Year End 2024

I can’t believe this is my 5th year-end post. Time sure has flown by since I escaped the corporate hamster wheel. Covid took most of the first 2 years but even those sped past me. It is certainly true that the older we get the faster time passes – and it makes sense since as we age, each year is a smaller portion of our whole life.

It’s been yet another crazy year with some super highs and super lows. Thankfully more highs than lows, but throw in the election cycle and election itself and this year has out-crazied the last few by a mile.

For me, the year started a few days after getting my new hip which got me back to full mobility within a couple of weeks. Modern medicine – or a joint made from bicycle parts as a friend quipped – is truly remarkable. Recovery would have gotten me out of snow shoveling – if we had any - but that waited until we were in FL for our annual “Get the hell out of NJ in Feb.” trip. With my new hip I was able to walk to the local brewery, bicycle around the area, and easily maneuver from dock to boat. The only restriction was not being able to go in the ocean or pool. No big deal as there were plenty of other things to do.

As the weather improved, I took my new hip out on the disc golf course to test it out and it passed with flying colors. Still working on getting back to pre-hip throwing distances but otherwise all good. I even picked up a couple of new disc golf partners who just took up the sport and have been to several new courses. It’s amazing to be fully mobile again after 2 plus years of limitations.

My new hip also helped me get back to softball and actually be able to run the bases and for the ball in the field. Another fun season with the guys. We didn’t do too well but made a solid run in the playoffs and always had a good time at our sponsor’s pub – Kerwin’s in Dunellen.

      Not as much biking this year as in years past due to other things going on that have sapped my mental and physical energy. I won’t bore you with details. Suffice it to say that some of those super lows have negatively impacted my overall activity level.

      I continued my volunteer work with Crossroads 4 Hope as a process advisor and joined the Sons of the American Legion squadron at our local post. Working the Wednesday night dinners at the post and being involved with other activities to help our veterans has been very rewarding and there are a lot of good people there. Receiving the SAL Member of the Year award was humbling and came as a shock. I can only hope to live up to it.

I hope I don’t jinx it but 2024 was a quiet year for Emergency Management. Community events, training, and scheduled meetings made up most of the year. Another great group to work with and many opportunities to learn and grow with the organization.

While flipping through channels I stumbled upon our local community station – PCTV – during a show about volunteers at the station in which they mentioned an upcoming production class. I jumped at the chance to learn the behind-the-scenes stuff and it’s been fun getting to operate cameras, run the video and sound boards, learn the various roles, and even direct a mini talk show. I am looking forward to volunteering at the station and maybe even producing a show of my own. Didn’t see any of that coming!

Regular readers will remember my “Walking the Dog” post about taking our neighbor’s dog Bailey for daily walks over the summer as she broke her leg and couldn’t take the dog on a leash. Bailey and I bonded over those walks, and I still take her for occasional walks when I need a dog fix or just want to get a little extra exercise. Amazingly Bailey remembers our routes and routines even if we don’t walk for a few weeks – especially the part about getting a treat when we are back at her house. 

On to the wacky weather we had this fall. No real rain from around Labor Day through mid-November. Coupled with a lot of warm weather the reservoirs were drying up and forest fires were rampant in areas of the state that normally don’t see them. We can debate the causes, but climate change is real and its effects have been downright scary here this fall.

I can’t look back without including the presidential campaign and election. It is amazing how one side was so sure the election was rigged before it started but when that side won, everything was magically legit. Get ready for the next 4 years of chaos. I hope those who voted for our next president get what you voted for, but I suspect you will be disappointed along with the rest of us. Hoping for the best but buckling up for the crazy ride ahead.

Our town found out right after Halloween that our local brewery is closing by the end of the year. My 11/18 post “Losing a Community” focused on the loss we are all feeling. Ashton became much more than a brewery for many of us, and it spawned many friendships. Those will survive, but there will be a hole in the community that will be tough to fill.

To close on a happier note, events of the year have brought me back in touch with cousins from my mom’s side and I am thankful for the re-connection and support. With those and other connections and my volunteer opportunities, I am looking forward to the next phase of life now that I have entered the decade of the 60s (that was a tough number to hit!).

Wishing everyone all the magic of the holidays and a fantastic 2025!

I am taking off the next 2 weeks to celebrate and re-charge. Next post will be the week of January 6th, 2025.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com  12-16-2024