After doing a look back at 2017 last January, I think I'll make it an annual tradition.
It’s amazing how much happens over the course of a year…and equally
amazing how much of it you forget until you try to remember.
What happened in 2018?
Some things are easy to remember.
Mom and I took our annual vacation, this year going back to our usual
destination in Las Vegas. We eat well,
have the occasional cocktail, see a show, and this year the slots played nice
with mom a few times! I made a bunch of
trips up to Michigan to see my family this year, including the fall trip to see
my nephew in the school musical. Next
year when he hits high school the schedule will change but I still expect to be
there!
Sports were a big part of the year, as always. I saw a ton of Monsters games, met a lot of
other fans and accumulated a bunch of player jerseys that I really don’t need but
always wind up wanting. I didn’t make it
to Little Caesars Arena yet to see the Red Wings, but checked out the outside on a
trip to Detroit to see the Tigers play.
I was there on a dream trip to see Alan Trammel’s #3 be retired, and
had the chance to meet him and get a ball autographed. No Tigers fan will ever forget Tram and 1984,
and it was a thrill. I mostly didn’t get teary, but it took a fight!
My friend and I successfully completed our fourth half
marathon, though what I thought were shin splints turned out to be compartment
syndrome and limited me horribly. It’s
still an issue, but after working with a physical therapist I’ve changed my
gait and have every intention of finishing race #5 in the spring. I saw a Cirque show here in Cleveland,
another bunch of great concerts including Pentatonix, and I was mesmerized
watching John Williams conduct the Cleveland Orchestra for highlights of his most memorable movie scores.
I saw the Gulf of Mexico from Biloxi and walked past the markers describing some of the incredible destruction left by Katrina. I got to go through the Star Wars
costume exhibit in Detroit. I dog sat
for 2 sweet girls, and carried the American flag out on the ice at the Q. I got to eat my dad’s “famous” French toast (it should be!) and see friends I’ve had for years but still don't see nearly often enough.
What happened with diabetes?
I changed my long lasting insulin at the insurance company’s demand, I
upgraded my Dexcom from the G5 to the G6, and added an Apple watch to monitor
my blood sugar without touching my phone. I got my A1c under 5% and kept
it there at both of my endo appointments.
I wrote 13 blog posts on topics including the problems with my GP (The
Bad Doctor and Correlation
is Not Causation), why I don’t think that I’m fighting against Type 1 (I’m
Not a Warrior) and the story about how lucky I got when I was diagnosed with
T1D (My
Diaversary). I participated in the JDRF
Type One Nation Summit and started getting involved in planning the 2019 version
too.
What’s up for 2019?
That’s anyone’s guess. But if my
legs cooperate and my friend recovers well from recent knee surgery, we’ll be back for
the fifth iteration of our half marathon tradition. I’d like to try again to see a Wings game in
Detroit and definitely another Tigers game.
I’m going to celebrate the 5th anniversary of being diagnosed
with Type 1, but I don’t know what that will look like yet. I’m going to keep trying to dedicate more
time and attention to this blog and my Facebook page, and to raising T1
awareness. I’m pretty sure I’ll have fun
along the way, whatever this year brings.
Oh, and I said last year that I wanted to go ice skating. That was a fail for 2018 that I fully intend
to rectify in 2019. I’ll probably post
evidence once I make that happen, so be on the lookout! If I think of it I'll be sure to wear one of my T1D shirts!
It’s been another great year, and I continue to be grateful
for those of you who pop in to see what’s going on in my life…whether with T1D
or otherwise. Over 800 times you clicked into these blogs
posts, you checked out the links on my Facebook page and encouraged me to keep
sharing my story. THANK YOU. Mom and Dad, I’m glad you keep reading too. J Happy New Year!
Pictures left to right and top to bottom:
- Mom and I gorged on Ben & Jerry's in Vegas
- Meeting Alan Trammell
- Dog sitting for Molly and Gracie
- The new Dexcom G6
- After half marathon #4. Next year I'm putting the Dex on the front somewhere...
- John Williams!!!
- He's not so intimidating now, is he? Star Wars costume exhibit.
- My game worn Nathan Gerbe jersey from "faux back" night
- Gulf of Mexico from behind the hotel in Biloxi
- My sister's doodle...she's the only family member who poses for me!
