My Decade in Review

I know I'm running a bit late with my Christmas post, but while I'm thinking of it...here's my decade in staccato review. That's right, the woman who is as verbose as an Anne Rice novel, is keeping it short and sweet. *cue massive heart failure*


2000: Rang in the New Millennium with friends and confetti. Tried Dom Perignon for the first time. Single. Moved to Cayucos. Relay for Life. Met a lot of new people. Promotion at the City. Best friend had a baby. Dancing, karaoke, parties.

2001: Dating new boyfriend. A cop. I thought he was cute and nice. Found out he was...wait for it...Tiger. Did another show. Swore I was done with relationships and wanted to play the field for the first time in my life. Friends started getting married. Still dancing, karaoke and having parties. Relay for Life again.

2002: Went on awfully funny blind dates. Met Chad. Fell in love. Fell really in love. Moved in together, got engaged, did the Bay to Breakers. Relay for Life. Did another show, got temporary promotion, ran my first election. Champagne, trips to Vegas, roses and candle light. Brilliant year.

2003: Bachelorette party in Mexico. Got married, went to England, Scotland and Ireland. Bought a house. Moved to Paso. Relay for Life. New boss is a witch. Started looking for another job, but liked the security I had. Met new friends. Niece was born.

2004: Vegas, Ireland, Vegas, San Fran, LA. Traveling, in love and loving life - except work. Started blogging. Did another show. Relay for Life. Joined wine clubs, went to shows. Lost some friends to life and different paths. Joined softball team.

2005: Scotland, England, Vegas. Relay for Life. Got pregnant. Lost the baby. Went whitewater rafting. Got pregnant again. Turned 30. Lost dear friend to cancer.

2006: Joseph. Left the City. Nephew born. So few words, such a big life change. Took Joseph camping and realized it's the ideal activity when you have kids.

2007: Joseph. Joseph. Joseph. Milestones that I get to enjoy while being home with him. Nephew born. Business started. Started working again. Love my job. Love my boss. Love my co-workers. A lot of camping.

2008: Friends have a baby. Joseph is growing. We starting thinking about having another baby. Canning, crafting, reading. Then...pregnant. Tears of joy from our friends and family who were starting to think we weren't going to have another.

2009: Elizabeth. Maternity leave. Precious moments with my babies.

In the last ten years, I've gone from a single party girl to a wife and mother. There have been so many changes - both internally and externally. I wish I could say I'm the same girl who rung in 2000 - I really liked her. But I'm not. That girl was still so naive and optimistic. Despite once having her heart broken, she looked at the world with rose-colored glasses. She had not yet felt the betrayal of friendships, the helplessness of watching a friend die, the aching emptiness of losing a child. Then again, she also had not felt the unimaginable joy of giving birth, the love - the true love - of someone she's going to grow old with, the excitement of new adventures and challenges.

It's been an amazing decade. I can't wait to see what the next one has in store.