2016 is Coming to an End - What will 2017 Be Like?
@DeborahDiane (40294)
Laguna Woods, California
December 28, 2016 12:09am CST
How has 2016 been for you?
For our family, as for many, it has had it's ups and downs.
Our children and grandchildren have all had a good year with no surprise illnesses or trips to the hospital. With four adult daughters, their husbands, and seven active grandchildren, that means this was an exceptional year! 
On the other hand, my husband continues to have a number of health challenges. In addition to his Stage 4 kidney disease, he also has developed the beginning of a blood cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), which is a type of pre-leukemia. It is treatable, but not curable. However, through it all, he has been able to do quite a bit and remain active. In fact, he continues to work as a stock analyst and financial planner. For that, I am grateful.
Personally, I'm doing well, keeping busy and enjoying life. I continue to maintain my blog baby-boomer-retirement. com and now I am writing a retirement book to accompany my blog. I am enjoying my writing.
As for our family, our biggest disappointment in 2016 was the presidential election. However, we will survive, I hope, as long as our new president does not get us involved in a war or ruin our retirement plans. One of my daughters is attending the Women's March in Washington, DC and I am sure there will be more political activism in our family in the coming year. I'm proud of our daughters.
As for 2017, I always hope for the best at the beginning of the year. I pray that everyone in our family continues to maintain their health the best they can and that they are all able to pursue their interests and hobbies. I look forward to continuing to volunteer at the homeless shelter and participate in activities in our community and church.
How was 2016 for you? What do you expect from 2017? I would love to hear how everyone is doing.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
On the other hand, my husband continues to have a number of health challenges. In addition to his Stage 4 kidney disease, he also has developed the beginning of a blood cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), which is a type of pre-leukemia. It is treatable, but not curable. However, through it all, he has been able to do quite a bit and remain active. In fact, he continues to work as a stock analyst and financial planner. For that, I am grateful.
Personally, I'm doing well, keeping busy and enjoying life. I continue to maintain my blog baby-boomer-retirement. com and now I am writing a retirement book to accompany my blog. I am enjoying my writing.
As for our family, our biggest disappointment in 2016 was the presidential election. However, we will survive, I hope, as long as our new president does not get us involved in a war or ruin our retirement plans. One of my daughters is attending the Women's March in Washington, DC and I am sure there will be more political activism in our family in the coming year. I'm proud of our daughters.
As for 2017, I always hope for the best at the beginning of the year. I pray that everyone in our family continues to maintain their health the best they can and that they are all able to pursue their interests and hobbies. I look forward to continuing to volunteer at the homeless shelter and participate in activities in our community and church.
How was 2016 for you? What do you expect from 2017? I would love to hear how everyone is doing.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!15 people like this
17 responses
@JudyEv (340200)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Dec 16
We have had a good year with no major mishaps and only a few very minor ones. We hope your health holds a bit longer. We now have a sister-in-law with an incurable cancer although hopefully it can be held at bay for quite a while longer. And my sister has had a series of mini-strokes but has come through remarkably well. We're looking forward to 2017 and hope we'll be able to visit our son in Ireland at some stage.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@JudyEv - I suppose at our age it is not unusual for us to have friends, family and other people we know who have cancer and other serious illnesses. I hope you do get to take that trip to Ireland. I always enjoy your photos when you travel!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
29 Dec 16
@DeborahDiane Thank you Deborah, I hope that the new year will be good for you and your family too.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@LadyDuck - I hope next year is good for my friends, family and people around the world ... including you and your loved ones.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@lyanhnan - I hope you have a wonderful 2017.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
The year was a good one for us, we are all well and happy. Getting old is not a happy thing with aching bones and I need a knee replacement that will come in 2017. I am very afraid for the US with an idiot as a president. Every day he says something stupid and I scratch my head wondering how in the world voted for him...and Russia... I hope he is impeached before he causes world war three.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
@DeborahDiane this knee will be number two. I was in therapy for 4 months after the first one (6 years ago) and was amazed by the number of people who didn't do the therapy and never got their mobility back. You can bet I'll be in therapy. Putin is going to make him a bigger idiot and that scares me too...
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate - Good for you for doing the therapy. I have also been amazed by the people who don't do the therapy and never get their mobility back. Such a shame. As for Trump, I agree that he is in danger of being made a fool of by Putin! Scary.
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate - Good luck with your knee replacement. I have had several friends who have had that done and been very happy with the results. They say it is very important to do all the physical therapy, because it heals better. I agree that we have elected an idiot for president and I also hope he gets impeached before he can do too much damage. He scares me.
1 person likes this
@AutumnSnow (4583)
•
28 Dec 16
It's had it's good and bad for us as well. I am hoping that 2017 will be a much better one especially after we get moved. I wish you a very Happy New Year.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@AutumnSnow - I wish you a very Happy New Year, too. I hope it is a good one for you and your family.
1 person likes this
@ms1864 (6885)
• Bangalore, India
28 Dec 16
Sorry to hear about your husbands health issues...hope he can mange them without too much pain ...
