This was my response to a Facebook comment for what was one of the most iconic photos from my year - me, booty boasting in gold hot pants. Clearly I am not going to share this image here but it was a memorable shot in time.
The year 2014 was not quite as golden but it was still precious - precious in the sense that there were more ups than downs, and somehow I made it to the end (knock wood).
It was a year of fun, revelations, trials - like any other year. Life is unpredictable and life is fragile. Today you can be on top of the mountain and tomorrow you are slipping down the slope, caught up in an avalanche. Or you can be gone forever. Not trying to be morbid but this is a reality. Too many persons lost loved ones this year - whether it was expected or unexpected. At the top of my year, I lost the second most important woman in my life after my mother - my grandmother. Even though she was in her 90s, the loss was still a hard one for the entire family as she was the anchor that kept us all grounded - the glue that kept us all together. Our lives are beautiful because she was beautiful. She was the best grandmother in the world.
The year was hectic at work and often I felt overwhelmed. Maintaining a blog is a job in itself and each year I look at my total number of blog posts for the year. Gone are the days of 2011 when I had a total of 171 posts for that year, to just 40 for all of 2014. That is not even a blog post a week!
As demanding as my job is, my mantra is to play as hard (and as well) as I work. So my vacation this year - my annual treat to myself - took me and my pink suitcase to Amsterdam, Netherlands; Bruges, Belgium; Lausanne, Switzerland; London, England; and Cardiff, Wales - complete with a side trip to Stratford-on-Avon and a silly ghost walk.
And what a lot of fun was had over the course of that trip. My very first cheese fondue in Lausanne. Chocolate penises in Bruges (yes...you can make anything with chocolate). Friendly reunions in the UK. And a lovely rendez-vous in Amsterdam. Life is unpredictable and fragile - so enjoy it. That is my motto in life.
There were other memorable moments, like seeing John Legend again for the umpteenth time (still yet to see Alicia Keys and Muse in concert - scribbling it down for 2015), staycations, friends, birthdays, Carnival, the World Cup, time with the munchkins of my life - my niece and nephew and so on. Never any regrets - just pushing forward.
I have decided to write down 5 big goals for 2015 - document them somewhere - either here or offline, and try my best to achieve them.
Cheers to 2014 and hello to 2015. I am so looking forward to it already.
GAH! my comment disappeared. Thanks, Google :p
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you have the right idea, Trini, to give thanks for the many riches life bestows on us. It sounds as though 2014 was a great year for you and that you enjoyed many travels. I'm sure I'm not the only one disappointed you are not sharing your booty pants with us here :)
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother.... I miss mine (my oma and my mami) always. XOXO my sweet. And wishing you all the best for a beautiful 2015!
You had a fantastic year, and I am so glad that I was along for the ride. It's funny but I so remember you writing about the Ghost walk and about walking back from the John concert.... That pink suitcase should have it's own BLOG!!!!!! Happy New Year mate, and maybe year after next we will be in your neck of the woods!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have an amazing 2015!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm still disappointed we didn't get to meet up in London for coffee!