What is Your Favorite Year?

So tonight at bedtime Emma asked me what my favorite year has been...since I "have been around for so many years now"...thanks for that hidden dig at my old age, kiddo! I stood there while she brushed her teeth and did the usual bedtime routine...and I really truly thought about it. I didn't want to just give some random answer and speed up the process of getting her tucked in. I know she likes to prolong that time of night as much as possible...what kid doesn't really? So, I stood there thinking it over...there were so many different answers I could give really. I have many fond memories of when I was 5 years old...in kindergarten. I learned to read in that little kindergarten room, made my first best friend Mandy, and enjoyed having the teacher put a small dab of pink lipstick on the end of our noses around Christmas time while we all sang and danced to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." So, I would say 1982 was a pretty sweet year for all of those reasons for sure. I also was a big fan of 2nd grade...mainly because of the teacher I had...Mrs. Gemig. She was one of those truly special teachers out there in the world...teaching her students all that she can as well as making them feel good about themselves. She gave me confidence, she boosted my self-esteem every time she told me that I was a special little girl, she gave me a hug and dried my tears when I had fallen on the playground and got hurt...she was a Mom figure to me every school day and I decided that year that I wanted to be a teacher just like her when I grew up. I had many good years as a kid...amazing teachers, wonderful friends, good times and good memories. I didn't want to choose just one year though to tell her. I thought about the most significant times in my life as I got older...getting my license, first job, taking a trip to France and getting to see Notre Dame cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa in real life with my own two eyes, Jim Morrison's final resting place, and the beautiful and breathtaking Medeterranean....yes 1994 was definitely a good year. I thought about going to University, moving away to live on the west coast in Oregon, meeting some of the most incredible people out there who are now like my 2nd family. I thought about the random chance meeting of my now husband, traveling to visit him, falling in love with him, and marrying him...yes 2002 was one of my favorites for sure. How was I to pick just one year to tell her? Impossible. Then my thoughts turned to her...the moment I found out I was pregnant, the first time I felt her kick inside my belly, the first time I heard her heartbeat, actually giving birth to her and looking at her beautiful face for the first time ever. Yes 2004 is at the top of the list for sure. All of the little moments though along the way stopped me from saying 2004 to her...I thought of her first steps, first words, first day at school, when she learned to read, hearing her laugh, taking her to her first concert, watching her grow up before my eyes...I couldn't choose one year.
So, I told her that 2004 is definitely at the top of my list because that is when she came into my life and I fell in love with her. I also told her that I believe that there are a million things that have happened in my life though that have made many years great.
Then she asked me what my least favorite year was. In as much time as it took me to blink...I answered 2008. She looked up at me and said, "Mine too Mommy".....because that is the year diabetes moved into our lives.
When I asked her what her favorite year was, she replied with, "Well, I know it's only the 1st day...but I think this year is Mommy! I just feel good about it and I feel good about turning 8."
...and with that...she was off to bed.