2016 has been good to me for the most part....it was busier than i expected it to be...which was a good thing. I liked this year...hope 2017 will be good to me too.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@ms1864 - You are starting off 2017 with a great attitude. I hope it is a good year for you, too.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
31 Dec 16
We had a good year, no major upheavals, health stable with lots of new exercises involved. All the kids are doing well, grandkids well and a new great grandson. All in all, it was a keeper.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jan 17
@BelleStarr - I'm glad to hear that you and your family are doing well. Nearly everyone, other than my husband, are doing well in our family, too.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
30 Dec 16
Happy New Year to you too Deborah. Like you, my main concern this year has been my husband's health which continues to deteriorate. This will obviously be my main concern next year too, but I hope we can continue to take our regular trips abroad. His mind is still sharp which is a great blessing, and we still have fun.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
31 Dec 16
@DeborahDiane And a Happy New Year to you and yours too
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 16
@jaboUK - My husband still has a sharp mind and we still have fun. Like you, my husband's health will continue to be a worry in the future, but all we can do is take care of them the best we can. Happy New Year to you and your husband!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
28 Dec 16
wonderful that'cher family's been able to avoid the hospitals this past year, hon. i'm greatly saddened to hear 'f yer hubs mds :( though i know that the utmost care'll be taken to treat this, he's been through so much.
2016 brought losses to our family once more. been a roller-coaster year 'n i've great hopes that thingies settle down considerably. what do i 'xpect from 2017? nothin' more'n wakin' each morn :)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx - Just hoping things settle down and we all wake up each morning is a good plan. I hope we all have the same experience.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82789)
• United States
31 Dec 16
My year had more downs than ups and I'm looking forward to the new year. Sorry to hear about your husband
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jan 17
@Marilynda1225 - Thank you for your concern about my husband. We are hoping that he continues to stay as he is for a while, and not decline further. I hope that 2017 is better for you ... and for us.
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Dec 16
2016 has been a good year in some ways, but I have been quite disturbed about the election of a man who knows so little about so many things involved in the job he takes in a few weeks. Personally, our health has been good overall, though Anne's pain levels come and go with her fibromyalgia problems. I am still prescription free and working part-time at a store that supplies bird lovers with seed and bird feeders.
My daughter is doing well on a job she took earlier in the year, got a nice bonus and even bought a house in Portland.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jan 17
@JamesHxstatic - Happy New Year to you and Anne, too!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 16
@JamesHxstatic - Overall, it sounds like everything has gone well for your and your family. Everyone in our family is also concerned about Trump and what he might do in the coming years. Just the thought makes me shudder. I hope things continue to go well for you and Anne, generally. Like you, I'm in pretty good health and hope things stay that way.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@DianneN - Yes, let's all hope for a healthy, happy, safe and prosperous New Year. My husband was depressed about his diagnosis, at first, but he is doing better now. We are hoping that he has several more good years left.
1 person likes this
@The_Bong_Woman (850)
•
28 Dec 16
2016 has been for me, what I can call, a free roller coaster ride. I have had one of the biggest awakening of my life at the time when the year is about to sleep and a new one is just looming on the horizon. I too am looking forward to have a fantastic year ahead. I hope 2017 brings a ton of happiness for you all!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
Wonderful attitude. I hope you have a fantastic 2017.
1 person likes this
@The_Bong_Woman (850)
•
29 Dec 16
@DeborahDiane Thank you and I hope so for you too!
1 person likes this
@mymoneycottage (47)
• United Kingdom
28 Dec 16
2016 was a difficult year for us due to illness, I guess I'll probably write about at some point over the next few weeks as it's still ongoing. I hope your husband continues to feel well and is able to continue with his life in as normal a way as possible.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@mymoneycottage - Every day is a new beginning, and sometimes the days bring us surprises. I hope my husband continues to do well. I also hope that the illness in your life improves soon.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46962)
• India
28 Dec 16
Well, the beginning of 2016 until the middle was good for family as well as in terms of money. However, health issues in family have caused some stress as well as hit us financially. Currently we are not very optimistic, but perhaps 2017 will see us overcoming the problems.
Have a great day ahead.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
28 Dec 16
20016 was a yer of changes. (I think that's every year). Everyone has been healthy. My husband and I made several trips south and I travelled to Wisconsin. 2017 promises to bank th busy year.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt - I hope everyone remains healthy in your family and you have a wonderful 2017.
1 person likes this
@nosleee3134 (214)
• United States
28 Dec 16
happy new year may you and your folks keep doin good. All i can say for that 2017 comin up
is juz to put a lil bit more faith in trump ya know plus its not like we got any other choice now. maybe bein a lil bit more nicer would help cause i hear he doesnt completly like everybodi and if i voted i would be only moderatly liberal independent leaning democrat so ya enough said have happy holidays
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 16
@nosleee3134 - Yes, I am trying to be optimistic about Trump but, with some of the extreme things he keeps Tweeting out, he makes it hard to like him. But, as you say, we have no other choice.
