Somebody's Daydream

It’s been an entire year since I posted here, and I am a bit embarrassed. Honestly, though, it’s been busy. Not to make excuses – I really have to put some time down on my calendar to write and that’s on me – but I have had a lot go on in my life, both good and bad. So, let’s do this.

2022: A Retrospective

January.

The year began with a tone of grief hanging over me. My beautiful maternal grandmother was put into full time nursing care as her Alzheimer’s had progressed too far, and my precious grandfather was dedicating his every waking moment to her care (neglecting his to a degree).

February.

We went to Disney World. Ever planned a trip to Disney? Well, neither have I, but we have a stellar planner in the family (Brian) and our friend Jackie Briggs of Castles & Cruises Travel did a great job working together to pull off the perfect trip. Packing two kids for a week-long vacation to the most magical place on earth is still a chore, though.

March.

Had my first solo exhibition! It was exhilarating and rewarding to see years of hard work on the walls of Kelwood Contemporary Art. Jennifer Carwile, an amazing artist in her own right, was a gracious and helpful host.

April.

I began a weight loss journey, and through the year I managed to lose 40 pounds. Partially for vanity and partially for health, I don’t worry about becoming a diabetic at an early age as much anymore. I also was a guest speaker at the Gulf States Camera Council Club Convention, which was a blast.

May.

May is the end of school and always a blur. I also started having some weird pains in my chest and abdomen, but they weren’t too bad, so I just lived with Advil and let it go. (Foreshadowing.)

June.

Our trip to the beach. I was excited to show off my new figure, but just before we left, I ended up at the doc’s office for those pains. Turns out, I needed a gallbladder removal (that can happen when you lose a lot of weight, apparently). Since it wasn’t emergent, I went on my vacation with plans for gallbladder eviction on my return.

July.

Goodbye gallbladder. When your doctors tell you not to overdo it after surgery, they are telling you that because you’re not superhuman and because they are experts who went to medical school. I always learn this the hard way. This month I also hung a show that I curated for the Louisiana Photographic Society at the Old State Capitol. It was a fantastic show, and I even sold a piece. 🙂

July, continued.

Yeah, July was quite a month. I hung a second solo exhibition at the Manship Theater at Shaw Center for the Arts. Two solo exhibitions in one year. It may be a sin, but I was very proud of myself.

July, the conclusion.

I had a hematoma removed from a very sensitive area. No one knows what caused it. Went into the office and heard my doctor say, “Oh wow” when he looked at me. Not exactly the reaction you want to hear but, hey, at least I’m on the table being examined, right? So, he numbs me up (not super great, but the best he could do) and takes care of it. But not even a week later, I’m back in the office, writhing in pain, and he says, “I’m taking you to the OR.” And thus was a second official surgery for the year.

August.

My birthday month. Yes, MONTH. Celebrated with other August birthday friends and had an awesome time. Kids went back to school. I decided to go back to work full time (not because I’m quitting art, I just missed working with a team) and thus the job search began.

September.

Job interview month. I sat down with several companies but the one that called me the most was my old law firm. And by the middle of the following month, I’d be back in the paralegal saddle again.

October.

Went back to the old firm and fell right back into it. Like riding a bike. We’re a defense firm and do a ton of litigation from insurance all the way to criminal. Very interesting stuff. The thing that surprised me the most about going back to work was how easy it is to turn my creative brain on now. Almost like using the analytical side of my brain all day makes coming up with ideas effortless.

November.

Hey, guess what? I find out I have to have another surgery. All thanks to my kids to whom I gave birth and sacrificed my body.

December.

Third surgery of the year. Two post op ER visits, one unannounced visit to my doctor’s office to demand attention, and several prescriptions (only to end up having to stop all of them and go to plain Tylenol/Motrin rotation). Also, a note here: When you have a surgery, DON’T STOP TAKING YOUR REGULAR PRESCRIPTION MEDS JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE TIRED OR THINK IT WON’T HURT. Especially if those medications regulate your mood. Friendly reminder from your mentally ill neighborhood artist. And also, when your doctor tells you, “This is going to be a very painful recovery,” it’s because he knows what he’s talking about because he’s done this before, and you should listen to his advice to take it easy.

WOW.

Keep in mind that in between all of this, I am running a boy to soccer (with help from my amazing mother-in-law), a girl to music lessons (with help from my spectacular husband), keeping up with housework, having a growing social life (in my 40s no less), AND STILL MAKING ART.

All that said, I’m ready to be done with 2022. Not claiming 2023 as “my year” or anything, just ready to move forward, onward, upward, all that jazz. I do start shooting a new series this week and am pretty stoked about it. (But I’m still recovering so… gotta take it easy so I can get back to work next week.)

Happy holidays and I hope to see you here sooner than next Christmas.