Years ago life changed for me, I decided I only had one life and I was gonna embrace every minute  in order to do so I thought I would “Dr Phil it” a bit by taking note of these 3 things for my next year:

My 10  DEFINING MOMENTS:
1. Going to college.
2. Breaking up my engagement to someone who was incapable of love.
3. Learning to ski.
4. Moving to California
5. Getting married
6. Having children
7. Having a career I loved.
8. Getting divorced
9. Having a stroke
10. Making myself and others happy.

7 CHOICES I HAVE MADE:
Going to college
Following my passion that lead to a career
Taking a chance on marriage
Having and raising children
Obtaining a solid foundation of friends
Not letting my illness define me
Traveling

5 PIVOTAL PEOPLE:
My parents who taught me to get over it
Jerry who respected me and our love till death do us part.
My kids who allowed me to grow with them
Paulette who has reminded me of what friendship is and how precious the value the old and new me.

My life has been pretty amazing and full of adventures. I have rode a moped thru Bermuda,I have  driven a jeep to surfside in Hawaii, Moved 3,000 miles from “home” with two suitcases,  spent countless times waterskiing on the Colorado river, hiked the Grand Canyon and Zion, gone deep sea fishing in Mexico,  I have done the holy poky at the equator in Ecuador, roamed thru Rome during Halloween, mucked duck poop in Normandy, had many experiences including having my hair done in Paris, been to churches and tavens in Ireland, had awesome chocolate in Belgium, been to Christmas markets in Germany, spent NYE in London watching spectacular fireworks, danced in the streets of Spain, rocked the casbah in Morocco, lived at the ocean, lived in the city, lived in the country, tasted wine throughout CA, gambled in Las Vegas, rode a camel in the outback, been in a airplane during a cyclone, prayed at the caves of ayes rock, hand feed fish at the Great Barrier Reef, been everywhere in the USA.

Meanwhile raised 3 awesome adults, had a very successful career as a CFO and been loved and loved effortlessly a few times.  Welcomed four grandchildren into this world  

So in reflection all this has been my life because I trusted in others who always have had my best interest at heart. My family and friends who encouraged me to take that first step into the scariest part of life, literally. So as I celebrate years gone by and to come. I thank my kids for not letting me go home from rehab with a wheelchair or excuses, spent energy to take care of me physically, financially and emotionally. Making sure the things that were important to me still kept with tradition. Friends that taught me how to get up from the bathtub or from a fall, spending every Saturday night rolling me down h/c ramps of the hospital, cooking thanksgiving dinner, coming to pick me up when I needed it, pushed me not to cop-out at life and reminding me of who I was including making me laugh at myself even when it really wasn’t fun! Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings. Your kindness and love will never leave my heart.