It was the year I turned 30. I’m not 30 yet, but I will be before the year is over.
2008 was the year I saw the Atlantic Ocean.
2008 has been a year of ups and downs for me. I rediscovered a soul mate. I discovered what true love really is. I felt the security of the circle of friends that I have, and know I will have them until the end.
We have had numerous ups and downs (I had a cancer scare in February - my love and healing vibes go out to anyone for who theirs wasn’t just a “scare”) My best friend’s son died in July. I was made redundant from a job. I wrote (and got paid for!) my first book. I learnt to be friends with my mother again.
But through this, it was us against whatever was thrown: my beautiful fella, my wonderful friends and myself weathered it together, and got through it. We will always miss Michael (my friend’s son). He was a beautiful boy and the world is a colder place without him. But we got through it, and in the journey formed bonds that are stronger than any that I’ve had in my life.
2008 will be remembered as a year during which I had to give up working, probably forever, due to being rear ended in July of 2007. It will be remembered as the year in which my Darling Marcie chose to retire due to a serious disability, giving both of us as idea as to what the future holds with the two of us together nearly constantly----it’s a frightening concept. It’s the year I had spinal surgery and it’s the year we’ve spent a hell of a lot of our savings just staying alive while my back surgeon and my attorney dithered and dathered instead of getting my back injury claim settled. It’s the year in which I received a $9000 settlement from a smoker’s class action suit and that was a good thing. And it’s the year, I hope and pray, that a Black male Democrat won the Presidential Election in the USA.
The year I moved to Doha.
There are stores that have the Xmas decorations up the day after Labor Day. Carols on the PA, etc. I avoid them, needless to say.
I forgot to answer the OP.
Hurricane Ike.
2008:
The year I turned 25. The year we moved to Seattle. The year I squashed my depression, and, hopefully, kept it squashed.
I will also always treasure in my heart seeing this moment live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGYmheg-fBc (Video of Donna Brazile telling Anderson Cooper that he is not her boo.)
My oldest daughter got married and went to grad school with a nice fellowship. New son-in-law got into and started law school. The bad news is that his father died. My father and father-in-law are still in good health.
Youngest daughter went to school in Germany and is loving it.
And, with luck, we will be pulling out of our long national nightmare.
This stinking damn flood that I’ll be cleaning up next year yet. Somebody I really like died in October and I found out a week ago. I’ll remember this too.
Yeah, and that was a bit of a surprise. I was genuinely shocked when John McCain proposed buying $300 billion in mortgages at original value. But hopefully, the moderate candidate will be elected instead.
I’ll remember 2008 for:
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The Phillies winning the World Series. I identify all calendar years since the advent of major league baseball by the World Series winner and other major baseball happenings; all years are colored in my mind’s eye by the World Series winner.
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Two elections three weeks apart, one of them being, I honestly hope, an election my children and grandchildren will ask me about.
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Buying my house.
and, because I didn’t give you a real one, here’s a few more.
I’ll remember my Uncle Jack passing away, and not really being able to make it out to him. Kinda wish I’d known him better.
I’ll remember Charleston, becoming “Clockwatcher”, nuclear power, New York, and the first time in almost a decade where I’d been unambiguously single for any length of time.
I’ll remember what happens tomorrow and the next day. This should make for an interesting election…
I’ll remember living with a couple of cats, and how much fun that was.
I’ll remember Moroccan dinner, and how weird it was to eat with my hands with a towel on my lap.
I’ll remember realizing I had a temper, and much less patience than I once possessed.
I’ll remember things being better than they were before, all told. knock on wood
oh, and coming back to SDMB, after quite some time away 
Yeah.
The year Obama got elected, my brother got married, two of my best friends moved to Boston and (hopefully) I get promoted at work. And that’s just the last two weeks.
The year I graduated with my Masters in British and American Literature.
The year I took a ridiculous part time job because apparently my MA isn’t worth much right now.
The year I decided not to give up on my writing (also the year I made at least $10,000 on my writing).
The year I got my teeth fixed.
The year I invested myself completely in an election. The year the country made history.
This, for me, too. My gran died in September (physically–her mind was gone years ago. Fucking Alzheimers. :mad: )
This year’s election is the first one I remember being this excited and hopefulb about.
This year is the second time I’ve lost chunks of retirement savings to a shit economy.
This is the year my lovebird, Sunshine found and adopted me.
Quite the mixed bag, really.
The year I got married. And my sister got married. And my other sister graduated from college. And my mom turned 60.
And the election.
Change of answer: I’ll always remember the moment President-elect Obama was declared the winner. I’m so proud to be an American today.
Tonight.