This started out just being titled 3 Funerals, but this awful breakfast on New Years eve just seemed appropriate for the finale of 2023.
I debated even bothering to post, as I think one of the 2 people that even read this are no longer around as of 2023, but I need to close this year out. I need it to be gone, so here I am, sitting at a local diner trying to choke down my last horrible breakfast of 2023.
Everybody has challenges in life, everybody has good times and bad times, and this post isn’t to diminish anyone else’s experiences or troubles, just sharing some of my own experiences from this year, partially as a journal and reflection.
2023 was not kind to me. However, at the end of the day (and year), I’m still very much BLESSED. I still have my health, I still have most of my family and friends, I still have a roof over my head. As a human being its easy to always see the negative side of things when reflecting, but it’s very important to note the good as well.
I had hoped this year was going to be “it”. In 2020, I had plans to “hit the ground running” and “do all the things”. While I can certainly say that was a success between January and March that year, we all know what happened after that. I was hoping 2023 would be the “reset” I needed; get back to volunteering (success), and get out and enjoy life otherwise. While I was somewhat successful, this year certainly put me back in my place. Again.
The Good
With 2022 having things start to open up, I got to definitely do more things this year than I have over the past couple years, despite the health setback in 2022:
- I got to see my nephew graduate high school, as well as some friend’s kids as well
- I got to see the Beetlejuice play in Philly earlier this year
- I got to go to Vegas, and explored the “Meof Wolf” attraction
- I go to do some Kayaking, including finally checking out Mallows Bay
- I got to partake in Ham Radio Field Day this year (although bittersweet)
- I attended a bunch of hamfests and Vintage Computer Fests
- I got to visit some extended family
- I did a TON of volunteering on Battleship New Jersey, and had some amazing success in my projects there: at the beginning of the year I made a goal to get the message handling room sending messages, using Teletype equipment, over the air again, and before the end of the year, I met that goal. It took a ton fo work, chasing cables, restoring 2 teletype machines, learning about (old) Navy technology, and so on. My time there I’d almost say was one of the highlights of my year, and turned in to an escape from my later troubles.
