My 31st year is drawing to a close and so it is time for me to reflect to make sure that I did indeed end up with 31 new things. I didn’t really keep track, so I was quite surprised that I could keep going. Here are my 31:

1. Tried new sushi
2. Went to Hawaii
3. Tried new fish (cooked)
4. Had a mai tai (among other tropical beverages)
5. Caught up with Wheel of Time Series
6. Went snorkeling
7. Swam with a wild sea turtle (never even swam with a domesticated one, whatever that means…)
8. Travelled 3300+ miles in less than 9 days
9. Took up making cards as a hobby/craft
10. Got a PDA
11. Found a job that I actually like
12. Lost my first grandmother
13. Lost one of my heroes
14. Gained my first nieces (three in one year!)
15. Rode in a helicopter
16. Saw my first live volcano
17. Vacationed on a houseboat
18. Walked on the beach hand in hand with my husband
19. Got chased by a chicken
20. Spent the whole of the Christmas holidays with just my husband
21. Tried a new way to work
22. Carved my first pumpkin, all by myself
23. Made my first cut-out cookies (Halloween themed), all by myself
24. Discovered Pelligrino
25. Made my first holiday-themed napkin rings (they are so terribly cute…)
26. Chased off coyotes getting way too close to Dog in my socks with only a long plastic purple stick
27. Realized I’m allergic to raw honey
28. Tried out a new author without having been recommended to me by anyone (Ellen Crosby, Merlot Murder Mysteries. It is an a-ok series; nothing earthshattering, but entertaining)
29. Bought a comforter at a garage sale (much to Mr. H’s dismay)
30. Melted a comforter in the dryer (much to Mr. H’s delight)
31. Handed out candy to kids on Halloween night

Some of them were out of my hands, some of them were split second decisions, and some of them were entirely planned.

I had a very hard year death-wise; while the loss of my grandmother was tough, I’m still trying to work through the death of my beloved grandfather.

Other than that, I have been incredibly blessed with three nieces, many visitations from loved ones, and a job that pays well and that I love for the first time in my life.

Overall, I think it was a good year, with another couple of weeks yet before it is truly over.