2009 – A Personal Retrospective

There is no doubt that for me, this will always be the Year of Buckley’s Story – I began writing in January, the book was published in October, and the rest of the year has been a whirlwind of book events, signings, reviews, and of settling into my new role of “published author.”  It’s been a year filled with dreams coming true, joy, elation, and celebration.   So in writing this “year in review” post, I actually had to go back to my calendar to look for other highlights during this absolutely amazing, wonderful year.

January/February: I began writing Buckley’s Story on January 5.  The rest of the month was the beginning of trying to find a schedule that gave  me uninterrupted chunks of time to write while still being able to keep up with seeing my Reiki clients.  By the end of the month, I had settled into somewhat of a routine.  I found that I needed at least a couple of hours of uninterrupted time to write, so I learned to schedule other appointments in chunks rather than fragmented throughout the day.  I also became more efficient at grouping errands and outings together.

March: After months of thinking about it, I started The Conscious Cat. Rather than continuing to mull over a concept without being clear on what I wanted it to be, I just started blogging.  It quickly evolved into a successful blog about consciously creating a happy and healthy life for pets and their people, with, of course, a focus on cats.   In March, I also began a two-month coaching program with Cheryl Harris of Conscious Creations.   When I went to see Cheryl, I felt like I was on the verge of really allowing myself to soar, both personally and professionally, but some long held patterns of avoiding risk and not taking chances were still holding me back.  The work I did with Cheryl gave me the nudge I needed to allow myself to soar.

April: I decided to explore a different aspect of my creative side and hosted a beading workshop for a group of friends.  Deborah Joy, the founder of Spiritbeads, facilitated the workshop for us.  Spiritbeads enables you to translate your intentions into beautiful strands of beads, serving as visual and tactile reminders of your intentions, the actions and energy surrounding those intentions, and the context you hold while carrying those intentions.   The workshop turned into a lovely afternoon of friendship, beading, and personal exploration.

May: May was a landmark month for sure – at the end of the month, I turned in the final manuscript for Buckley’s Story to my publisher.  I don’t have kids, but it sure felt like I was sending my baby out into the world!  May also brought my birthday and the usual celebrations that always stretch over a period of at least several days, sometimes weeks.  I’m so fortunate to have so many wonderful friends who all want to celebrate with me.

June/July: I had a wonderful summer, taking full advantage of the fact that my schedule is my own, and I spent as much time as I could outside, either on my deck, or walking, or meeting friends for lunches and dinners at the many great restaurants in my area, most of them with lovely outdoor seating areas.  To me, there’s nothing better than a summer day spent in the company of good friends, eating a lovely meal outside.

August: I went to visit a friend in New York City for a much needed get-away.  I love my favorite city any time of the year, and this vist was no exception.  In August, I also began scouting out locations for my Buckley’s Story launch party.  I had never thrown myself a party before, but I wanted to celebrate the publication of my first book in style, so I began meeting with catering managers at various local venues.

September: I shared a booth with Renee Austin of Whimsy Cats at the National Capital Cat Show.  Even though Buckley’s Story wasn’t out yet, the cat show provided a wonderful opportunity to create buzz for the book, and the interest it received was overwhelming.  Also in September, I was a sponsor at Beau’s Walk, an annual event designed to raise funds for animal cancer research.  And I went to see U2 ‘s 360° Degree Tour at Fed Ex Field.  What an incredible experience!

October: October 9 marked the official release date for Buckley’s Story. It was also Buckley’s birthday, which made the date even more significant.  My first book related event took  place the next day at Casey’s House, the private rescue group where Buckley came from.  Altogether a wonderful start to the book’s amazing journey.  October also brought another rock and roll adventure – I went to see KISS on their KISS ALIVE 35 Tour from my second row seat at Verizon Center.  Yes, they’re still rocking, and the show is still absolutely phenomenal.

November: November 8 was the date for the Buckley’s Story launch party - and I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful celebration.    November also brought a series of book talks and signings, and I had a wonderful time meeting readers and talking about my book.  I had an amazing time at my my first writers’ conference the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Cat Writers Association conference.  November 28 marked the first anniversary of  Buckley’s passing, and it made for a quiet Thanksgiving weekend spent remembering my little cat and being grateful for all she brought into my life.

December: December turned into a month of music, starting with my annual favorite rock show, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I went to see them in DC and Baltimore and as always, it was a fantastic experience.   I also got to see my friends’ band ZO2 at Jaxx one more time this year after two previous show ealier in the year.  I love going to their shows and I help them out by selling merchandise for them – it makes me feel like I’m a part of the music scene for an evening.  December also brought a series of lovely Christmas celebrations with friends.

Wow – it has been a full year!  I’m almost a little sad to see it go, it has been such an incredible year.  But I’m looking forward to 2010 – I cant wait to see what it has in store for me!

Happy New Year, everyone!