The Quest Begins

Hello and welcome!

My name is Mariann, and I am a list maker.

In early December (2011), I was sitting at my laptop, browsing the great books lists to get Christmas ideas for my sons, my younger brothers, my nephews and nieces when I came to an unsettling realization. As much as I love to read, there were many, many books on the lists that I have meant to read over the years.

I started making my own list. It grew very long.

At 33 years old, as a mother, a wife, and a teacher, with 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 aquariums, I do not have as much free time as I did in my teen years. Without a plan, my lofty goal was never going to be achieved. The girl I was who read everything, everywhere, rebelled at that thought. Out of that ambition, These 52 Weeks was born.

I've added on to the idea, particularly during the last few days of December, when a new year looms and resolutions began popping up on Facebook statuses everywhere. This may not be the year I lose all the baby weight (from the 8 year old baby), but this year, I will enrich my life. I will bake bread, a hobby I love that takes time, care and energy. During these 52 weeks, I will make one loaf a week. I will boldly venture forth into my cookbook collection and during these 52 weeks, I will try 52 recipes I haven't made previously. I love music, so immersing myself in one composer a week during these 52 weeks will be fun and probably a stress-reliever.

As a wildly impatient person, sitting down to watch movies usually isn't one of my favorite things. My husband Derek, my buddy Brian and I had fun coming up with a list of 52 films they think I should see. In order to sit through those, I will also be learning to make 52 different cocktails during these 52 weeks. I will probably need them.

Poetry was a natural offshoot to the book list. During these 52 weeks, I hope to remember that heady feeling of wonder at the rhythms of language and the condensed storytelling the best poets create. I've grown staid, a little boring, very middle-aged, so I've signed myself up for 52 new adventures. Climbing Mt. Everest is not in the cards, but maybe I'll be brave and go on a glass-bottomed boat ride through the Everglades or just see what it's like to get my legs waxed.

I hope this will be a year of wonders. I hope you will join me.

It begins now.