Library and Other Dreams

For most of my adult life I had dreamed of having a library in my house. Several years ago, I bought a bunch of $39 Dania white bookshelves and had a library/computer room. At one point I even tried rope lights on the back of the shelves for accent lighting, but it never looked the way I dreamed of. Then in late 2006 I got promoted to supervisor at work and joined the Headhunters gym. The pay increase and confidence boost has changed my life in so many ways it's hard to imagine the way things were. One change I can see is the library room my daughter designed and made for me with Ikea shelving and accent lights. She also designed and put together a spectacular Vineman Ironman themed dining room. I've completed three full ironmans and five half-ironmans since 2006. Before joining the gym I had never run more then 8.5 miles and my knees and ankle hurt so much I thought I never would go more. Now 8 miles is a normal maintenance run during the off-season.
In 2010 I went back to see the Phillies at Citizen's Bank Park with my son and then went to New York City and Gettysburg with my son. A huge fantasy come true, one I would have prefaced with "someday if I win the lottery", just a few years ago. This year I played the Banff golf course, another fantasy from years back.
So as another year winds down, I'm very thankful for where I am and who I've become and how my kids turned out and here's to more fantasies coming true next year!