Time For A New Book...

The Holiday Season was a bit like 'A Tale of Two Cities': 'There were the Best of Times and the Worst of Times'. It's probably a 'Far, Far Better Thing' that it's over and I can look forward to moving on into 2008.

On the Best side of the ledger were times spent with friends and relatives, many whom I haven't seen for a while. We also met new friends, several from China, guests of our son and his cousin who had spent much of 2007 in Singapore and other parts of the Far East. I marvelled each time I sat at the dinner table at our ever shrinking world. Young people now live in what has truly become a 'global village'. It bodes well for a better world, I'm sure!

I paddled for the 100th day on Dec 27th, four days before the year ended, thus successfully completing the challenge I set myself on August 28th. Some warm rain and strong winds broke up the ice barrier and allowed me out onto the lake for this last paddle. I met up with a fisher, a small otter-like animal I'd never seen before on the lake and my bald eagle got down-right friendly and flew out to greet me! It was a memorable paddle. Today, the lake is mostly frozen over save for a patch about mid-way down, inaccessible to all but the ducks.

Sadly, as I paddled that day, my wife's last surviving uncle died. He was 83, a marvelous man, the father of three talented children. His funeral reminded us all of the need to be together more, to laugh often, to live fully and to pass along a spirit like his to our children.

The following day, my car was hit by an inattentive driver who failed to negotiate a curve. The resulting crash put both our cars out of commission, but thankfully no one was injured including my 91 year old mother who I was taking to town.

I'm ready to finish this 'book' and read something a bit lighter and more adventurous! Skiing anyone? Snowshoeing? Warm water paddling...?