A Holiday Tale
And lo, there appeared a meme at the end of 2011, and it shone on the blog of hukbillgoomba. Thereafter it showed the way to the page of sarahlitarose, from whence it came unto memoryleaveme. And behold, the meme was pleasing to the reader's eye and was also appropriate to the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, so that it continued its wanderings through the interwebz.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Cooked a meal over an open fire. Played a live game of werewolf. Saw a 3-D movie (Tintin).
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make serious ones, and only partially kept the joking ones. I made decisions for small changes throughout the year, and that is much more effective than one-time resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my daughter gave birth to twin girls!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Israel, Switzerland, Finland and Estonia.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
The discipline to get more sewing done.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October __, birth of my granddaughters.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can’t say at this point - perhaps it will be apparent sometime in the future.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t know.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing acute.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane and train tickets. And fabric.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Those people who let their little light shine in the corner where they are.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Politicians.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travelling
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My granddaughters, and the trip to Finland.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
“Sind so kleine Hände...”
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Enough for what I need and most of what I want.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sewing on my major patchwork-in-progress.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time, and eating between meals.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Church, family meals and relaxation.
21. (Question missing in action)
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yes, with two little girls.
23. How many one-night stands?
0
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don’t watch enough TV to have a favourite.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
“Lord of the Rings”, for the x-th time. Also loved Jasper Fforde’s “One of Our Thursdays is Missing”, enjoyed Rothfuss’ “Name of the Wind” and “Wise Man’s Fear”, liked GRR Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire”.
27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Johan de Meij’s “LotR Symphony”.
28. What did you want and get?
The opportunity to travel to several wonderful events.
29. What did you want and not get?
Not telling.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
“The King’s Speech”
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I invited friends over for the evening, and old enough not to tell online. I will, however, reveal that I will become one year older than that in 2012.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having finished my major patchwork-in-progress quilt.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Playful feminine casual.
34. What kept you sane?
Quiet time.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hugh Jackman.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Euro crisis, I suppose.
37. Who did you miss?
My children and grandchildren.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
The Finmoot hosts.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
I choose my attitude, and that makes the difference in what my life is.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.”
“My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue,
An everlasting vision of the ever changing view.
A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold,
A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold...”
Hmmm, those sum up more than just a year - my whole life!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Cooked a meal over an open fire. Played a live game of werewolf. Saw a 3-D movie (Tintin).
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make serious ones, and only partially kept the joking ones. I made decisions for small changes throughout the year, and that is much more effective than one-time resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my daughter gave birth to twin girls!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Israel, Switzerland, Finland and Estonia.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
The discipline to get more sewing done.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October __, birth of my granddaughters.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can’t say at this point - perhaps it will be apparent sometime in the future.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t know.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing acute.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane and train tickets. And fabric.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Those people who let their little light shine in the corner where they are.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Politicians.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travelling
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My granddaughters, and the trip to Finland.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
“Sind so kleine Hände...”
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Enough for what I need and most of what I want.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sewing on my major patchwork-in-progress.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time, and eating between meals.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Church, family meals and relaxation.
21. (Question missing in action)
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yes, with two little girls.
23. How many one-night stands?
0
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don’t watch enough TV to have a favourite.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
“Lord of the Rings”, for the x-th time. Also loved Jasper Fforde’s “One of Our Thursdays is Missing”, enjoyed Rothfuss’ “Name of the Wind” and “Wise Man’s Fear”, liked GRR Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire”.
27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Johan de Meij’s “LotR Symphony”.
28. What did you want and get?
The opportunity to travel to several wonderful events.
29. What did you want and not get?
Not telling.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
“The King’s Speech”
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I invited friends over for the evening, and old enough not to tell online. I will, however, reveal that I will become one year older than that in 2012.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having finished my major patchwork-in-progress quilt.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Playful feminine casual.
34. What kept you sane?
Quiet time.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hugh Jackman.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Euro crisis, I suppose.
37. Who did you miss?
My children and grandchildren.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
The Finmoot hosts.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
I choose my attitude, and that makes the difference in what my life is.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.”
“My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue,
An everlasting vision of the ever changing view.
A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold,
A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold...”
Hmmm, those sum up more than just a year - my whole life!