2012 Meme

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

visited Eagle's Nest

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any that I recall. Probably not.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

one of my good school friends had a little girl, Ivey, in June; she has three boys already

4. Did anyone close to you die?

my grandfather, Pop

5. What countries did you visit?

Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and England (airport only)

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

a new phone - it's time I got smart

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 8  - two months after his 86th birthday, Pop left us

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

flying to Europe

9. What was your biggest failure?

doing little to make the world better

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

just the usual bruises of mysterious origins

11. What was the best thing you bought?

plane tickets

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Michael -- he's just a super guy; and he did an outstanding job at his church Christmas play as Sherlock Watson. I'm not just saying that because I'm his aunt. He did awesome!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Syrian regime, and Morsi, and I'm sure I could think of others including myself at times

14. Where did most of your money go?

health insurance or plane tickets

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

seeing Samer during our second trip; I wasn't excited about the first trip until I got there (true story)

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2012?

Cheer Up, Ye Saints of God  (reminds me of Pop)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder?

ii. same

iii. Thinner of fatter?

iv. fatter

v. richer or poorer?

vi. richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

helping the poor; making a difference

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

griping

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it with my inlaws for lunch and my family in the evening at Mema's apartment

21. How many one-night stands?

this is a silly question

22. What was your favorite TV program?

The Amazing Race  -- I love seeing other parts of the world, their cultures and the people

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

no

24. What was the best book you read?

This is always a tough one for me, but among my favorites were

A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans -- just a fun book, with lots of good truths!  (I'm making Andrew read it...haha)

Even After All This Time: A Story of Love, Revolution, and Leaving Iran by Afschineh Latifi  -- I really enjoyed this lady's tale about moving from Iran and settling into life in the United States

Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran -- I like about anything written about China especially on this topic. Fascinating!


 American Nations by Colin Woodard -- this one helped me better understand my country and why we are so divided in our thinking

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

When Zach was 17 months old, I was singing in the kitchen at my dad's house and he was playing nearby.  When I failed to finish a phrase of a song, he sang it perfectly. I didn't even know I'd sung the song enough that he knew it! 

26. What did you want and get?

a new mattress on December 1

27. What was your favorite film of this year?

I think I only watched movies on airplanes this year, and I can't remember what all I watched.  I'll say Puss in Boots since Andrew and Michael thought that one was oh-so-funny.

28. What did you do on your birthday?

early voted in the NC primary, and went to Purple Penguin with Michael and Andrew that evening  (I checked my calendar to remind myself)

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

comfort is key

30. What kept you sane?

talking to my friends here and occasional outings with real-life people

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

no one

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

all the drama over debt ceiling and fiscal cliffs - why do they wait 'til the last minute so the media can make it so dramatic?

33. Who did you miss?

I still have days where I really wish I could see Pop again, but I know he is well now and that helps

34. Who was the best new person you met?

Daniel - a German-American guy we talked to on a train from Munich to Nuremberg back in March; two hours, standing up outside the WC - the train was crazy-busy

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

If used correctly, Facebook can be a tool for learning a lot about a variety of viewpoints!