About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Living Out the Noughties


Who knew that we're three weeks away from closing out the decade known in some circles as the Noughties--as in 2000, 2001, 2009? I didn't until I read our December 14 Fun Monday assignment. Wendishness is our host again this week and she's asking us to share some of the highlights and lowlights of our own lives in the noughties.

In a decade marked by national tragedies, a never-ending war, political change and scandal, 24/7 information and communication access and overflow, energy shortages, and both personal and institutional economic meltdowns, my own life has been--thankfully--pretty calm. Just for fun I tried to go back to 2000 and remember something significant for each year of the noughties. After looking at this list overall, I decided that this post should have been titled "Travelogue of the Noughties" because travel to new places was the highlight of several years. Anyway, here's highlights and lowlights of my life in the noughties:

2000 -- traveled to Tuscany region of Italy to experience its art, gardens, and food

2001-- spent the month of December in cold, snowy Ukraine in Eastern Europe helping farm women's councils set up agricultural cooperatives as a special work assignment though the U.S. government

2002 -- barged through the Alsace Lorraine region of France with a watercolor workshop group

2003 -- completed a wayfarer's coast to coast walk of 80+ miles across northern England's lake district, dales, and moors from the shores of the Irish to North Seas

2004 -- visited the North and South Islands of New Zealand, toured gardens and natural attractions

2005 -- did home repairs and improvements, thought about retiring from Farm Bureau after over 35 years in the workforce

2006 -- retired! Stayed up late, did exactly what I pleased, no schedules

2007 -- started blogging right here on Summit Musings. Great decision!

2008 -- moved my older sister to Louisville and took on full time caregiving responsibilities for her

2009 -- re-united with my favorite cousin and completed a Volksmarch walk of five southern states (TN, AL, LO, FL, GA) with her and my good friend S

So Wendy, there you have what I remember best from the noughties. Be sure to take a few minutes from holiday preparations this week to check out the noughties lists of other Fun Monday participants.

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Special note: I will be hosting Fun Monday on December 21. The topic will be "I've Got Mail--Holiday Mail." One of the best traditions of this holiday season is the sending and receiving of cards, family newletters. and photos from family and friends. I'd like you to share the favorites you've received so far this year: Best All Around Card? Most Meaningful Message? Best Kid Photo? Best Family Newsletter? Most Insincere/Humorous Card? Also, how do you display your cards for all to enjoy?

If you want to play on the 21st just sign up in the comments. I'll put up an updated announcement later this week. Also, do we want to take a break on December 28th and have January 4 be the next Fun Monday date? Your thoughts?

10 comments:

Jan n Jer said...

You have been busy these past ten years...You lead a very interesting life Faye. I have never heard this term..The Noughties. Just realizing we have a FM host. Better get on over and sign up.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

You've certainly made the most of the past ten years and experienced so many things. I can't believe the noughties are nearly over, talk about blink and you miss it.

Gattina said...

I see you also like to travel ! and isn't it nice to be retired ? I had some difficulties at the beginning but since I am blogging I have such a lot to do, lol !
Your topic for next week will be very difficult for me, because I don't like all this card sending and stuff. But count me in, I still get cards and have to answer !

Gattina said...

Concerning Dec 28, why stop ? there are probably still some participants and those who don't want, just leave it. If there is nobody else I can do it, something easy. Let me know what the others think. (per email please, I never come back to a blog once I have commented)

Jill said...

I agree with gattina, let those who want to play, play.

You have been very busy. And I guess I'll play, I've only gotten 2 cards myself. Sad.

Sayre said...

You are much more organized than I am. I know I've had an interesting decade, but I can't really tell you when anything actually happened. I know I went to England/Wales for a couple of weeks, but I don't remember when it was (5 years ago? 7?). That's part of the reason I do this blog - so I can get a handle on what's been going on in my life!

Sayre said...

I'll play on the 28th.. and next week too. Although I have to admit, sadly, that so far I've only gotten one Christmas card. Of course, I haven't sent any out for a number of years - December is such a busy time!

Living Life said...

You are so lucky to have traveled all those places, Faye. You seem very content and at a happy place in your life :0)

I would love to play next week's Fun Monday! Please include me. I have not played in a while.

Jan n Jer said...

Faye, sign me up for the 21st FM...I have only gotten a few cards so far...hoping something interesting comes in soon. Seems folks are waiting until much later to mail their cards.

Lane Mathias said...

I can't believe the noughties are almost over either. I didn't even realize they were called noughties until recently:-)

You've had a very productive decade. Isn't it satisfying to see it all listed like that? Sadly my decade doesn't have anything exciting on it. I'm saving that for the next decade. And I wonder what will call it? The tenties?