Only 1 Hour left in 2008

Mercy! What a year! So many changes, sad times, happy times, moving away from friends in Washington, moving back to Ohio to reconnect with old friends and family, keeping in touch with the WA friends now so far away; challenging times, relaxing times, stressful times, happy times, all times for reflection and also for looking ahead. (Is there a word that is the opposite of reflection?)

We loved our 8+ years in Washington on Whidbey Island. What a privilege it was the live there in a true vacation land, to get to know the sea and the land and the critters who live there. We could see gray whales from our living room window. There were bald eagles, herons, kingfishers, owls, flickers, coyotes, otters and seals all in our front yard. There were incredible sunsets and breathtaking sunrises (so David says, I'm not up early enough to see them). There was sailing 12 mo/year and usually very little snow (this year made up for it with 17 inches in a day or so but we had already moved on).

Flowers of one type or another bloomed all year long. Climate was generally mild with gentle winters and equally gentle summers. It was nearly impossible to grow sweet corn or tomatoes because of the cooler weather but with flowers blooming all the year, one forgets the tomatoes.

While living "out west" in the Pac North Wet, we met some amazing people. People who love the land, the spirit of the land, the spirit of life, and who respect all these and more and work very hard for their preservation. I learned to really enjoy Chai Tea and espresso. I studied Qi Gong for two years and it has helped me remain steady and healthy through many stressful times. I worked for a company that provided continuing education courses for teachers to take to maintain their credentials or to get pay increases. It was owned by a terrific couple who were Buddhists. I quickly discovered that Buddhism is a very healthy, gentle way of life filled with life wisdom.

We met folks who will be friends for life and we reaffirmed friendships in person which had been friendships via the internet until we moved there.

I was honored to become friends with a wonderful woman who is a Native American and who taught me so very much about life from a wholly new view point. I cherish time spent talking and visiting with her and learning from her.

Thanks to two very special friends who I call brother and sister, I was able to have two shows featuring my photographs taken locally. What an experience that was...something I never dreamed of doing. My brother is half Lakota Sioux and half American Sicilian. Both he and his wife are amazing artists who own a gallery on Whidbey Island, Raven Rocks Gallery and Gifts, What a joy it was to get to know them and to share life for a few years. We ARE still in close contact.

We moved back to Ohio for many reasons including reuniting with dear friends who we had left to go experience life on the left coast. We are so thrilled to be back with them again and joy of joys, it's as though we never left. I guess that's the test of true friendships. When friends ignore being left behing for 8+ years and pick up traditions and conversations as though it were just yesterday...that's friendship. I've also reconnected with my cousins and have seen them and gotten many warm hugs and loving wishes and happy family conversation, and it's only beginning.

2009 looks very exciting and inviting. I hope you all will come along on this adventure called life and see what it brings in the New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Love, health, happiness and safety to you all.

18 minutes to go......

Here's to you for Auld Lang Syne via the Red Hot Chili Pipers