Syne. Inspired by watching Charlie Brown: Auld Lang Syne and Charlie’s own question: What does it even mean? The melody has always struck me as a little melancholic, but the lyrics are undeniably beautiful.
Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne.
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne.
The end of the year feels like the perfect time to reflect on its message, cherishing the passage of time and the memories that make us who we are.
This past Friday,
I spent the day crying because I didn’t get an opportunity I’d been preparing for for months. I never imagined this is how my year would end, but it did. I called my husband to share the news, and he did his best to comfort me. I quickly said, “Okay, I gotta go,” then cried some more. What made it worse was that my toddler started crying as well, so we just sat there, crying together. Eventually, we both fell asleep, and when I woke up, my husband was home. After a few hugs and wiping away my tears, we decided to get cake, because, well, cake heals all wounds.
This wasn’t the ending I expected, but despite the disappointment of things going a little off track in one area of my life, I can’t ignore how incredibly blessed I am to have a husband who buys me cake when I’m sad and a daughter who cries with me.
Let’s raise a glass of kindness for the sake of old times 🥂—my favorite moments of the year.
🥂🥂