Flashbacks

One Summer when I was about 16, I found myself at a drug and alcohol rehab facility in southwest Colorado. I had voluntarily joined a team to help rehab the rehab. I can't remember much about my stay there, but bits and pieces of it come back to me every now and then (mainly in times of duress and anxiety). I remember taking cool pictures of the trip (with a 35mm film camera), getting up close and personal to odd looking beetles and the golden hour over a small canyon in New Mexico. Not all the memories send disgusted shivers down my spine. But admittedly, there is tangible evidence of the violence I committed to a closet wall at this rehab facility. Who can blame me? The wallpaper was hideous, all 3 different layers of it dating back to the 1970's, at least. I had debated whether it would be easier knocking down the walls and building up new ones as opposed to tearing down the wallpaper and painting the existing. But our leaders didn't think it would be wise to allow teenagers to engage in demolition. So instead I took out huge chunks of drywall and learned the art of spackling (that'll teach 'em).

Fast forward to the Summer of 2016 - the day we toured this house. The kitchen nook was covered in dark wallpaper and though I knew this house felt like it was meant to be our new home, I knew that one of the very first projects to be done was remove the wallpaper. Oh how I detested the thought of that monstrous job. But even though the wallpaper looked classy and nice, it wasn't me. And I needed to make this new home my home.

The start of 2018 has just begun and its Gung Ho time. With the energy of the new year, while hope is still fresh and dreams are still vivid, we started the process of taking down the wallpaper. Some people make New Year's resolutions (Wait, really? Does anybody make New Year's resolutions anymore? Haven't we learned our lesson yet?), we Stumps resolve to lighten and brighten our kitchen (while Tiny presides as project manager). And guess what? That means more walls to hang pictures. I can't wait! #keepingmyeyeontheprize

What are your projects this year? I'd love to hear and be inspired by them. You go girl! (or guy!)