Mary's Pad

Wow, it’s been almost a year since I posted anything on this blog, and what a year it’s been!! 2010 has finally said it’s goodbyes, never to return. I can honestly say it’s the one year I will never forget, and one that I feel a twinge of sadness and nostalgia for.   As has been my tradition at the beginning of every new year, it’s time to reflect on the past one, and to consider the things that made me sad and the things that made me glad.

(Some) Things that made me glad:

• Mary and I are still on, going strong, enjoying and reveling in this adventure called life together.
• We got approved to be Permanent Residents of NZ, sold the house and car and most of our stuff in Philly, picked our lives up and moved across the oceans.  We now reside in the beautiful City of Sails, Auckland, in the lovely land of the long white cloud – Aotearoa.
• I got my nursing registration in New Zealand
• I secured a fantastic job at the Emergency Department at Auckland City Hospital which I start in a few days
• I finally registered my own company and I’m all legit – yay!!
• I slept in a tent for the first time in my life and I’m officially hooked!
• Made a few new friends in my new home
• I get to call one of the most absolutely breathtakingly beautiful places in the world my home and playground

There’s so much more I could add to this list of things that made me glad, but I would be sitting here all day.

(Some) Things that made me sad:

• Letting go of a dream… no matter how glad I am to be out of the US and away from all the immigration hassles and double standards, getting on that plane did require me to let go of a dream, or several. But it’s all good.
• Leaving my friends and family in the US – You don’t live in a place for seven years without building a strong community of friends and chosen family, and I was immensely sad to say goodbye.
• Leaving my MSN program – I was doing well and really enjoying the program, but it wasn’t viable to continue. I made some good connections at Temple, and met some wonderful people, and I am left with a sense of incompleteness about it all.
• Missing my family and not being able to go back home to visit before moving to NZ, but this move will finally make it possible for me to go and visit.  In the meantime, thank you Lord for Skype!!
• I lost my cool and ability to deal way too many times… seems my resilience is fried…

2010 was a wonderful year in so many ways, and I will miss it.  But I am a firm believer that the best is yet to come, so come on 2011, dazzle me!!

Happy New Year everyone.