2024 - The Year in Review

December 7, 2024

This year went by so quickly - I realized it's time for the annual Fremont Chamber of Commerce mixer, and it seems like we just went. I was an active business owner/ambassador for many years in the Chamber, so I still attend their annual mixer as an alumnae.

My work with the County of Santa Clara continues, and I celebrated my 7th year anniversary in September. Great place to work! They imposed a mandatory 3 days in the office in October, and we all bregrudgingly are complying, but not happy about it. What's nice is it is a great campus and has a gym in one of the buildings (which I need to frequent more).

We had a new addition to the family in February. Lila, is a Sphynx cat. She has no hair. NONE. Well, she has some 'peach fuzz' coming in right now around her hips and tail for the winter, but she doesn't even have whiskers! Many people shudder at the sight of her (the same shudder I make when I see one of those horrible Tesla trucks on the road). She will just scowl right back. She is probably one of the most affectionate cats I've ever had. She is in love with Eddie - and tries to rub the beard right off his face. She has a huge personality, is very curious and friendly to meet everyone who comes over, and likes to burrow under the covers since she gets cold easily. Another thing about Sphynx - she needs to be bathed weekly - but not so much in the cooler months for one reason - she wears sweaters and warm clothing which soaks up her Sphynx oil. She doesn't smell or anything like that, but since she has no hair, which, on a regular cat, absorbs the oil, she gets grimy and leaves stains here and there. We now have dark linens on the bed...

Eddie and I had a couple of camping trips this year, plus a trip to Hearst Castle. I'd been wanting to return there for a couple of decades, and finally made it back. We rented a convertible and I fell in love with it. A red Mustang - and I had a blast driving it and cried when we turned it in!

Mom celebrated her 96th trip around the sun this year, and we had to have her move into an assisted living facility, Carlton Plaza, back in June. She was there for about 3 months, and then needed more care, so she is now at a boarding care home where she receives 24/7 care in a residential setting. The dementia has really taken hold (not Alzheimers), and sometimes she knows who we are, and other times she does not. She is always polite and happy (well, most of the time). She has a lot of parties with people who are long gone, and recently has been very chatty. It's very difficult to see her leave us by inches.

I lost my best friend in the entire world in June. Doug and I were inseparable as teens - never in a romantic sense. He battled cancer related illness and the damage radiation had caused in the 80s for most of his adult life. He was told a year ago he wouldn't make it until (last) Thanksgiving, but rallied, and did a 180. He did great for about 8 months, and then the decline hit again. He passed peacefully in June, and I feel like someone cut a part of me away. I miss him terribly - especially around these holidays as we had some funny holiday rituals, including some rather crazy, morbid and risque Christmas songs we 'rewrote.' I know he's out there amongst the stars we used to look at.

I rode my Harley a lot - so happy to be back on a bike - and one that fits like it was made for me. The other day, a co-worker asked "Did you ride in?" I asked him, "Is it raining?" "No." "then I rode." That's about it - unless it's raining or rain is eminent, I ride. Tomorrow has some breezy conditions in the forecast, but I've gotten caught in a couple of windstorms and my bike sits so nice and low, I didn't really feel it. Last evening we enjoyed going to the HOG party in Union City - I hadn't seen many of those old friends for a long time. It was nice and a reminder to get out and ride with them in 2025.

We continue the quest to own our own home, but we don't know where or how since prices in this area are ridiculous. I have a firm handle on our finances and am paying off debt. It'll happen. I just don't know where we would go yet. We need a garage. We'd like a small yard (for Augustus, our tortoise, and grilling). We will see what happens.

I continue to grow in my personal journey, one I began on March 16, 2021. Those of you who know me well know what that is. It's been like peeling an onion - I'm learning so much about life, about myself, and how to handle things. When I started, I was truly amazed before I was halfway through.

My biggest challenge beside clearing our financial picture is my weight at this point; my big change in 2021 found weight creeping back on - I gained 40 pounds. I reached out to my doctor and am taking Ozempic. Fortunately, I am not pre-diabetic - my doctor's words were "Your blood is beautiful!" The Ozempic seems to be doing what it's supposed to do; I have to do the rest. It's work, but good things always take work.

That's about it from here - Eddie wants to retire but we really can't consider that until we are into our own home, but we can't wait too much longer. The years keep rolling by. He's worked hard! As for my retirement - my what? I dont' foresee that at all. If I had joined the County 15 years earlier than I did, I could think about it, but at this point, no. Unless the app I'm working on does something...I plan to work on that during my time off in a couple of weeks...(yes, there's an app...).

If you read all this, thanks. Below is a key for the collage. Happy holidays and have a healthy, safe 2025!

1. Eddie taking "Sidecar Larry" for a ride
2. Cristal being Cristal
3. Me with my dream car on my birthday weekend
4. Hearst Castle - the Neptune Pool
5. Lila loving Eddie's beard
6. The eclipse of April - a picture I took
7. Mom, showing off her new do
8. Hard at work
9. Lila and Sapphire
10. Mason
11. My dear friend, Doug
12. Loaded up and heading for our October camping trip
13. High tech camping - the iPad with my zoom meeing, crochet, and the campfire
14. Norbert - the bearded dragon who turned 2 in August
15. Our campsite - this year we had wi-fi