Healthy, wealthy, and wise

As we get ready to celebrate the arrival of the new year, I’m reflecting on experiences.

Healthy.

If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you know that just a bit over 10 months ago I decided to try something new. I gave up eating animal products\byproducts – no meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, etc. Wow – could not believe how much better I felt! I am not living a vegan lifestyle – and that’s what it is, a lifestyle. Pretty hardcore too. I understand and I do my best, but it’s just not really me. Oh, I am all for the absolute best treatment of animals. I detest the factory farming system in place in this country and I just do not understand how people can be so very cruel. And I LOVE vegetables, fruits, and grains! But sometimes I give in. And I’m okay with that.

10 months. Recently I have started trying some foods again. If I remember correctly, I had a few tastes of the Mississippi Pot Roast I made for Dave and Paul, I had a few spareribs Paul smoked, as well as a smoked chicken drumstick. I had lobster ravioli in a restaurant, and another time there was goat cheese on my salad. There was probably butter on a few vegetable dishes I ordered in restaurants (though not noted on the menu) and I’ve downed a few peanut M&M’s. I also made Christmas cookies that include Reese’s dark chocolate peanut butter cup mini’s. All were delicious and I have no regrets, just reminders after digesting some of those foods that I haven’t experienced feeling that uncomfortable since the last time I ate those food items. Lessons learned.

Dave started 2022 recovering from ankle surgery and ends the year awaiting a cortisone shot to ease the pain of arthritis in one knee and surgery to replace the other knee. So, another winter of recovery is upon us. Dave is doing his absolute best to stay healthy otherwise. 😉

Wealthy.

Not in the monetary sense, but there is a wealth of love and laughter in our lives these days. 2022 has seen a return to much more family time, more group activities, etc.

We enjoyed spending time with our extended families this year. Dave’s sister and her son came to visit for a day or two, just in time to help celebrate Dave’s 70th birthday!

Dave and I drove down to Maryland to visit with my sisters, brother in law, and nephews twice. The second visit also included the funeral of my godmother. It was nice that so many of us were able to gather to celebrate her life and spend some time reminiscing.

We continue to spend most weekends hanging out with our grand-dog, Samson, while Paul works. It’s nice to have a few hours with Paul those couple of nights also. We often enjoy afternoons playing card games with Laura. Emma keeps us hopping too! She is on several basketball teams and we are having fun watching most of those games each week. Gets us out of the apartment to socialize a bit, let’s us explore different areas of Rhode Island, and it’s just so much fun to cheer those girls on!

Dave and I celebrated our 42nd anniversary in Newport, RI. We had dinner in the White Horse Tavern, the oldest tavern in Rhode Island.

We got together to bake and decorate cookies before Christmas. And we all (both the Wischnowsky and Champagne families) gathered at Matt and Laura’s for Christmas brunch. Matt cooked up a storm, everyone else contributed goodies also. A good time was had by all!

I also enjoyed visiting with some of my cousins just yesterday. Too bad Southwest Airlines cancelled my sisters flights, she would have enjoyed that visit also!

Wise.

2022 brought us the wisdom to understand and accept our place in peoples lives. We have many people who love us and want to spend time with us, so we are quite comfortable with no longer actively pursuing relationships with those who don’t seem to share those feelings. . . we do extend our love and best wishes, of course.

We look forward to a happy, healthy 2023 for ourselves, our family, and our friends. May we all enjoy a peaceful year with the blessings of love, laughter and kindness.

Much love,

Kathi and Dave