Goodbye 2013: One Reader Lost a Home, Another Married a Great Love

How would you rate the past year? Was 2013 good, bad or just so-so?

Inspired by a recent AP-Times Square New Year’s Eve poll, we asked our readers on Facebook how they rated the year.

Nationally, Americans rated their personal year better than the assessment they gave for the country.

Closer to home, one reader left Maryland behind to move to Pennsylvania, another was grateful just to make it out of 2013 alive.

Here’s what else our readers had to say:

Why 2013 Was A Great Year

Jill Smulson, of Elkridge Patch, gave 2013 a 5-star ranking because she “married the love of [her] life.”

Pam Korzon-Zangardi, of Odenton-Severn Patch, gave the year a 5-star rating, too, because she able to leave her overnight job for one with daytime hours. “After 5 yrs of working overnight so I wouldn’t have to pay for daycare, I’m loving working during the day and coming home to my kids!”

It was also a great year for Kevin Wenger of Bel Air Patch who exceeded our rankings and rated 2013 a “10/10 gr8 year!”

Why 2013 Wasn’t So Great

This past year was hard for many. Several readers cited financial struggles, health issues and political battles as their reasons for giving 2013 a low score.

Darius M. Kwiedorowicz of Bel Air Patch shared six reasons for his one-star rating: “Gun ban. Furlough. No performance pay. Pay freeze. Increased taxes. Increased health care rates.”

Pamela Bwc Minter, also in Bel Air, gave 2013 a slightly higher score of two. “I would say one but I’m alive,” Minter said.

Tam Plummer of Anne Arundel Patch shared that her husband lost his job and they lost their car and home as a result. She has hope for 2014, though. “I pray that 2014 will be better for everyone economically, politically, [that the] job market soars and homes will be ample to find.”

Why 2013 Was Just Middle of the Road

For many of our Maryland Patch readers who responded to a request for an opinion on Facebook, 2013 was just so-so.

“Not too bad and not too great either,” said Oksana Merryman of Bel Air Patch.

Susan Price, also of Bel Air Patch, added, “It’s been a good year, however, the recession is still dragging its heels and preventing good things from coming to good people!”

Amy Lindley, of the Odenton-Severn Patch, summed the year up nicely. “2013 wasn’t bad or good. IT was life! Bad things happened, good things happened. During the bad things, I was able to cope with the help of family and friends, and although things were not easy, I didn’t feel helpless. During the good things, I was able to share laughter and love with my family and friends. I didn’t feel alone. I hope 2014 brings more of the same. Good things, bad things, and me here living life, enjoying the ups and downs, with my family and friends near to my heart.”

Here’s to more good things for you in 2014!

TELL US: On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate 2013?