It was my Phoenician year anniversary last Wednesday and I toasted myself a few times throughout the day. I just reviewed my postings from last year and revisited my Scottsdale neck of the woods yesterday when I took Odie to the vet. And I'm trying to reflect on lessons from my first year in Phoenix. 1. Do not run straight into Jumping Cholla cacti. (I actually learned this vicariously through Odie.) 2. If you leave a candle outside in the summer, you will have to fish inside the wax for the wick, which has long since sunk to the bottom. 3. Saguaro Cacti might be the coolest plants on earth (I have learned a lot of cactus facts.) 4. Odie may NEED shoes to run on the asphalt during the summer, but he doesn't like wearing them. 5. Inviting yourself to parties and camping trips pays off when you meet new friends. 6. Said parties and camping trips go down easier with a bit of beer. 7. Oncology is hard and sad and inspirational. 8. It's important to find a happiness/sadness b