Well, that wasn't so bad....

 Like many others, I recently found myself saying "Thank goodness this year is over!  Good riddance, 2021!"

And then I started going through photos for an end-of-year blog and realized - I didn't have such a bad year.   Sure, I miss live concerts and festivals, street markets and parades, craft fairs and garage sales.  I miss in-class learning with Elder College and local arts centres.  I miss seeing old friends and family too far away to visit in these covid-times.  But so many things brought me great joy. Despite covid, despite rainstorms called atmospheric rivers, despite floods, summer heat domes and winter snow storms, and severe damage to main highways, and vet bills and car bills and rising costs of living....I still had a pretty good year.  Isn't that right, Maggie?

Every year is a good year fer me, Mama! 

I hiked and camped with a friend I've known since we were six. Dozens of hikes, all over this beautiful island on which I live.  Hikes along coast lines and in forests, by waterfalls and lakes, up mountains and through valleys.  Familiar hikes and new hikes, easy trails and harder ones. On sunny days and on rainy ones.  We hiked and camped. And camped and hiked. And every day was a great day.

Sally and I at Christie Falls, Ladysmith BC

Elk Falls, Campbell River

Notch Hill, Nanoose Bay

Paradise Meadows, Strathcona Park

On our hikes we saw birds of all sizes, we saw seals and sealions, we saw little critters like mice, vole squirrels and raccoon. We saw beautiful flowers and magnificent trees.  We are so blessed to share a world with such natural diversity. 

I spent a week in the northern part of the island, in an ocean front cabin with my sister-in-law, and we explored towns like Port Alice and Alert Bay and Port Hardy. We saw whales and sea lions and beautiful inlets.  I wandered those beaches too, and photographed eagles and listened to the waves and watched the sunrise and the sunset.

Alert Bay

Orca - one of  many whales that cruised our coast this year

Sea Lions

Sunset at Cluxewe Resort, near Port McNeill

In October, I got to meet up with my daughter who flew up from California while I took the ferry over to the mainland for a weekend together, during which we also visited the colourful Fisherman's wharf in Steveston and met up with my brother and his partner.  Nothing beats family time, especially when you've been parted for awhile.

Family time!

Kiddo at Boundary Bay Park

Fishermans Wharf, Steveston BC

And then, of course, there is my shadow, my fur kid, my beautiful companion.  Maggie can no longer do the hikes, and prefers to stay home with a sitter than to camp or vacation in new surroundings.  But together we went to all the local parks,  and we wandered the beaches, and we moseyed around the neighbourhood every day.

Rathtrevor Park

Craig Bay

Eaglecrest Beach

And on the beaches we explored tidal pools, watched seals and herons and otters and other delights of nature:

Jellyfish resting on shiny stones 

We enjoyed the spring flowers and the fall leaves, 

We dressed for the weather when it rained, and we paddled in the water when it was warm out.  And sometimes we just sat, and thought, and breathed deeply.  

We goin' walking in the rain, Mama?

Me and my buddy, enjoying a rest

And for all those joys, and for all that beauty, we give thanks for another year on this beautiful earth.

So farewell, 2021.  Thanks for the ride.  And welcome, 2022 - may we share as many pleasures with you as we have with your predecessor.  

Happy New Year, everyone.  

(If your year wasn't as joyful as mine,  if you faced the loss of loved ones, of your home, of your income and livelihood, if you suffered from the fires, floods, covid, and transportation disruptions, then may this year's end ease your sorrow and stress, and may 2022 bring you peace and comfort.)