Photo Review of 2020 [and a bit of cheating]

Yes, you're right, it's not the end of the year! However, I decided that perhaps I could hurry it up by posting the pictures that I normally post in January as a celebration of the year past. Frankly, until the election there was not a lot to celebrate.

Lake Zylstra

In my life there are a few years that I literally couldn't wait until they ended, and 2020, actually nine months of 2020 were really difficult for all of us. So I decided to include a few pictures 2019 as well.  As  mentioned a kind of cheating, to easier, more care free times, I confess I sorely miss.

Hello to 2021! Good riddance [with a couple of exceptions] to 2020. For the entire world the year of the masks and the pandemics. For the U.S in particular the home of inept, fool hardy leadership that led to thousands of unnecessary deaths. A grim sad time for the world and our country. Hello to breathing a sigh of relief and welcoming new competent leadership in the White House!

The most wonderful exception of 2020 for our family was the very occasional visits with our relatives, son and grandchildren prior to the necessary shut downs across the country and in the world.

sunset is now at 4 pm, sigh

 

Lulu, me, Silas 2019

Here are some of the highlights of the last year 2020, what I appreciate and have cherished. As mentioned I threw in some pictures from 2019 because that was the last time we saw our son Josh and Lulu and Silas.  The picture on the right is from 2019, now Lulu and Silas are considerably taller than their Nana.

Lauren off to college

the ever growing James 2020

if you look really quickly, you'll see a host of friends and relatives from 2019 but some from 2020

Barred owl on a fence post

 last year in Victoria after Xmas with James and Lauren

If this seems like cheating to add the 2019 pictures, it's merely to aid my tiny bit of self delusion that this dreadful pandemic will be over very soon. Then we can joyfully get back to physical closeness and loving interactions with the ones we crave to be with.                                                                                                             

A bubble of love and sanity with Lauren, James, Zach and Anne

What helped me daily, no surprise, was many walks to the ocean.  Below is the mystical alignment of Great Blue Herons like ballerinas in a line. Back when we were doing okay and there was a blip in the restrictions in our state and we had a visit from Zach, Anne, Lauren and James over the non 4th of July. Lovely.  

Great Blue Herons

Prior to the restrictions, for which I am eternally grateful, Dick and I got to go to Kauai. Another island with another ocean and it was our last trip prior to lock down.       

Also we had the great good fortune to be with Jim and Colleen Grout literally days prior to the start of the restrictions in the country.

Jim, Richard and Colleen came to the island

                                                                       

To keep my sanity and enthusiasm, every week I've been Zooming with our sons and their families. In addition another very fun zoom is the weekly zoom with sisters Sally and Trisha and three friends from our guitar camp. Of course we weren't able to attend camp this summer due to Covid. So each week we share good stories, good tunes and play a guitar piece of our choosing for the Monday Zoom group.  This is a very welcome addition to our lives and keeps me busy practicing guitar,  learning some songs and even  creating new songs.

So many of our fellow citizens have lost someone they dearly loved to Covid,  I am, now more than a year and a half later, still honoring my dear sister Kathleen who died in 2019. During this pandemic, I created this tiny altar to her in our bookcase.

                              

Each day I miss her, yet have a smile in my heart for Kathleen who was a feisty, creative, so alive little sister, with her incredible talent and beauty.  To all of you who are grieving, my heart is with you.   

Our extended family's deck, a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. World's worse selfie, no?

                                                      

Dick pointed out the heart shape. Love abounds, look around.

My therapy: hard work outside in the    garden and also the forest.

Working in the woods is a good, soul satisfying release of all things stressful.

 I am wishing all of you: not only good health but the safest best of health; a calm demeanor despite difficulties; kindness to all of our people; letting goodness and love be foremost in your interactions. Let's kick ass in 2021 for goodness.

susanfmagicfeather 2020 copyright Susan R. Grout all rights reserved