Goodbye 2018

My New Years memories are coming at the end. But first, a goodbye to an eventful 2018. I semi-retired back in May. Emma had her first job ever at Dorney Park this summer. In November, she got her learner’s permit! The year has been eventful and exciting. We had a wonderful OCNJ vacation with my son and his family. My grandson was honored with a Student of the Month award. My granddaughter got her first real job with good benefits at Amazon.  I discovered a wonderful place in the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, where I volunteer. I started this blog in 2018. It’s been fun. I’ve hiked for miles upon miles and paddled my kayak on Leaser Lake and Lake Nockamixon.  I celebrated 10 years of being cancer free in July. Life is good!

I expanded my music listening this year and found a great song, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel.  You should check it out!  I read five 5 star books this year! If I could give 6 stars, it would be to Us Against You, by Fredrick Backman. I have seen a lot of movies and some good series too. My absolute favorite series has been The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu. Praise be!

Loss has been a part of my year as well. My last living uncle, Vincent Burke, died this year. I lost an idol upon the suicide of Anthony Bourdain. His lesson is his legacy. That lesson is that no matter where in the world we live, we want the same things. Happiness, safety for our children, and good food.   The creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, Stephen Hillenberg, died this year. He will live on in my response to disappointment, “Barnacles!”.  Mr. Crabs was my favorite character on the show. “Queen Neptune’s Mother’s Stockings” Haha.

I probably missed some important things in that 2018 synopsis, but I want to leave room for a few memories. When I was a child we always spent New Year’s Eve at the house of my Uncle Jim Becker and his wife Noreen. At midnight, led by my Aunt Ebby (Evelyn Edwards), we always went outside and banged pots and pans together.  Fun! The next day would be spent at the home of Uncle Vincent Burke and his wife Lorna.  They were the first in our family to have a color TV. Can you imagine watching the Rose Bowl Parade in black and white? Yes, times were rough back then.

As I got older, New Years Day celebration would change to my brother Gary’s, and his wife Nancy’s, house.  That was the site of the annual George Family touch football game. We played in the rain, in the snow, and in single digit temperatures. Then, one year,  we all got to old to play!  Well, the rest of them did!

Later today, Emma and I will be participating in our annual New Years Eve Day hike on the Appalachian Trail. Eight miles, with the Allentown Hiking Club. Be at the top of Blue Mountain on Route 309 by 10:45 if you’d like to join us!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s Eve! Stay safe out there on Amateur’s’ Night. I will most likely be sleeping at midnight, so please go a little easy on the fireworks, and on the pots and pans.