Which Year Should I Review?

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As we kissed goodbye to 2020, an extremely nightmarish year to say the least, I thought to myself, "Self," I said, "What year should I review since no one will want to remember this last one?" I talk to myself a lot.

Between the coronavirus and the constant attacks that were shown and talked about 24/7 on almost every channel, who would want to remember? I sure don't.

For me, 2018 was very forgettable, and 2019 was no picnic, health-wise, so after much thought (translation: none), I decided 2017 was probably the last decent year I feel is worth remembering. That was just about the last year I've been able to enjoy baking and decorating cakes and cupcakes for the family. Please, please let 2021 be a return to 'normal' – whatever that is. So here goes starting with …

January, which started as it usually does – cold and windy. I remember thinking this month might be the time to start that diet I've put off for the last 12 months (okay, it's more like 60, so sue me). I gorged myself on hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and strawberry daiquiris on New Year's Eve which is why I planned a new healthier diet. Strawberry daiquiris qualify as a fruit drink so that makes them healthy, right? Too many strawberry daiquiris not-with-standing, I left my nice warm and cozy bed to bake and decorate the first of about two dozen birthday cakes I will make all year round. Cake number one was for the oldest grandson. It was a cake with a picture of a copyrighted cartoon animal (Shhh, don't tell) that I transported to a wellknown pizza parlor popular with the rug rat crowd. This place is known for its loud music, loud games, and even louder kids running everywhere. The doctor says I should regain my hearing soon.

In a blink of the eye, I was already having to plan and execute birthday cake number two of the year. The rest of the month was spent hibernating and researching cakes for the month of...

February. Two more birthday cakes coming right up. The girls are old enough now to help make their cakes, which helps me immensely. We have a lot of fun, and the girls are learning fast. Soon they'll no longer need me. The cake decorating torch will soon be passed on to our wonderful granddaughters.

Also, February is our anniversary, and we implemented the day by doing our usual – nothing. After 44 years of wedded bliss, two kids, two kids-in-law, and 13 grandkids, I think we've celebrated enough. We're content to grab a bite, rush home, change into our comfy pajamas, pop in a movie, and promptly fall asleep in our recliners. It doesn't get much better than that unless you look at...

March, which brings us even more birthday parties. When you have nearly two dozen family members close by, there's seems to be a minimum of two birthdays a month, and David and I have the waistlines to prove it. Ha Ha!

Since the March party is for an almost teen girl, all Papa and I do is sit back and watch the birthday girl unwrap her gifts and eat cake with her friends and family. Still, I'm already pooped, and we're only getting into...

April. We acquired another teenage driver in the family this month. I don't know if I should be happy or scared. Just kidding. Maybe.

With all the teen drivers we now have in the family, it might be safer to stay off the roads. Luckily, we won't be getting any new drivers in...

May for another couple of years, although we did have two more birthdays and added another teenager. Presently, the girls and boys in our son's household are equal in number, but the drivers are all girls.

May is a fairly decent month compared, weatherwise, to...

June. This month is hot, hot, hot. The good news is the adult birthdays outnumber the kiddos', but not by much. We lump the adults' party into one big celebration. Each one gets their preferred dessert. It allows me to cool off by drinking mojitos and, so I get my vitamins, more of my favorite fruity strawberry daiquiris while watching the younger set spend their time getting sunburned in the pool. I prefer to lounge under the shade of the patio.

Next week, I'll cover the last half of the year – if I can remember any of it. Those fruity strawberry drinks tend to be deceitfully strong and powerful.

Here's wishing everyone a Very Happy and (normal) Prosperous New Year!

(Update: We will be celebrating 48 years of (mostly) wedded bliss in February. We now have 15 grandkids and two greatgrandkids.)