The Word of the Year: Connection

As I look forward to the new year -- and back at the old -- a few words come to mind.

Health. Travel. Connection.

Health

-- Well, we started out with that as an issue with Greg's second surgery (and he's doing fine) in February, followed by my shoulder surgery in March.

Things seemed to go well until near the end of the year until Rick's bike crash and my own issues.

The good news? All of us seem to be doing much better!

Travel.

Well, if you read The Marmelade Gypsy in June and July, you know I loved every minute of my first trip to France.

I discovered so many new, fascinating things. But most of all, I just enjoyed being there, not at a hotel or on a tour bus, but at an apartment where I could go buy bread at the local boulangerie or walk to the nearby Metro or bus.

Visiting Giverny was beautiful...

... and Normandy was most moving.

Flea markets were filled with new discoveries!

And hearing a Vivaldi concert in Sainte Chappelle was simply awe-inspiring.


Tres bon!

But I also got to Tampa in January for a conference...

And to London (Ontario) in October to enjoy theatre!

Myrtle Beach is a summer tradition -- and always fun!

And of course there were some good times at the lake.

Yes, travel was grand.

But really, the word of the year is Connection.

This was the year that connections seemed to be absolutely everywhere.

Certainly I re-connected with several, including my Paris host, Jerry -- a wonderful college friend.

And I visited Suzanne, whom I met when I was 16. Along with her husband, Jim, we enjoyed great theatre in Statford and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

I made new connections with public television friends...... and met many of Rick's biking buddies during his ride north this summer.

I enjoyed connecting with the cousins I see more frequently several times this year -- including when cousins David and Bonnie were in "Fiddler" in Cleveland...

...up at the lake with cousin Mutty...

...and again, when we said farewell to my aunt Iris and I was able to spend time with John from Arizona (the redhead in back) and Jack and Anne (at left) -- both of whom live in Michigan. It was delightful to get to know both of them better and I know we will see each other more frequently.

I connected often with our wine group (the women are below) and made new friends in my book club and a new art group.

The connection with my "at home" friends was never greater when I experienced their kindness and generosity during my surgery and following Rick's crash. I will always be grateful to them -- not only for that, but for all the fun we have together. These are a few of them...

We were able to meet our friend Yuka from Japan, who was staying in Windsor. It was a delightful reunion and we made new friends, too!

And, I will always be grateful for the connections made and developed on The Marmelade Gypsy. They evolve in beautiful ways -- through kindness during our maladies (so many of you were so "there" with thoughtful gifts and such powerful wishes; I was overwhelmed).

It was a pleasure to meet Tara (who didn't want the photo here!) in Paris and Joanne and Karen when Joanne hosted an art day in Kalamazoo last May.

And, after more than a year of "knowing" Anno, it was a treat to finally meet in Ann Arbor earlier this week. We live maybe 30 miles apart! And an extra treat was also meeting Jen, who lives in Ann Arbor. I have to say that it was like meeting long-time friends you just hadn't seen in a very long while -- but you pick up right where you left off! It was incredibly special to me.

And, while "Oh" and I didn't meet (I ended up not traveling over Thanksgiving weekend), we did enjoy a long phone conversation and promise to connect in 2010!

And one day in 2010, I will meet Ruth -- whose office is only 20 minutes by foot!

Thanks to e-mail, I'm able to stay in better touch with those who live far away.

Yes, the word of the year is "Connection." And to be honest, I wouldn't mind if it ended up being the word for 2010, too!

Happy New Year!