My 2016 in Review
Matt Seinberg

This has been a very trying year for all of us. Our country, politically divided, finally made its choice for President. Whether we agree with the result doesn't matter, since we can't change it. We can only hope for the best.

George Michael was just added to the staggering number of celebrity deaths in 2016.

The number of celebrity deaths this year was staggering, as well, with the last couple being Alan Thicke and Florence Henderson. Then the news that Carrie Fischer had a massive heart attack on an airplane, from London to Los Angeles; there has been no word on her condition since.

Personally, it's been a very tough year. Between my wife and me, we had three car accidents; two weren't our fault. Thank goodness, we have Accident Forgiveness on our insurance policy; otherwise, our rates would have skyrocketed.

Then I had a fall at work and hurt my back even more. Physical therapy has helped and, without it, I don't know how I would be functioning. I'm on my feet all day at work and some days feel like they are never going to end. Marcy went to physical therapy, as well, for her shoulder; her diagnosis was something I never heard of, "frozen shoulder." Go look it up; it's really a thing.

Melissa was having pain in her left knee, so I took to a pediatric orthopedist. She went for an MRI. We hoped she didn't have a torn meniscus. The MRI results came back quickly; there was no tear. The physician did want her to go to physical therapy and she goes to the same place I go. They are very nice people there and I'm sure she'll get good results.

Michelle also had a very busy year, finishing her last semester at the local community college and applying to State University of New York colleges, commonly called SUNY. She applied to Plattsburgh, Oneonta, Buffalo and New Paltz. Our first choice was New Paltz, as it's so close, with Plattsburgh as our second choice.

Road trip to Plattsburgh, New York, on Lake Champlain.

We took a road trip to Plattsburgh in October and we all liked the school. We got together with one of Michelle's friends, Sophia, a student at SUNY Plattsburgh. She told us things that the tour doesn't go into, including how much less it is to live off campus than on. Sophia promised to help Michelle adjust and introduce her to her friends.

Michelle has one two-week winter class to finish up and she earns an associated degree. She formally graduates, in May 2017.

Once she gets her final grades for this semester, she can send them to Plattsburgh and transfer into the programme she really wants, which is Communication Disorders; a major in Speech Pathology and Audiology and a minor in writing. She takes after me in that respect.

Ever since we got back, I've been sick. I can't seem to shake this upper respiratory infection. I saw my physician this past week. He gave me yet another antibiotic that seems to be working. I'd had to drive upstate again while still sick.

Marcy and Michelle have been getting her needed college supplies together so they won't have to buy a lot up there. There are certain things the school doesn't allow in rooms, like microwave ovens. That makes no sense to me, as there are times it's easier to warm something up for a snack than have to traipse over to a dining hall. The meal plans at SUNY schools aren't cheap and they are required for students living on campus.

Michelle isn't a breakfast person, so most of her meal money will go to lunch and dinner. We'll see how she spends it and then decide what we'll do next semester. With any luck, in the fall she'll be living off campus. She's been in contact with a current student up there who is looking for an extra roommate and the savings between school room and board and off campus rent is huge.

2017 should be a better year for everyone.

Let's hope that 2017 is an easier and better year than 2016. We deserve it.