Top Three of '21

Our annual New Year's Eve tradition got pushed back a couple of weeks for very good reason. We were aboard the Viking Sea sailing the Caribbean and lost track of time.

Our last night on board, we had a romantic dinner together (most were romantic, but the ones we shared with Barb and Deb were lively and raucous!) at The Restaurant. 

My top 3 of 2021:

3. Family

   A.Celebrating Mother's Day a week late at my folks' house, planting flowers and building stuff with my dad 

  B. Natalie's visit in August

  C. Derek & Katie's visit at Thanksgiving, 

  D. Christmas. An evening with some cousins. A pleasant Christmas Eve Day: spending quiet time with my mom and dad, learning about their childhoods. Christmas Day Night: talking with my nieces and nephews about music, film, and art. Learning to open up and unwittingly encouraging the same. I really needed this, and I'm so grateful for it. 

2. Trip to Manasota Key and Smokies

    Manasota Key did not have the nicest beaches (in fact there was red tide about half the time), the bluest water, the softest sand, or the nicest house...but somehow this might have been the most fun we've had on vacation, ever. We just played, constantly. Our cabin in the Smokies was a bit dank and neglected, but we loved our vacation. We actually slept in...like past 8 a.m., not hitting trails until 11 or 12, and our tardiness paid off! We had beautiful weather and scenery. Every night we soaked in the hot tub after dinner. Most nights I nearly passed out from staying in the hot tub too long.

1. (Here I began to cry) "It's you. You were the best thing that happened this year." Larry looked confused, as we are not a new relationship. I expounded that having him was the biggest gift and comfort in a tough year, with my parents getting sick and my kitty dying. 

My runners-up were: Last year with Abby, Garden, Hocking Hills, Jonah and Emma's engagement party.

Larry's:

3. Biden Inauguration. 

    A chance for a new beginning. A chance to move on from the four years of Orange Hell.

    From my take, the ceremony and the "virtual love letter in leiu of an inauguration ball" was one of my favorite moments in history.

2. Birthday weekend in The Hocking Hills.

    This one surprised me. He said it was very special and beautiful and quiet and quaint. I agree!

1. Florida

Runners up: Smokies, Engagement, Natalie, Chardonnay Club with Jim (RMCC), new electric mower, vaccine, baseball game, Father's Day lunch with Kendra and Tracey, tree planting with KIB Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. (The tree we planted is an American Hornbeam, and we named her "Cherry Pie." We ride our bikes past her all the time!)