And oh my goodness, it was, wasn't it. With all the traditional highs and lows – but all in all, the kind of year I hope never to repeat.
It started with a hard lockdown in Germany, as Covid refused to go away as we had all hoped. It cast its shadow over the whole year and affected almost every aspect of life here. Whereby I must say that most of the restrictions didn't actually bother us at all – we stay home and go shopping relatively little anyway.
For me, my health played a predominant role in 2021. It started with the diagnoses of a cataract in my right eye and glaucoma in my left eye. Both treatable – at some point.,
From there it went to the mammogram, biopsy, breast cancer surgery. And I must say that the two weeks waiting for the biopsy results over Easter were without doubt the worst in my whole life. We simply huddled together at home, trying to keep on with our lives with this dark dark shadow over us.
The word finally came and the operation quickly scheduled. All went well, and I was pronounced healed and cancer-free.
This being Germany, with a practical medical system, and especially with universal health insurance, I was in hospital for eight days, until the drainage tubes were out and the tumor had been biopsied.
The worst part of my stay was the loneliness. I was allowed one visitor for one hour each day, with Norbert obviously filling that role. I did not see him at all on the day of the surgery as it was all too late.
The good part was having so much time to think about life, myself, my family, my goals and aspirations. And finding symbols of peace, hope and love, such as this view from my window and this loving statue in hospital parkgrounds.
Only 12 days after the operation I got my first vaccination. Radiation therapy followed – which was not bad – and in the middle of that I got my second vaccination.
Once all that nonsense was over, it was, on the whole, a quiet restful summer. The first highlight was when Michele and Lucas announced their engagement. The second highlight was, of course, the wedding in August.
Before that, though, I had my cataract operation, quite the psychedelic experience! And when I remember what my grandmother had gone through with her cataract surgery back int he late 1960s or so, it seems like a miracle.
Then the wedding! A beautiful day of love, perfect weather, a wonderful gathering afterwards.
My eye started getting worse and needed to be lasered to remove scar tissue. It was not all finally resolved until late November. Ugh.
We did manage to get away during two Covid breaks. The end of September Norbert and I went to Kell am See, near Trier for five days. Very lovely and relaxing. A visit to the nearby city of Saarburg was a highlight.
In early November Michele, Lucas and their dog Anton joined us for the first time as we all went to the North Sea in Zeeland, Netherlands. The area was lovely and we all had a good time just being together.
What have I learned this year? That I can take whatever comes at me. You do what has to has to be done and you get on with life. I was helped by having the ultimate support and total love from my whole family, and their contribution cannot be underestimated. They are my foundation and helped me immeasurably.
Covid will of course accompany us into 2022, and we must see what effects it continues to have on our lives. We hope, of course, for far fewer medical problems and doctor visits in the coming year. But what will stay the same is the most important – friendships, family, love and support
Wishing you and yours happy holidays and a healthy 2022.
