Yesterday I got put on the spot.  I got a text from one of my friends that read,

 “No New Year’s Eve blog?

To which I replied, “I should do one, huh?”

To which he then replied, “Unless you want your readers to think you died!”

To which I didn’t reply at all because I was too busy logging onto to my computer to come up with a New Year’s Eve blog!

I wasn’t originally planning on writing a New Year’s Eve blog because I hate being predictable.  The name alone suggests it to be only thee most predictable of all topics;  Which is obviously to put pen to paper (or more accurately, keystrokes to electronic devices) and list one’s personal resolutions for the year ahead.  I bet if you looked up predictability in the dictionary you might even find a NYE blog as an example! (Okay, maybe not.)

However, I would hate for all of you to think that I died when in fact I’m very much alive so I’ve decided to post one final blog for the 2013 year.  Instead of listing the (predictable) resolutions that I know I won’t be able to keep for longer than a day or two (less carbs, less cursing, more patience, blah blah blah) I’ve decided to mix it up a little and put my own unpolished spin on things.

In my family we have a tradition called Highs and Lows.  In an effort to keep the lines of communication open, we share the best and worst parts of our day.  Occasionally, we skip the recap, but for the most part we really attempt to lay it all out.  All of it…the good, the bad and even the ugly, when applicable.

In an effort to keep the lines of communication open with all of my unpolished friends, I’ve compiled a list of some of the standout Highs and Lows I’ve had in this past year of 2013.  Ironically enough, the juxtaposition of some of the highs and lows are uncanny.  At least I think so.  You can judge for yourself.

January

Years ago while watching the local news I caught a segment about a young woman who at the age of 36, had been diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer.   When the cancer re-appeared in her lung two years later, her diagnosis became Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.  In the retelling of her personal battle she reiterated that “There was no way I was letting cancer take me from raising my kids.  There was no way.”  I remember her expressing the fear of not knowing if she would be around to plan her children’s Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.   I had the chills when I heard her speak.  At the time I didn’t know her personally,  but it was obvious she was someone special and I admired her instantly.  Three years ago I met this courageous woman and unbeknownst to both of us we became fast friends.  I told her how brave I thought she was.  I told her that I applauded her conviction and determination.   I told her that as far as I was concerned, she was da bomb and the honor and pleasure of being her friend was all mine!

On January 12, 2013 I happily attended her son’s Bar Mitzvah.  It was impossible for me not to circle back to that first memory of the interview I had seen years ago when she talked about the uncertainty of the very occasion that we were celebrating here and now.  Little did I know,  when she addressed her son on the bema in front of all of her friends and family, she spoke of the very story that had drawn me to her in the first place.  Her heartfelt words gave me the chills all over again and the tears started flowing down my cheeks.  Clearly, they were joyful tears.  The joy of witnessing my healthy friend basking in the joy of being present at her son’s Bar Mitzvah was overwhelming.  The joy was contagious and that was unequivocally a major high for me in 2013.

February

The main reason I left the Northeast in 1997 was because of the cold weather.  I had frozen my ass off for twenty five winters and enough was enough!  I needed a place to thaw out so I picked myself up and moved to Florida.  On February 17th, 2013 I ran the Fort Lauderdale A1A Half Marathon.  I’ve ran that race many times before but this year was different.  Though I was physically prepared for the race, mentally I was not prepared for how cold it would be.  It was freakin’ freezing!  It took more than half the distance of the total milage before I acclimated to the colder than normal temperatures.  For most of the two hours and four minutes it took me to run the race, I had to talk myself through not quitting and I had to keep reminding myself to stay focused on crossing the finish line.  Though completing the race was a tremendous high and a personal accomplishment, the inclement  weather killed it for me and it got even worse after the race.  Waiting for the shuttle bus to bring me back to the starting point was by far more tortuous than the actual race itself.  My body could not handle the cold wind and I wanted to die.  Literally.  It was a major low, to say the least!   A fellow participant, who also happened to be a complete stranger saw how much pain I was in and offered her sweatshirt to me.  I was amazed by her compassion.  Under normal circumstances I would never have accepted this gesture, but desperate times call for desperate measures and I was desperate!  I was also grateful.  I’d like to think that if the roles were reversed, I would act as selflessly as she did.  I’m praying that the weather on the day of the race in 2014 is a hell of a lot better!

