Has It Really Been A Year?

I've told you before that I'm terrible about blogging and keeping up with my website in general. When I stepped in to the world of photography almost 30 years ago, I only wanted to be a photographer--the business side of it was NOT what interested me. I've learned over the years though, that the business side is just as important as the photography side. Part of that business is keeping up with my social media presence, and so here I am trying again.

Where am I in life? Well, let's review the good and the tough.

I'm about to celebrate my 32nd wedding anniversary with the man with whom I'm still madly in love. He is my rock.

I have a two year old grandson who is the delight of my soul, He calls me Grammer, and it tickles me to hear it.

I had a hysterectomy and sacral colpopexy in early May--no photos to share of that. For those wondering what a sacral colpopexy is, well....in a nutshell, my inner parts were falling and had to be lifted and secured. The surgery was a success, and I'm doing well.

I took in a foster dog in July. He came to us named Bear, but we renamed him Teddy. His story is awful, and he has trauma & issues because of it. He's made great progress with us, but he's still got a long way to go. I want him to have a forever home, and it may end up being with us. He's a Lab/Rottweiller mix, and he can be such a love. He just wants to be loved.

His paws are as big as my hands, but he thinks he's a lap baby.

I also took in a baby squirrel in August when the tree his dray was in was cut down. His three siblings didn't survive, but Siggy Stardust is doing well. I received him when he was about 10 days old, knowing I would have to over-winter him. Turns out, he's a special needs squirrel. I believe he suffered head trauma in the fall when his tree was cut down. He has poor balance, and one of his front paws doesn't work correctly. He falls every day. It's also possible he's blind in one eye. But hey, he doesn't know he's handicapped, and he's living his best life.

I lost my dearest sweetest friend, Sandy, in November. I have no words to describe the hole left in my heart. She was my sunshine. It's been a tough holiday season without her.

I had cataract surgery--first eye in late November and second eye in early December. The surgery itself was very stressful for me, but the results have been amazing! No more glasses, and the change in my color perception is astounding!

I lost my Uncle Steve in early December. I hate cancer.

I had my own cancer scare in November that resulted in multiple tests and a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy. Thankfully, all is well with me.

And if you think I'm looking a little bit smaller in my photos, it's because I am. When I finally got released after all my surgeries in 2023, I started boxing with a trainer. Yes, boxing! I love it! This was in September, 2024. I added in weight training with the same trainer a year ago. My goal was to improve my upper body strength. I cut out processed foods and sugar and focused on healthy eating. The results speak for themselves, I think.

I now weigh what I weighed in high school. I was shocked--pleasantly so--recently when I tried on jeans at a local store. Size 2. I don't think I've ever been a size 2.

So that's where I am in life today. Walking in to 2026 with a mixture of happiness and sadness. I'm going to do a separate post on each of these things because they all deserve more attention than I've given them tonight, especially Sandy and Steve. If you're still here, reading this and following me, thank you. I will try to do better with this blog.