At the beginning of this year I was not shy about saying how excited I was for the Roaring 2020s. LOL. Pandemic! Cancer! Being in the same space as my husband, child, and mother-in-law 24/7 for 10 months! It.was.a.lot.

Shockingly however, there were some bright spots. I have had two major personal crises in my life: a steep anxiety spiral a few years ago, and breast cancer this year. What I learned from both is that even when things are horrible and unbearable, I will still find things that bring me joy and things that make me laugh. Here is a list of those things from this year.

May we all have a peaceful 2021.

Books

Wife After Wife - Henry VIII story set in modern times!

The Giver of Stars - Cowboy librarian ladies!

Creatures of Will and Temper - A very weird Victorian book with demons!

Magic Lessons - Prequel to Practical Magic!

Anna of Kleve - Anne of Cleves was not so boring after all!

The Duke and I - The book Bridgerton was based on!

Terrible Angel - I don’t even know how to describe this but its a novel about Michael Collins with lots of fun things if you are either Irish heritage or from New York, I am both!

Blood Water Paint - A novel in verse on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi!

Movies & TV

Uncut Gems - Very stressful! 8/10 would watch again but need beta blockers.

Extra Ordinary - This is a weird little Irish film about a lonely woman who has a talent for sending spirits to the afterlife. It is a horror that is very funny and very sweet. It’s an eccentric movie and I loved it. It was also the last movie I saw in the before times (before cancer).

Palm Springs - I have had a crush on Andy Samberg forever and this movie did not disappoint. It’s like hipster Groundhog Day. Another very funny, very sweet, kind of makes you reflect on your life kind of movie.

Soul - Cancer made me do a lot of life reflecting this year apparently! I don’t know what to say about this movie, I was crying (in a good way) the entire time. This came out on Christmas day just three weeks after my surgery to rid me of the cancer (after having done 5 months of chemotherapy). The animation was beautiful. My 7 year old did not get it at all and was taken with the cat. Fun for the whole family!

Bridgerton - Sexy Regency Romance!

The Queen’s Gambit - Sexy chess!

The Crown Season 4 - DID DIANA GET A MOMENT’S HAPPINESS?!

The Great - Sexy Russia!

Games & Activities

Animal Crossing - Ugh the pandemic game me an Animal Crossing routine. I check turnip prices twice a day and provide the general upkeep of our island. Kabuki is my best friend. He is old and grumpy. My husband only visits the island once a week to sell his turnips and my daughter just leaves shit everywhere. I need my own island.

Paint Gem - This is paint by numbers where you stick little “gems” to your sheet to create a picture. Soothing.

Antiquarian Sticker Book - A friend got this for me to take to chemo! It’s filled with Victorian era illustrations as stickers.

Artifact Puzzles - I am not a puzzle person. They are difficult for me. My husband however, loves them. This brand makes truly interesting puzzles based on classic and contemporary art. Their puzzles have unconventional shapes and designs. Maybe one day I too can be a puzzler!

New to me people I enjoyed learning about:

Artemisia Gentileschi - Baroque era painter who brought the man who wronged her to his knees.

Sarah Winnemucca - Native activist and author.

Charles VII - The King who was made of glass.

Dr. James Miranda Barry - Born Margaret Ann Bulkley, died Dr. James Miranda Barry. What a life in between.

2021 can’t get much worse right?!