Finishing up the old year: Part 1

   New Years Eve is a traditional time to say goodbye to the old year and look forward to the new.  For the Yazell's, it has additional special meaning because we celebrate our wedding anniversary as well.  We're at 41 and and counting as we continue "juntos en el camino de la vida".

   This new year transition will be especially memorable for us because of the significant changes both the old and new year represent.

   Within the first two weeks of the coming new year, we begin one of our biggest transitions ever, moving to a new home in a new country.  We're excited and full of expectation and know that there's more new adventures ahead than we faced in many a year.  While there will undoubtedly be some anxious moments, we're optimistic about the future in ways we haven't been in long time.

  As we look back at the old year, we're amazed at the changes that occurred and the wonderful experiences we've crammed into a single year.   Both of us became full time retirees during the year.  We've resided a portion of the year in four distinctly different parts of the globe (Mexico, United States, Ecuador and Thailand).  We've chris-crossed the US three separate times and have been in 20 states.  We done countless garage sales, flea markets and hauls to consignment stores in selling off our 40 year accumulation of personal property (We also helped friends in Arizona, our son in Atlanta and Roger's step-mom in Florida clean out stuff in their down sizing efforts.)  Roger even took time to build a new patio for his step mom Mary.

  We blogged and logged countless hours as internet researchers.  We've dealt with a host of government officials and agencies in multiple locations in preparing papers and documents, not to mention preparing new wills, reformulating 401-k's and countless other details associated with our traveling and preparing to move.

  Visits to an old homestead where Suzanne grew up and the church where we were first married in, and overdue visits to cherished old friends in Texas, Iowa and Georgia were also on the agenda during the year.

   Let's not forget making new friends.  We've almost lost count of the many wonderful new people who fall into that category! My oh my, how our email contacts have grown!  Roger's Facebook page which suffered from long neglect saw many new additions including ones  from South Africa, Serbia, Italy, Thailand, Mexico and Ecuador as we reached out and explored our new found status in life.


  It's simply hard to put into words all the experience that was crammed into this past year.  It was to say the very least, eventful and filled with wonder.

We approach the New Year feeling happy, fortunate and blessed, knowing another year lies ahead that promises to eclipse the one we're leaving behind.

To all who read this who were a part of that experience: thank you and may your New Year bring you friendship, love, peace and wonderful experiences to enjoy!

Roger and Suzanne.