In April

Two little babies were born this past April.  Not just any babies.  These babies are cousins.  They live across the street from one another.  Their Mom’s are sisters.  The sisters are friends of mine.  Though the babies were born a week plus one day apart, they originally, according to the doctors, were due on the same day.  Crazy right?  Wait, it gets even better… My friends, the sisters, found out they were pregnant on the same day.  Yup, you read that correctly.  The same day.  I’m sorry, but you can’t plan that shit!  Some things are just meant to be.  In the Jewish religion we call it Bershert.  Being able to experience the stages of a nine month pregnancy from start to finish with a sister is pretty major.  The magnitude of how special this is was not lost on me for one second.  It still isn’t.  Two, new, healthy, perfect, adorable babies.  Obviously, April 2013 was a big high. Huge.

May

Started out on a high, but ended on a low.  You wake up one morning and you think that life is great.  Then you get a call from a friend who tells you about a tragic accident and it rocks your world.  I have zero authority to preach, but life is short people!  Take nothing for granted.  Everyday we are alive is a gift and though I don’t believe we should be reckless, I do believe we should live our lives to the fullest and with no regrets.  Tell the ones you love just how much you love them.   Take the high road when you fuck up and say you’re sorry while you still can.   One day it may be too late and you might not have the chance.  If you’re pissed at someone, let them know.  Don’t wait until your blood boils.  What good does that do?  Address the issue and work on it.  If it’s really not a big deal, then let it go.  I know it’s hard, but try.  I screw up all the time.  This year I probably screwed up more than in the past, but I’m human and I’m doing the best I can.  I’m done trying to be perfect.  Perfect is soooooooo overrated.  The upside of making a mistake is that we get to learn from it, or at least that’s what I tell myself.  Suffice it to say, I’m learning a shitload!

Summer & Early Fall

A trip to Italy happened this summer, so clearly that was a high!  My Mom had a pretty big health scare out of the blue, so clearly that was a low.  My sister-in-law had a health scare too, so that was another low.  They both bounced back quite remarkably, so that counts as a double high!

My best friend from childhood gave birth and now has a daughter.  So that’s yet another new little baby this year for me to love!  Big, big high.

I had an Akashic records reading from a Reiki master who read my soul.   She was able to go back in time and tell me about my past lives and also provide insight as to how it could possibly affect my future.   Sometimes I think I’m still processing the whole experience which means I can’t really say for sure if it was a bonafide high or low.  However, I can and will say it was one of the most wild two hours I’ve ever had!

November

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the entire year.  We eat, we drink, we give thanks.  What could be better?  This year in particular, I thought it would be fun to memorialize the holiday by taking a current family photo.  I asked everyone to come dressed to my home in denim and white so that we’d all be in sync for the shot.  Shockingly, out of twenty-two people every single person showed up in the correct attire… Well, everyone except for one!  Actually, if you want to know the truth, I wasn’t all that surprised.   I knew I’d have to leave some room for the margin of error.  What’s a family holiday without a little dysfunction anyway, right?

“Why aren’t you wearing a white shirt?”

“A white shirt?  I didn’t know I was supposed to wear a white shirt.  No one told me.”

“No one told you?  What do you mean no one told you?”  

 

Made it to December…. 

Another one of our family traditions is something we like to call, Leaving On A High.   I was made aware of this years ago from an old friend who used the concept primarily as it relates to kids.  It was so brilliant that not only have we incorporated it as a family tradition of our own, but I’ve shared this theory with just about every friend I have and as far as I know, they too have made it a ritual in their lives.  

You don’t wait for the (inevitable) meltdown to happen and then first start to think about packing up and leaving.  The moment you realize that everything is going smoothly,  seize it as the opportunity to make the move and  “end on a high.”  You gotta strike while the iron is hot so that you leave wanting to come back for more!   Applying this concept goes well beyond the scope of just kids.  It works for everything.  That said,  I have no other choice but to end the 2013 year strong and leave on a high.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW… Having found the opportunity to express myself through my blog, Unpolished Silver is just one of the million things I am grateful for this year.  It’s been a blast sharing my trials and tribulations with all of you and I am so appreciative for your encouragement and support, your feedback and your willingness to help circulate my stories with others.  I wish all of you a happy, healthy and safe New Year.  I’m already planning ahead and I’m anxiously looking forward to what’s coming next.  I am hopeful that 2014 will be filled with a lot of pretty.  I am counting on 2014 to be overflowing with tons of witty.  And rest assured in the event that all else fails,  2014 will most definitely, without question, always be packed with a whole lotta gritty!  That kind of predictability I’m okay with!