Next to the dark, there's always the light.

2023.

It’s going to be a good one. I can feel it in my bones.

Although, admittedly, I’m on the couch with a thrown-out back after an 8.5 mile hike with Jack yesterday, where my weak ankle gave out not once, but twice, causing my body to contort and catch itself. The ankle escaped a sprain. But, my back took one for the team.

Anyways.

Every New Year's Eve, I take stock in the past year, and I’m always amazed at how much life happens in the course of a year. I’m not sure anyone ever looks back and thinks, “Man, this was a GREAT year.” If you are one that can say that, CONGRATULATIONS. My experience looks much different. Hard things. Easy things. Changes. Surprises. Disappointments. All of it. And, the fact that we still trudge forward, a little wind-whipped and scraped up, to cheer on a new year with all the hope and intentions of the most optimistic of humankind, is truly what makes us remarkable. We are the magic. Not the new year.

So, without further a'do, 2022 brought us … well, let’s start with Brady:

An hematoma at Brady’s surgical site. ER trip. #1.
A hematoma-turned-absess-turned blood infection for Brady. ER trip #2. Hospital stay #1.
A recurrent infection, not-healed abscess. ER trip #3.
Abscess-related infection. ER trip #4 and hospital stay #2.
Continued abscess issues. ER trip #5.
Every antibiotic under the sun and a second opinion at Emory.
Healing of the abscess after a new antibiotic cocktail and another set of drains.
Illiostomy reversal. Hospital stay #3.
Bowel blockage. Ambulance trip #1. ER trip #6. Hospital stay #4.
Bowel blockage again. ER trip #7. Hospital stay #5.
Slow and steady healing.
Several CT scans. No evidence of cancer.

In between all that, 2022 also brought us:

Two visits from Chase Girl Andrea.
A surprise visit from Chase Girls Andrea and Dawn.
A visit from Chase Girl Jess.
A visit from the ALL of the Chase Girls: Andrea, Dawn and Jess. TOGETHER at last!
A visit from Grace and Kate, which did more to boost Brady than any medicine could.
A surprise visit from Jack's buddies, Carter, Kendall and Max.
A visit from Jack’s buddy Carter and mom Michell.
A visit from Brady's dad and his two brothers. All the Miller boys together for the first time in two and a half years.
A lost wedding ring. (Eeek. I’m finally admitting this to the universe.)
Jack taking third in DECA’s state competition for public speaking, which qualified Jack to go to the International DECA Leadership Conference.
Jack’s first homecoming.
A visit from my sister. First time we've been together since pre-Covid!
Three long stays from my dad.
Three Biltmore visits.
Countless Greenville visits.
Countless Charleston visits.
Countless tennis tournaments for Jack.
A new weekend tradition of bonfires and good wine.
A day trip to Hilton Head to see my friend Julie and her family.
A day trip to Charleston to see my friend Kasey and her family.
A day visit from my friend Jen and her mom, Sue.
A visit from my friend Scott and his wife, Shonda, who also came and worked with our team at WCTEL.
A hike at Keowee-Toxaway State Park.
A hike at Harbison State Forest.
Turkey trot with Jack and my sister.
Golf cart parade and 4th of July fireworks with the neighborhood.
Our annual Halloween street event for all of Saluda River Club.
The best smoked brisket and burnt ends we’ve ever made.
A trip to the Charleston Open, which was amazing!
A trip to the Citi Open and D.C. weekend whirlwind with Jack.
An organized pantry. If you know me, you know this is a pretty big deal.
A new job! (WCTEL, I’m looking at you.)
My first colonoscopy and endoscopy. (It wasn't that bad!)
Attendance at Miss South Carolina. (Daja, I’m looking at you. Thanks for the best night!)

I could keep going, but I think my point is made. In between the hard and the harder, magic and mundane happened all at once. I don’t harbor any bad will toward 2022, because it brought us healing and a future for Brady, warm memories, new perspective and stronger versions of us all.

Jack and I started out 2023 with a long hike, where we both promised each other and ourselves that we’re going to chase fun in 2023. Concerts, more hikes, more time outside, more tennis tournaments for Jack, more weekend trips, more risks, and maybe even a Disney race.

I scoff a little at that last one, because right now, I would be happy to walk around the block. And, while I could rail on myself for being old and throwing my back out after a long hike with my 17-year-old fit son, I’m pushing that jerk voice away. Instead, I know this: I had a fantastic day yesterday with a hell of a workout in nature. I was up all night with Dermot who had diarrhea. (Sorry for that visual, but I need you to feel my pain.) Today, I definitely hurt. My attic is now organized thanks to teamwork between Brady and me. I have a good dinner planned with my guys. I have two dogs sleeping next to me while I write. I go back to work tomorrow, to a job that excites and challenges me. I work with REALLY good people. Brady is fixing the golf cart, and it is awesome to see him up and at it. And ... my new ring arrives Thursday. It took me months to decide what to do, in addition to a self-imposed penance of wearing a silicone ring since June. Fortunately for insurance, I was able to replace it. (Big thanks to Marrow Fine for helping me create it.) The next ring looks entirely different than the original. It has white diamonds and black diamonds. The bright and the dark living right next to each other, creating a beautifully imperfect, asymmetrical ring stack.

And that’s just how I want it. Next to the darkness is always the light.

Let’s do this, 2023.