As frequently occurs around this time of year, there are retrospective look-backs at the previous year, naming the Top 10, Top 5, or Top/Bottom Whatevers.

So I looked at the posts on this blog between January and December, 2018. Here are my “Top 5” highs and lows…

1. Best One Day Opportunity — Trip With The Boss

After a week of meetings in Anchorage, and conducting a full-scale (meeting) with evaluation in another location where The Boss was assigned, the Boss and I took off for a visit to Denali National Park. It had been raining constantly in Alaska since I arrived. The Boss kept telling me not to get my hopes up to be able to see “The Mountain” — Denali, the highest peak in North America — because only 30% of the time, it’s clear enough to see the peak.

But at dawn on Friday, August 10, the clouds lifted, the sun came out (at 3:30am!) and we had the most spectacular day visiting the park. What a breath-taking opportunity! The Mountain was out!

2. The Smartest Guy on the Planet

I am married to a Summa Cum Laude graduate of our state’s university. The Spouse worked hard for four long years to study and earn a bachelor’s degree in history. Why? Just because he always liked history and wanted the academic rigor of a university environment to challenge him.

All this — despite being chronically ill with a disease that robs clarity of thought and riddles the body with pain. On his good days (or good hours), Spouse worked very hard. I am so proud of his achievement!

What will he do with this degree? Lecture me, frequently. 🙂

3. Best Short-term Impact Travel

I had the honor of being invited by the Governor of Puerto Rico to visit and work with his staff to evaluate recovery from massively destructive hurricanes that impacted this lovely island.

I was busy for about 16 hours/day for three long days (but it felt like a week), traveling all over the island and visiting 22 local communities. I met very interesting people who are exceptionally committed to making life better for their neighbors and their home. I was treated with the utmost hospitality and respect. I love this island — and its people.

I am truly impressed, while exhausted, to have had this opportunity. ¡Viva la isla del encanto!

4. Best Local Motorcycle Ride

I love the beauty of my home state of Maryland. I have ridden thousands of miles on my home state’s country roads. 2018 was really, really, I mean really really rainy. We broke all records for total rainfall in a year. In fact, according to weather data, we had only five weekends out of 52 without rain. The average is 32 dry weekends!

But on one very special cloudless, mild, humidity-free day in July, I joined some friends and we went riding on my home state’s lovely byways on a super-fantastic ride.

Best part? Didn’t get lost…. Why? I wasn’t leading!

5. The Downs

I try hard not to be a downer, but I can’t ignore two things for 2018:

a) spouse was still ill most of the time. Spouse’s mother continues to hang on, and on, and on. I poured my soul into caregiving again.

b) the DIC is still a dick in the White House. I am so embarrassed, angry, and ashamed. Two more long years of his destruction remain. How will I and our country endure?

Life is short: focus on the positive. May 2019 be better (as long as I can ignore the DIC!)