Merry Christmas, ATS. What's in your Christmas card letter to everybody?

If you recapped your 2016 in a Christmas card letter, what would you say?

What happened to you this year that was personally significant, good or bad, what did you achieve, what was the funniest thing that happened to you?

My husband went back to work in January after his heart attack last November. We've had a few trips to the emergency room for false alarms, ending with a hospital stay that actually revealed an underlying nonfatal, but very painful, issue. With that new knowledge, he's had a very good 3 months.

I got a new (to me, anyway) car this year. I've been putting it off for a couple of years now, because the time just wasn't right, didn't have enough saved up, etc. My beloved old 1999 Sunfire finally reached the point in September where time and rust had taken their toll. The brakes went out and the frame was so rusted it was a safety issue. My mechanic could have made a lot of money fixing the brakes, but he was honest enough to tell me it was time to find another vehicle.

My personal achievement this year: I've finally gotten a handle on my credit card spending. A switch finally went off earlier this year, and I said to myself that I just can't keep doing this. I've had the wonderful experience of seeing my minimum payment drop a little lower each month, along with the amount in the little box that says if you pay this much every month, the card will be paid off in 3 years time.

This year's funniest story involves one of my volunteers. Shy, quiet, retired music teacher M delivers meals each month. We've gotten friendly over the years, and one month the conversation turned to the picture of Bernie Sanders being arrested in the 60's at a civil rights rally. As M was leaving to go home for the day, she leaned towards me and proudly whispered in my ear....


I GOT TEARGASSED!!


OMG!! I never saw that one coming!


I hope all of you have made the best of a tough year, and may 2017 be better.

Merry Christmas to you and all of ATS....errr Happy Holidays to all!!!

Here's my xmas 'card'/video for the season.

What happened to you this year that was personally significant, good or bad, what did you achieve, what was the funniest thing that happened to you?

-I've met cool people, such as a popular physicist with whom I've had the chance to discuss our theories. I've also made awesome friends in The Shed.

-I've achieved gaining back my child side.

-The funniest thing that probably happened was when I thanked someone for having a butt big enough to hold the door open for me. I swear it sounded better in my head.

If you recapped your 2016 in a Christmas card letter, what would you say?

"I'm awesome, therefore I exist. " - Rene Descarte-ish
You exist, therefore you're awesome.

Have a merry Christmas guys!

a reply to: Cheddarhead

Happy holidays all.

Fill your belly and that of another, if you can.

Pretty short message, but simple is best and food in some form is good for everyone

Merry Christmas chedderhead, don't go eating too many sprouts, you might get teary gas

a reply to: Black_Fox

Shoot.

Black_Fox, you were right on that one. I messed up and wasn't being very PC on that post.

I've been out shoveling snow this afternoon. Guess I froze my common sense along with my big behind....

a reply to: swanne

Swanne- sounds like you've had very positive things happen this year.

Don't feel bad about the door thing. When you've got a big caboose, you know you do, don't apologize.

Merry Christmas to you!

Though nothing all that great happened this year, I would like to leave a message of love and appreciation for my ATS family. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Merry Christmas!

This year was a pretty good year for me! So many people seem to have had an awful 2016, and I'm just sitting in my corner twiddling my thumbs and expressing my sympathies.

But this year has been my personal year of optimism. I've made changes, am overcoming depression, have become more "one" with myself, feel as though I have grown emotionally, am losing weight, and am finally gaining a confidence I've never had before. I feel positive about my writing, about my future as an author, and about my future as a whole.

I like to imagine that I've finally removed a very toxic person from my life, but, knock on wood and all that. Either way, I'm powerful enough now to ignore this particular person and no longer care how they act and what they say.

I've made possibly the first "real" friends of my life, I've found love, hope, and things to strive for. I used to drink up allllll the doom porn because I just wanted the world to end... now I'm appalled that I used to think that way.

I did have a little issue in September when I only had $1.89 to my name, which was very very stressful and I barely slept for a month. But that's over with now, and that was my main negative of this year.

All in all, it's been a fantastic year, and I can't wait for 2017 because I know it'll be even better than this year.

Cheers!

a reply to: kaelci

Kaelci-
I'm glad you got away from a toxic person. I worked for a someone like that. It was such a wonderful feeling when she finally retired and had no power over me anymore.

Merry Christmas

a reply to: Cheddarhead

Dear Me,

Wow, look how the time flies! It was only last year that for the second time in a row, I somehow managed to have my heart broken by the same person who broke it the first time many many years ago. Here I am, stitching the pieces back together. However, this time, I'm not repairing my heart by myself - For I have gained the attention of a lady friend who is in as much need of healing as I am; we are spending time together and healing in each others' company. It's unsure if there will be a relationship involved, but she has many of the same interests that I do...and so, we will be doing things together on a somewhat frequent basis.

I also have managed to break several resolutions I had for the start of this year: I took up kayaking, despite the fact that I almost capsized the kayak in 2ft of water. I also have made my violin a serious hobby. Also, I finally took a trip for myself down to a haunted insane asylum, crossing three states to get there; I took the trip as a present to myself for making it through another year.

Finally, I leave this saying that 2016 was a heck of a lot better than 2015, and 2017 promises to deliver an interesting adventure.

Sincerely,
-Me, myself, and someone named "I" (Who is that guy?)

Never give up your hope! Humanity is going to become more spiritual, be the pioneer of the golden sunrise!