# The highlights & lowlights of your year **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2012, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815 "2012-12-22T06:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/1 "2012-12-22T06:02:34Z")
Here are my highs and lows and changes of the past year: ## \*I got a service award for volunteering at a local hospital \*My cousin moved in with me and brought two cats along \*My older niece married \*My aunt died \*Got a new baby cousin in November \*My mom had a total knee replacement, recovered, and got to be in a reality show \*I visited Yosemite for the first time in my life \*My bipolar cousin went off the deep end (again) and wound up in jail (again) Share! ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/2 "2012-12-22T07:56:53Z")
Visited Vietnam and Cambodia this spring. A friend and myself rode our bikes to the four corners of the US in April/May. Spent a month in and around Yellowstone. My mother is doing worse. Two friends are dying of cancer, one probably won’t make Christmas. Got back into backpacking this summer. Ending the year with more money than we started with, always a plus. Our health is pretty diddly-darn good, even considering our ages. Our son seems happier than he has for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/3 "2012-12-22T16:24:47Z")
My favorite aunt died, unexpectedly, in her sleep. I had open-heart surgery (aortic valve replacement, plus quadruple bypass). I lost 25 lbs. after my surgery, then gained back 15. My partner and I celebrated 25 years together. I bought a new Mac Pro, with four 1-TB hard drives and 16M memory. I did some really amazing art work this year, in a new medium . . . more than any previous year. My chorus went to Denver in July. I designed a new CD for my chorus. It’s very retro '50s. I spent $3000 fixing my car, rather than buying a new one. I’m gradually teaching one of my cats that it’s ok to have benign contact with the other cat, but no brutality. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/4 "2012-12-22T16:54:19Z")
Lost my job: yay. Can’t find new one: boo. Had tongue surgery: boo. Not cancer: yay. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/5 "2012-12-22T17:52:02Z")
Highlights: Playing in the orchestra for a few musicals Meeting new friends Going to Halifax Discovering Lafontaine Park Joining the SDMB Lowlights: My mother being in the psych ward My parents breaking up ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/6 "2012-12-22T18:50:20Z")
No year is perfect. I was laid off in August, but - while I liked the people there, I wasn’t devastated - and it lead to the highlight: I got a job doing really fun development. The sort of stuff I really enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/7 "2012-12-22T18:54:15Z")
Well lets see … 2012 was special: The bad: Major knee surgery (rehab was worse than the surgery, physical therapists are experts at torture in the name of “care”); In hospital for C.Diff infection after that; Kidney stones (as a side order _with_ the C.Diff); 2 surgeries for the kidney stones; Partner screamed for divorce; Many home appliances decided to break down simultaneously. The good: hmmm… I lived thru it? These are all First World Problems I realize. Compared to hurricanes, wars, pestilence and economic collapse theyre all small potatoes. Im really lucky after all. Good thread! ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/8 "2012-12-22T20:28:46Z")
My daughter turning from a baby to a walking, talking toddler Meeting my boyf 😉 Ectopic pregnancy/losing another baby (this is just getting careless now) Falling out with a couple of local friends Getting drunk and making an arse of myself ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/9 "2012-12-22T20:50:52Z")
Good: A new niece (my first niece) and a new nephew (my fourth)! Found a new job and went back to work Daughter made huge, noticeable progress at speech therapy Son finally started walking Father in law got a clean bill of health Father in law got residency and is in the process of emigrating here. Bad: Father in law diagnosed with cancer ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/10 "2012-12-22T21:05:49Z")
It was not the worse year in the world. My job went surprisingly well this year. I bought the best car in the world. I went solo camping in NYC and discovered deep fried oreos. Everyone that I loved last year is still in my life this year. There was a lot of self-discovery in 2012. I still don’t know how to make sense of it all, but I have finally come to a certain level of peace and resolution. Maybe the next year will bring acceptance. ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/11 "2012-12-22T23:20:51Z")
Went to Cuba Went to Rhodes Went to Paris just to see Jack White Toured Chile, Argentina and Brazil Still in my wonderful job Still happily in a relationship with my new internet date from last October Singing in a concert with Ruthie Henshall and John Owen Jones Fantastic trip to see Liverpool FC versus Heart of Midlothian FC with my nephew Booking up to see Petra next year Hearts beating Hibs 5-1 in the Scottish Cup Final My best friend getting engaged and asking me to be bridesmaid Seeing my Dad starting to seem old, and lose his faculties a wee bit Losing my cousin Helen Still thinking about my late, alcoholic husband every day ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/12 "2012-12-23T02:32:40Z")
Highs: Got my first job in 8 years. My girlfriend moved in with me. My first nephew was born. Sister became pregnant with second nephew. Made lots of new friends. Lows: Lost my job due to business going under. Girlfriend’s mother died. Sister lost her job and had to move in. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/13 "2012-12-23T04:58:41Z")
Highs: Landed a lucrative programming contract Successfully demonstrated my application for the company’s top brass Last software book getting very positive reviews on Amazon Everyone I wanted to get elected got elected, almost everyone I wanted to lose lost Lows: Got rear-ended driving home - my 2001 Honda Accord was totaled (I _loved_ that car) Novel and short stories rejected Attempts at online dating failed ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/14 "2012-12-23T05:10:39Z")
Got a tree dropped on my car. Which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because the gecko gave us more money than we’d expected and the new car, while older, is definitely better than the one it replaced. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/15 "2012-12-23T07:11:29Z")
Low: Getting diagnosed with cancer (melanoma). High: Coming out the other side clean and no debilitating treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/16 "2012-12-23T10:20:34Z")
The bad and the good in my life this year are inseparable: Low points: Being diagnosed with lung caner. Being told that I was too weak for the surgery Having my husband’s health decline Learning that certain people in my family would steal me blind. Not hearing from any of my grandchildren for two or three years now. Living in a house that is a wreck. High points: After five months, a surgery that removed all signs of cancer. No chemo or radiation required Finding out that I am not overwhelmed at the possibility of my own demise Finding out how much my husband loves me Finding out how much I love my husband. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/17 "2012-12-23T10:23:09Z")
**Monstro** , I’m pleased to read that things are going better for you! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/18 "2012-12-23T12:20:34Z")
High: My friends secretly recorded and released a tribute album to, eh, me featuring lots of covers of my songs. Lows: Uncle died. Haven’t been able to find proper job in 12 months. Messed up my back to the point where I’m in constant pain. ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/19 "2012-12-23T13:52:06Z")
My mum died in February, quickly and unexpectedly My older daughter continued to be a wonder and a joy My younger daughter stopped being a baby and started being a proper human being My husband finally got the recognition he deserves at work We made the first steps towards emigration, finally I lost 15 pounds and 20 points off my blood pressure in 3 months Went back to work after maternity and love it Had a couple of fantastic holidays with my brother and his family Made the difficult and awful decision not to take our cat with us when we emigrate Picked up a faulty camping trailer which overturned whilst I drove it home, with both of my children in the car Won the argument with trailer company over who was going to pay for repairs for said trailer ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815/20 "2012-12-23T14:36:43Z")
Good: I opened a deli! Bad: I opened a deli. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-highlights-lowlights-of-your-year/644815.md?page=2)