The Year of Living Fabulously

It was the best of times.
It was the worst of times.

As we usher out 2006 and look ahead to 2007, we reflect on the things we've done, the places we've been, and the things we've acquired.

It was a year of monumental changes. A year of exhausting work. A new house. A new pet, my first cat ever. A year of tireless new work projects that kept me far away from my new house and kitty for many a late night, not to mention my honey. And of course, it was a year of one of the biggest events of my life: in less than 5 hours, I went from being a single girl to a married woman. Of course, the planning took 9 stressful months, which fell in between busy worknights and tiring moving weekends, and the wedding cost as much as a new car. Which is definitely on my list of things to acquire in 2007. But at least I won a small bet -- I was the last girl standing among my high school and college friends.

And boy was it a year of seeing the world! A 22-day whirlwind tour of Italy, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Sienna, Bologna, and Tuscan wine country. Plus a 4-day shopping trip through London, the city of ladylike style. Eating, drinking, and shopping our way through Europe without a care in the world. Now that's La Dolce Vita!

It was a year of buying generously. Where should I start? January: Ralph Lauren leopard-print calf-hair kitten-heel flats, Off Saks. February: Tod's chocolate leather Kate media bag, eBay. June: Cole Haan white pocket Village tote, eBay. August: King-sized bed frame, Ikea, and new King-sized mattress, mattress store down the street. New sunroom-dining room furniture, Ikea. September: Cole Haan G-Series mink-trimmed black skimmers, TJ Maxx. October: Gucci gold-trimmed signature Abby bag, Gucci boutique, Rome. MaxMara red leather satchel, and MaxMara black and white wool pencil skirt, MaxMara store, Florence. Joseph navy cotton sateen 3/4-length trench, Harvey Nichols, London. And others, I'm sure, but who's counting?

Unfortunately, the generous buying eventually gave way to some necessary selling. Gone: Louis Vuitton Marais bucket bag and gold keychain, 2 of my prized possessions. 3 Coach bags and a pair of suede Coach gloves. Dooney & Bourke bag and keychain. Oh well...

Just as it as a year of buying generously, it was also a year of giving generously. I gave some great presents this year. $700 to my sweetie from New Egg for his birthday. $500 Dell computer to sweetie for Christmas. $250 worth of steaks and seafood to my parents in Florida. Jars of preserved white truffles from Tuscany for my mother-in-law (which I may point out are litterally worth their weight in gold). Several Furla handbags from Rome for my pal Anna, my sister-in-law, and my father-in-law's significant other. A Michael Kors bag and several gently-used Nordstrom and Ann Taylor goods to a friend. A knock-em-dead black velvet Moschino cocktail confection to a different (very teeny) friend, who admittedly squeezed into the dress in a way that I would never be able to again. A veritable trunkful of apparel to same friend. A nice collection of soft girly treasures to a friend who seems to be lacking them. The usual shoes and clothes to charity.

With sorrow, we lost people near and dear. My grandmother, the matriarch of my mother's family, who finally lost her battle with many illnesses. We pray that she is truly in a better place now. We also said goodbye to some people that made us laugh, made us think, and made us boogie down. Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin. Tough-guy and actor extraordinaire Jack Palance. Joseph Barbera of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon power duo. Soul man Wilson Pickett. Prolific TV producer Aaron Spelling. All-around nice guy President Gerald Ford. Larger-than-life singer James Brown. And with great drama -- and much more publicity than he deserved --ruthless genocidal tyrant Saddam Hussein was brought to justice and executed under the watchful eye of the world.

Who could forget the year if hookups and breakups? Out: Jen & Brad, Nick & Jessica, Sir Paul & Heather, Jude & Sienna, Charlie & Denise, Mr. and Mrs. Locklear, Pamela & Kid, Carmen & Dave, and everyone's favorite sweethearts Ryan & Reese. In: Brangelina, Tomkat, Denise and Richie, the new Benifer, and Nicole & Paris BFF again.

And so we say farewell to a year that will be one of the most memorable for me. Goodbye, 2006!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? ...
And here's a hand, my trusty friend And gie's a hand o' thine ...
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for (days of) auld lang syne.