2025 Year in Review

In 2023, I tried a new "Year in Review" format. It was shorter and easier to write than what I had done in previous years, and felt fresher -- so I've kept it since then. :)  The format/list of questions came from the long-gone scrapbooking magazine Creating Keepsakes, January/February 2013 issue (!). 

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1) What was the coolest thing you did or that happened to you last year?

This was actually a tough one...!  I can't think of too much that was "cool" that we did in 2025 (isn't that pathetic??).  

One thing that came to mind:  en route to dh's cousin's cottage in September, we made a short side trip to Petroglyphs Provincial Park, which was pretty cool to see.  (It's considered a sacred spot to the Indigenous people, so no cameras/photos allowed.)  

2)  What major milestone(s) did you or a loved one experience last year?

Dh & I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in July! Nobody remembered :p  and the trip I wanted to take never materialized... but 40 years is still 40 years, right?  We did go out for steaks.  :)  

3)  What was your favourite celebration last year?

The great-niblings' birthday parties were all fun and I'm glad we didn't miss any of them!  (Even if I did get horribly sick after Little Great-Nephew #1's party...!)  

4)  What was your most memorable holiday of last year, and what made it special?

Christmas with my family is always memorable, even when it's on a much smaller scale than our Christmases of yesteryear. I am well aware that my time with my parents is not unlimited, and so I appreciate the opportunity to spend time with them while I can -- especially for holidays like Christmas!  (Even when they drive me nuts sometimes...!)  (We're still here, and they've been bickering a little less than they were this summer, which has been nice...!  lol) 

The holidays we spent with BIL, SIL, the nephews and their families -- including Easter and (Canadian) Thanksgiving, as well as family birthday parties -- were very special too. It's always fun just to be together, eat good food and see the kids. 

5)  What family vacation or activity was the most memorable, and why?

Our annual cottage weekend in September with BIL, SIL, dh's cousin & his wife, and (new this year) another one of dh's cousins, was a lot of fun (as usual).

Here's to (hopefully!) travelling further afield in 2026...!! 

6)  What big goal did you or a loved one achieve or work toward last year?

I can't think of anything for this category??   

7)  What's something that changed in your life last year?  (something new, a loss, etc.)

Both dh & I were told in late October (2024) by our family doctor that our cholesterol levels had reached concerning levels. (I'd been warned last year that my numbers have been trending upward over the past few years --and that yet another prescription might be in my future :( ).  By eating better and trying to be at least a little more active, we were able to get much better bloodwork results in January (2025). Unfortunately, my November bloodwork showed that my numbers were up again :(  -- so one of my new year's resolutions will definitely be to refocus my efforts and get my numbers down again by the time I have to repeat the bloodwork in March...!  (After we get through the Christmas holidays, of course...! lol) 

8)  What was your favourite movie, book, album or song from last year, and why?

We haven't been to the movies (in theatre) since early 2020 (before the pandemic began) :(  and I don't follow music the way that I used to either. I will be posting my 2025 Reading Year in Review soon, and as I say there, it's hard to pick one favourite book -- but I've listed a few! 

9)  What world, national or local event or news story affected you most?

World: The return of the Orange One, south of the border. I am so, so tired of him and his cronies (and I'm not even American! -- although this story obviously has huge implications for my country -- see below). 

National: The U.S. president's subtle and not-so-subtle threats toward my country's very existence, the wave of patriotism it has inspired, and the impact it had on our federal election in April. 

Local:  The Conservative government (inexplicably) won yet another majority government in our provincial election last May. I will give the premier credit for standing up to the Orange One, but he's really just a lighter, folksy-er shade of orange himself:  the populist rhetoric, the policies and contracts that favour big business donors and ignore the local & environmental impacts, the blatant corruption... 

10)  What life lesson did you or a family member learn and take to heart last year?

Every year for the past few years, my answer to this one has been the same:  Life is short, and tomorrow is not promised. I am more and more aware of this with each passing year...! Too many people I knew and/or loved -- many of them my own age or younger -- departed this life in 2025, including (but not limited to) fellow blogger Bamberlamb, my friend M. from our pregnancy loss group, my cousin, not just one but two of my high school classmates (within about two weeks of each other this summer), as well as our English teacher, and most recently, my dear friend of 41 years, R.