Here’s to… right now

As yet another year has gone by and we’re still beginning the new year, I can’t help but reflect on the previous 12 months and start hoping for the year ahead to go as planned. 2011 is a year that began, for me, with a string of rotten luck; my car was stolen, my purse was stolen not long after, my new car got damaged in a car wash the week after I brought it home, then it was damaged again on the interstate when some road debris hit my car during a crazy wind storm. I seriously started fearing for my life and was certain that I had pissed someone off so much that they had placed a curse on me. With the change of the season, from Spring to Summer, my luck changed. My long-distance relationship with Troy took an advance in an unexpected direction. While on a hike, during one of his visits to Colorado, he stopped me just as we were coming to a breathtaking view, he dropped to a knee, presented a gorgeous ring and asked me to spend the rest of his life with him. I of course said “yes” as he attempted to place the ring on my finger… but at 9,000 ft my fingers were a bit swollen and the ring wouldn’t pass my knuckle. It ended up being just the right size once we returned to the car. [Troy’s favorite part of this story is that we had no cellular service for the entire trip so I was unable to make any phone calls to my friends or family to share the news. He was able to enjoy my excitement all to himself for two hours.] In the Fall, things got even better as I was transferred to San Angelo, TX to become an Intelligence student at Goodfellow AFB. Although still long-distance, Troy and I are able to spend every weekend together since I am only 3 hours away. And just when I couldn’t expect it to get any better, I got an assignment to Lackland AFB. Yes, it’s true I am not a big fan of Texas, but it was really important for Troy to stay close to his children and he already has a really good job. There are also several opportunities for me in San Antonio once I retire (4 years.) Florida or Georgia would have been great too but Texas was best for everyone. This year holds several thrilling adventures (and expenses) for Troy and I. We have started building our home in San Antonio, with completion expected in early Spring. The “big day” will also be this Summer, along with a much anticipated honeymoon. So, a great year behind us and another one ahead of us, I am thankful for where I am right now. I have a wonderful fiancé, an awesome job, great friends, and a loving family. I can definitely say that I am one happy gal.