REVERB | DAY 1 | ONE WORD

prompt: one word

Encapsulate the year 2012 in one word. Explain why you're choosing that word. Now, imagine it's one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2013 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

create.

2012 was a very big year. it was a year to create roots. it was a year to create change. it was a year to create new friends. a year to create new connections. a year to recreate old bonds. a year to create distance. a year to create new beginnings.

2012 created so many things: fear, doubt, anger, excitement, sadness, dispair, agony, confusion, happiness, accomplishment, failure, compassion, empathy, lonliness, yearning, belonging, success, pride.

impossible to encapsulate the year in one word, but to say create sums up what the year defined. we moved across country halfway through 2011 and began anew in 2012. we put down roots. the first couple of months here, ron lost his job. he was unemployed for six months. he took a job he was less than pleased with to help support our family. he's not created a life he's yet happy with. we will get there... eventually. i did create a life i love. i have created lifelong friends. i created a life that fits.

the beginning of 2012 - life created roadblocks for us. i got very, very sick. diagnosis unknown, but of the autoimmune kind. i had visits to neuro docs, and a spinal tap, many scans and tests to rule out MS, only to find some lesions on my brain are just causing severe migraines and facial spasms for no apparent reason, along with cognitive issues, and hand tremors at the ready, created undue stress for all of us. that was some good times!

at the same time - kennedy was diagnosed with tourette's syndrome. all something i should have seen coming. she had facial tics that showed up at age 3. i should have known. i should have known better. but you create diversions, without knowing. because every child should be perfect. they just should be. but now, we create routine. we create a sense of order and structure i never thought we would need, because order and routine help keep her little life sane and mellow. and mellow creates calm in her little life.

and through these two things, we created a level of love in our marriage you never know can exist, until your marriage is tested beyond all repair. it was not easy and each day we learn more - about each other, about tourette's and what makes US tic, along with our lil girl. we create a tighter family bond with just us three.

and now... this new year... well... that's a story yet to be told. and when i'm ready, and can find the words... i will tell it. until then... you'll just have to keep tuning in.

reverb is a daily prompt i'm following via my dear friend Lee... will you play along? I did this a few years ago and found this to be a fantastic exercise. join me?