"You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself."
Another year has come and gone, and here I am—mid-January already. Christmas was spent with family, as always. The holidays tend to be chaotic, rushing back and forth across town to visit everyone. 2024 was truly a memorable year for me! So many milestones to reflect on: I turned 40. I participated in two amateur horse shows. I earned my motorcycle endorsement. (I conquered the Twisted Sisters route on my motorcycle!) My brother bought a new house (so proud of him—just waiting for a new sister-in-law now!). I celebrated my 10-year wedding anniversary. And I hit my 2-year mark with my company. It’s been a year of highs and some lows, but I think the highs outweighed the lows—or maybe I just blocked the lows out entirely (I do have a knack for that, haha!). While my memory isn’t quite where I wish it was, I’ve been making an effort to shake things up and challenge myself with new activities. It feels good to break out of the routine and keep my mind sharp. I’ve started gaming recent...