1. What did I do in 2016 that I’ve never done before?
I took the Louisiana bar exam. Which was my third bar exam, but my first (and last!) attempt at the Louisiana one specifically. THANK. GOD.
2. Did you keep your resolutions?
I do not appear to have made any, which is not a surprise given the chaos of our Christmastime move last year.
3. What new lives brought you joy?
The tiny, fluttering little prince currently occupying the womb of my youngest sister. Due Memorial Day!
4. For whom did you grieve, if anyone?
The me that I was before this election.
5. Did you travel anywhere exciting?
We had my sister’s wedding in April . . . a (short for me, longer for the boys) beach trip in June . . . my law school bestie’s wedding in LA in September . . . North Carolina for my band reunion in October . . . the Colonial Williamsburg Christmas in December. I also had my sisters visit me for Labor Day weekend/my berfday, which was awesome.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
More time for exercise!
7. What are your most memorable moments of 2016?
Besides the holidays and the trips mentioned above . . . this was sort of a year to endure. Besides the death of a bajillion of my idols (Carrie Fisher, George Michael, Alan Thicke, Alan Rickman, Prince, David Bowie, Gene Wilder, Debbie Reynolds, Leonard Cohen, Florence Henderson, Ron Glass, John Glenn – to name a few – we also moved back to NOLA and spent far too long trying to sort out housing and schools for the boys. We’re all set up in a new house now, freeing up all that house-hunting and loan-procuring time for other endeavors!
8. What was your bravest moment and/or biggest achievement of the year?
Getting us moved here and settled. And, I will vaguely state that I stood up for myself at work in a scary event that ended up paying off, and I’m much happier now.
9. What was your biggest failure and/or disappointment?
Oh, leaving Alabama I guess, that disappointment still lingers.
10. Any memorable lapses in wellness? (Illness, injury, etc.?)
We are (touch wood) doing pretty awesome over here. Jack scratched a cornea, Liam had a bad ear infection. That’s about it, I think?
11. Where did most of your money go?
Moving twice. Private bloody school, augh. Student loans.
12. Is there a song or pop culture moment that will forever remind you of 2016?
Celebrity deaths ahoy! The mannequin challenge.
13. Compared to this time last year are you (a) happier or sadder? (b) heavier or lighter? (c) richer or poorer?
(a) HAPPIER. That wouldn’t have been hard in any case, but way happier.
(b) About the same?
(c) About the same. I make more but spend more (for private bloody school, augh), so our spending money is about the same.
14. How did you spend (a) Mardi Gras, (b) Easter, (c) Fourth of July, (d) Thanksgiving, (e) Christmas, and (f) New Years’ Eve?
(a) We were here and it was WAYYY better than Mobile’s exclusionary celebrations, sniff (b) I cannot even remember except I have this feeling that the boys weren’t even with me? and they did an Easter egg hunt at church with plastic bags, as our Easter baskets were in the storage unit due to the move! (c) Fourth here in town, we watched fireworks from my parking garage (d) Thanksgiving with the in-laws, including a really wonderful Polar Express trip with the kiddos (e) Christmas with my side of the fam in Williamsburg, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. (f) NYE here in NOLA, after a very long drive home from a brief and restful few days in Clemson by the fire, when we ate pizza, watched Clemson demolish Ohio State in the run up to the national championships, and did stay up til midnight for the most part, albeit dozing on the couch.
15. Any new loves/friends/positive forces in your life?
After some hesitation to get emotionally attached to this logistically challenging place to live, I have re-fallen in love with NOLA – imperfect, untidy, difficult, poorly run, fantastic NOLA.
16. What was your favorite tv and/or movie?
So we just started this in 2017 but I am enjoying Stranger Things. Much belated.
17. What was your favorite book?
I continue to read hardly any books due to my job, but in the last week which I took off from work, I read Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth (loved), Ian McEwan’s Nutshell (. . . odd . . . still parsing this one), Tana French’s The Trespasser (she will never surpass The Likeness but this one was still good), and Rick Bragg’s My Southern Journey (still enjoying this one). Of those, I’d say Ann Patchett edges out Rick Bragg by the tiniest of margins.
18. What did you want and get?
Some pretty sweet ombre looking flats for work – black at the heel, nude at the toe, cool fade in between.
19. What did you want and not get?
A kindle case. Which I shall buy for myself forthwith!
20. What did you do on your 38th birthday?
My sisters came to visit and it was FABULOUS.
21. Anything notable in your fashion or appearance in 2016?
I have mostly managed daily makeup at work – minimal, just bronzer on the cheeks and eyeliner and mascara on the eyes and cherry chapstick on the lips bc lipstick makes me nervous. But I’m impressed at this minimal effort.
22. What kept you sane?
Moving back here and getting out of Alabama. Meditation. Exercise.
23. Anything in the political arena you care to recall?
Nothing except that I have been spurred to be more active in many exciting and real ways, and will continue to do so. Vive le resistance!
24. Who did you miss?
Far flung friends and family.
25. Closing remarks? Life lessons/morals/catch phrases, etc.?
We are the people we dreamed of. This coming year I will just keep showing up, for the weak and marginalized.