Looking back

Well now that Christmas has passed ,and New Years is fast approaching ,it seems time to do "A year in review post " Which I will do , but first I have to go back a little further.
In 1999, I was doing things a little differently than I am now . I still lived here, and had horses, and cared for cattle ,but my work and social life was vastly different . I was single , working at 2 1/2 jobs. By that I  mean I worked at a group home part time , caring for seniors, and also was in the same job contracted to work 3 nights a week with a palliative patient , a lovely , and far to young man dying of a terrible and  much feared virus .Yes ,I am talking about HIV/AIDS, and as much education as there is out there , the disease and the victims of it still suffer immensely from fear induced wrath and negativity . In addition to that I had started a small business I opened a Consignment craft store ,called "Allsorts Crafts and Curiosities "
I was kind of a busy girl!
I was dating here and there, but nothing serious , had a great group of friends , and was essentially settled into a pretty good life of a single 30 something gal.
Then September came along , and after a double shift  at work and a half day in the store I attended a birthday party for a friend . Where I was introduced to Martin .

Well you have all read the story of how we met , and if you haven't I will find you the link later, but that was the start of some big changes . By December we were seeing each other fairly steady , and I had also sold a partnership in my store . As 2000/2001 came along the changes started to happen very quickly . I moved the store to a new location . The palliative care position ended and I started yet another job with the local Health authority , as a Mental Health Aide . And by December had sold my part of the store  I was engaged to be married . Also had started working as a Home support aid fro the region . 2001 was a year of new beginnings and huge change. Oddly ,I who hates change , just took it all in stride and loved almost every minute of it !!!
A friend  gave me a Crystal butterfly at the time , with the quote "Go butterfly go! " remarking on the metamorphosis she was seeing in me and my life !
So why have I told you all this?
Well I mentioned I am not a big fan of change, and yet  changes happened again ten years later!
Maybe not as drastic, but I sure had to "come out of my shell" Over the last 2 years, I have attended , and presented at displays in very large trade shows (THE MANE EVENT ) Which certainly required me to step out of my comfort zone and actually speak to strangers . Also as you may have noticed I have been writing Poetry . Well at first I wasn't prepared to share any of it , but slowly with  a lot of encouragement from family friends, and this wonderful blogging community , I started to share it . And Low and behold , I began to spread my wings further! first publishing it here on the blog, and then taking a huge leap and having the book published!
Telling Tails , became a reality ,and you have never seen such an excited girl as me the day I received my "Authors copy " in the mail!
So we are back to the present . I have more to talk about over this "Year in Review " But that is the "back story "
It has been quite a year, good times , sad  times , and everything in between!
till later
Stay Safe and Warm