Hard to believe this wild, crazy, and unpredictable year has come to a close. And what a year it was…
In February we finally decided to begin our suburban renewal project to turn the previous owner’s house into our home. The first step was to replace the carpet with tile and wood and refurbish the master bath. We then replaced the venetian blinds with plantation shutters and the old slider with French doors, then had all the brown walls repainted in soothing tropical colors, and finally, just a few weeks ago, finished transforming a boring blah patio into something pretty and relaxing. It’s been almost non-stop activity this whole year, and both we and and our credit cards are ready for a break in 2011.
In April I bid adieu to the Episcopal Church and was received into the Roman Catholic Church. Has it made me a saint? No, not hardly. But it feels right and I’m where I need to be at this point in time in my own spiritual journey. I’m hoping to make some further strides on that account in 2011 – how I don’t know, but we’ll see.
In late May I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, then in September had my prostate removed. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have come through the procedure without having to wear a single diaper or liner. Not many guys who have gone through the same procedure can boast of that – in fact, the doc says that only happens in the top 1-2% of all his patients. What a ride that whole experience was.
In July, just a little more than a week after Goodboys Invitational weekend (where I broke 100 during a GB weekend for the first time), I was off to India for a whirlwind 5-day visit. It was crazy, exhilarating, fascinating, and an experience I will never forget.
It was also just after Goodboys weekend that the whole idea of a Endless Summer poster “treasure hunt” was conceived. As exhiliarating and fascinating as the trip to India was, the treasure hunt became a true once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll always remember fondly: it took us to San Diego, then to Carmel Valley and Carmel, then finally to San Francisco. Along the way the individual people we met and places we visited became far more than anything I could have imagined it to be.
It was while we were in Carmel Valley prior to meeting Walter Georis of The Sandals that I took this picture of the surrounding area of the hotel we were staying at: it’s my absolute favorite memory of 2010, a moment frozen in time when the sun shone brightly, the air was pleasantly warm and clean, a soft breeze stirred, not a soul was stirring, and I felt absolutely and completely at peace:
Of course with all the pleasant stuff that happened this year, there were sad departures as well. In January I found out my good friend Rock from New Orleans passed away suddenly of a heart attack. He was younger than I am. Then in September, for the fourth straight year, we bid farewell to one of our rabbits unexpectedly. We’re still trying to make up for poor Geronimo’s loss with the recent arrival of Butterscotch. It won’t be easy – or quick.
It’s been such a wild ride this year that it’s both strange and comforting to see it come to an end. The important thing is that Tracey and I find ourselves closing out the year in good health and good spirits, gainfully employed, and not taking for granted the fact that we have wonderful friends and loving family members who have also made it through this year safe and sound. Tracey’s twin sister Tam also continues to make steady progress from her own troubles last year; considering where she once was that is no mean feat in and of itself. God has been good to us.
For all those who continue to make Goodboys Nation weblog a part of your regular (or irregular) web surfing habitual, I thank you for your continued patronage and your comments. To all of you, my best thoughts, prayers, and wishes for the happiest and healthiest of New Years. Maybe a year from now we can all look back and say, “there, there, Great White Shank, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” One can only hope.
OK, that’s enough. As is custom around these parts, let’s close things out and ring out the old and ring in the new with this great video from the late, great George Harrison. R.I.P.
We bid you adieu, 2010. Be gentle to us in 2011, will ya?