Because at this point it’s a tradition: time for another annual recap.

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?
* We got a dog!
* I hosted both girls’ birthday parties at our house, and realized it’s not as daunting a task as I thought it would be.
* I took the girls on a plane trip by myself.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I do have a goal this year: to not have a complete meltdown about turning 40 later this month.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Lots of my Twitter friends had babies. No one in my family or immediate circle of friends, though.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?
We never left the U.S., but we took trips all over North Carolina (Charlotte, the beach, etc.), we went to Atlanta for my cousin’s wedding, and we flew to Austin to visit my sister and brother-in-law.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
My answer last year still applies: Less clutter in my life. The physical clutter is an ongoing process – I’ve been cleaning things out gradually for a while: had a yard sale, gave a lot to Goodwill, etc. I would also like less mental clutter that bogs me down with useless, unproductive thoughts.

7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
* March 28th: my cousin Cici’s wedding in Atlanta. It also happened to be my dad’s birthday. After the reception, when everyone was milling around on the porch of this gorgeous antebellum mansion and getting ready to leave, a bunch of us sang happy birthday to my dad. It occurred to me that I didn’t know the last time my dad had all three of his kids with him on his birthday. It was probably sometime in the late 1980s.
* December 28th: we adopted Roxie.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I ran a half-marathon! And I didn’t die!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I haven’t talked about it much, but I had a pretty intense meltdown during the summer, and I was just… not good for a while. Like, I wouldn’t have blamed Chris if he’d broken up with me then, because I was just that difficult to live with. There are friends I’ve had since I was a kid who I’m pretty sure I’ve permanently alienated. I was a bad girlfriend, bad mom, bad friend, bad daughter, etc. I know I don’t have control over my brain chemistry, so that part isn’t really a failure, but it took me way too long to admit I needed help and seek it. I’ve been better the last few months, so you know. Upward and onward and all that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A lot of basic colds and things, but thankfully we all managed to avoid ER visits in 2015, so we’ll call that a win.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Roxie.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Catie, who has overcome so many of her fears and hang-ups this year, and made tremendous progress on a whole wide range of things. (I mean, Lucy is awesome and I’m not discounting her at all, but there are a lot more struggles at nearly-9 than there are at 4.)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The entire Republican presidential field.

14. Where did most of your money go?
It just occurred to me this is the last year that “daycare” will qualify as one of my answers here, since Lucy starts kindergarten in July. WOOT!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” I think I was more excited about Star Wars than I was about Christmas.

16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
The entire Taylor Swift “1989” album.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Overall sadder, but working my way out of that.
b) thinner or fatter? Same. (I’m not complaining.)
c) richer or poorer? Richer, since I got a raise in October.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I feel like I did a lot this year. I guess organizing my house and keeping paperwork from piling up is something I should have done more.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Same answer as last year: worrying about things that I have no control over.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent Christmas morning with my kids, Chris, and my parents, then shipped the girls off to their dad’s, and Chris and I went back to sleep for a couple of hours. My sister and brother-in-law flew in that afternoon, we picked the girls up from Dave, and went to do family Christmas gifts at my parents’ house. Overall, a very good Christmas.

21. Did you fall in love in 2015?
No, just still in love with the same guy.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
We binge-watched “Justified,” and I thought it was excellent. This was the year Chris finally got me to watch “Game of Thrones,” and I admit that I really love it, although I have to keep my phone handy so I can play Candy Crush during the really violent parts. Also love “The Leftovers,” “Homeland,” and “Agents of SHIELD.”

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah, try not to waste my energy on hate.

24. What was the best book you read?
Can I just admit that I probably haven’t read an entire book since “The Help”? I’ve given up. I used to love reading, but I don’t have the attention span or free time anymore. Maybe I’ll pick it up again someday.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Whatever is on pop radio.

26. What did you want and get by year’s end?
A dog!

27. What did you want and not get by year’s end?
Lucy regressed to climbing in bed with me & Chris every night, which is one thing I would very much like to have cease in the immediate future.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars.

(Ok, fine: I loved “Inside Out” more than my kids did, “Big Hero 6” was excellent, and Chris and I enjoyed both “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.” But, yeah, Star Wars.)

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 39. I had the kids that night, so we did dinner at my parents’ house, and we had cake. It was nice.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If Bernie Sanders could’ve already been elected president.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
I’ve finally embraced the “leggings with long sweaters” look. It feels like wearing pajamas in public. It’s pretty much the best, I don’t know what took me so long.

32. What kept you sane?
It’s weird that I always hated exercise until a few years ago, and now it’s my favorite part of every day. I feel so much better after I work out, whether it’s running or Barre3 or some Betty Rocker workout or whatever. Endorphins are a real thing.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Last year I said Justin Theroux because of “The Leftovers,” and I stand by that answer.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The apparent resurgence of white supremacy in America. 2015 felt an awful lot like the 1960s.

35. Who did you miss?
There are a few friends who live far away who I really wish I could’ve seen this year.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
This feels unfair to try to single someone out. There are too many people I like.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
That I need to suck up my pride and ask for help sometimes.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I feel like I may have used this one before, but who cares:

“Both feet on the floor,
two hands on the wheel,
may the wind take your troubles away.”

Happy new year, everyone!