Phew! When I sit and think about everything that has happened in 2012 I’m exhausted. I’m not sure I believe it all happened… in just one year… and that I am here to tel the tale!
2012 was another one of those major change years in my life. Like 2004 when I got divorced, moved cross country with my son and started my art licensing business… I’d say that was the last time a year was as full of change – before THIS YEAR of course!
Here are my top 4 events of 2012 …
The Big HOUSE REMODEL
The old 1923 Craftsman Craig & I bought as a short-sale in late 2011 went through a TON of changes in 2012 with yours truly acting as the general contractor. Learning to coordinate everyone’s schedules and do quite a bit of work myself – from pressure washing to painting and all the shopping and decision making – it was a full time job in and of itself! We had a fabulous crew and couldn’t be happier with the results. 2013 will see some improvements to the landscaping because we are pretty much done with the structure. (Thank goodness!)
High School Graduation and Off to Boston University!
Exciting and big transitional times for both mother and son as Kyle graduated from High School and went way-far-away to Boston in the fall to start college. He LOVES it and is taking no prisoners! I’ve adjusted to life without him around and now that he’s home for Christmas, realize how much more grocery shopping and laundry needs to be done when he is here! (But as I tell him, he’s worth it!)
Let’s not forget the WEDDING!
After five and a half years together, Craig Harris and I tied the knot! We had a backyard wedding at our new house and I don’t think I’d planted as many flowers in all my adult years combined as I did this year. We shall forever say we “need to water the venue” when referring to watering flowers in the back yard. 
What a wonderful day it was – my brother performed the ceremony, my son “gave me a away” (perhaps a bit too willingly???) and I married my best friend. A man who can make you laugh every day and thinks you are both fabulous and funny is a man to hang onto! Our only complaint (more mine than his…) was that is was 102 degrees. Really? After it had been in the 70s almost all summer? Oh well – if that was the biggest issue we have nothing to complain about!
My Parents Big Move
The day before my wedding my parents were out looking at houses. They had just received an offer on their house in Reno so they needed to figure out where they might want to live in Portland! Thankfully we didn’t have a rehearsal dinner of any kind because they ended up getting home at 9 pm after putting an offer on the most FABULOUS house just 4 miles away. (It is so weird – I’ve never lived close to my parents – let alone 4 miles away.) On the morning of the wedding we had more than one thing to celebrate – they got the house! Move in day was on September 8th and I was the point person for all the things that go on in between the contract and the big move. Good thing I had experience with my… oh… 10 moves now I think?
Here’s to 2013…
May the coming year be filled with love, laughs, memorable moments but maybe a little less change and chaos! It was fun but it would be hard to keep up the pace of 2012 long-term!
– Tara Reed
