As many of you know, last year was one of the most stressful of my life.  Being a single mom* to a preschooler and working full time is enough for anyone.  Two weddings, five near-death experiences and alleged crimes too horrible to discuss...well, even with the good times, it made 2009 the Worst Year Ever.

Here are just a few of the events of 2009, both happy and sad, but all stressful.  They may not have all happened to me personally, but they took an emotional toll just the same.

• I almost lost my little sister at age 33.  If she had delayed going to the hospital by even an hour, she may not be here today.  My sister and I are only 15 months apart.  She is my best friend and confidant on almost everything.  Losing her would be losing a part of myself.  She also has a beautiful (and brilliant!) little girl and wife that need her.
  
  She called me on the way to the hospital, crying.  I was at was at work, about to host a webinar with about 600 people registered.  I was seconds away from turning off my phone to begin.  I could tell from the panic in her voice that this was serious.  My face must have been white and I was shaking a bit, but I was determined to get through the 30 minute podcast.  Luckily, the presenter and my coworker insisted on me going to my family.
  
  She literally screamed in pain in the ER, no amount of narcotics would help.  She was transported to a major hospital and operated on immediately.  I watched her daughter so her wife could be by her side.  Laughing and playing with two small children while my sisters life was hanging by a thread was agonizing. 

As I write this, I feel the stress anew, my blood pressure rising and the pain and tension in my back and neck forcing me to take a break...more to come...

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* I got married at the end of 2009, so I am no longer a single mom.