Farewell 2011

Dear 2011,

I'm not quite sure how to say farewell. At times we were the best of friends, but for the better half of the year we were at odds with one another. When you first arrived, you brought hope and opportunity but slowly things changed. It took a couple of months for us to start seeing eye-to-eye again but eventually we did (thank you).

We laughed, cried, danced, laughed some more and enjoyed each other's company. You stood by my side as I watched my baby turn into a toddler and then morph into a little man. You taught me patience. You kicked me in the butt when I thought about second guessing myself, motivated me to do things I never thought I'd do, and inspired me to be a better mama, wife and friend.

I'll never forget that it was you who took me to my first opening day baseball game – Orioles vs Tigers – and my first Lions' game in years (still waiting to see them win in person). You gave Mike, Miles and I our first family vacation in a year or two (outside our trips to Michigan). And my favorite, you gave Michigan a win over OSU – something several of you're older friends weren't able to accomplish.

There's still a lot of work to be done and things I'd like to experience, and I hope that your "replacement" will continue what you started. For the most part you'll be missed but I'm looking forward to getting to know 2012. I'm hoping we'll become good friends.

As someone once said, "Here's to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell to the old; here's to the things that are yet to come, and to the memories that we hold." Thanks for the good and not so good times, my friend.

Best,
Shannon