It Has Been A Year Of Many Highs And Lows

This year has been a long one. I have had some up and several downs. I haven't posted as much on my blog as I used to. I am not sure exactly why but its not like I don't have anything to write about because I do. I just don't seem to have the motivation to sit down and start writing.
A few minutes ago I decided that I would force myself to sit down and briefly write about my year so far.
So far this year I have had my left hand and left knee operated on.
I had more medical issues with my mouth and tongue.
Our favorite next door neighbors moved but not before their dog...Lucy...passed away. I loved that dog like it was my own and we miss our neighbors.
We were told that our place will be sold, so we will have to find another place by Aug 2015.
While trimming a palm tree/bush...one of the fronds poked me in the eye cause my eye to bleed. This was a first for me and not something I want to experience again.
I won a 1st place blue ribbon of excellence for entering my very first art piece in a local art show/contest. And I received a check for $250 for winning .
Keeping up on doing my walks and workouts was difficult due to numerous nagging injuries.
I got a new camera from Veronica...a Sony RX10. This camera stepped up my photography game a few notches.
I joined Fine Arts America to show and hopefully sell prints of a couple of my photographs.
Opened an online Photograph Store through FAA.. Richard (Rick) Rosenshein Photography.
One of my photos was published in the October Halloween Special Edition of Eye On Fine Art Photography magazine.
My Mother had a major stroke on Oct 4th and remained hospitalized until her passing. We buried my Mother yesterday 10/12/14. The last 2 weeks or so have been very long and stressful.
Veronica and I will be packing up our suitcases over the next couple of days. We will be heading out to Paris, France on the 22nd.
I will be doing a brief daily journal while we make our way around Paris. I will also be sharing that journal and the photographs that I take while in Paris.
Hopefully the rest of the year will not be so bumpy of a ride.