A friend of ours was turning 50 and wasn’t sure what to do about it, so heading north seemed as good as any other plan, even when the Clipper and the Coho (and even Butchart Gardens) don’t operate in January. That’s what the BC ferry system is for!

We couldn’t decide what was best about our long weekend (besides being sans kids). Was it the tasteful condo overlooking the inner harbor? The evening ghost walking tour? The delightful tea at Abkhazi Gardens? Books & Shenanigans?

After a brunch and book morning, I took off on foot for Beacon Hill Park and to tromp and traipse as far as I could, and even when I almost made it back to the VRBO, I pivoted to walk the inner harbor down to Fisherman’s Wharf. I remember it because it was an afternoon that left our own amusements, I walked with an audiobook, Jen luxuriated in a bath, and Dwayne cozied up with his work computer– and we were all equally content.

Thanks for letting us celebrate with you, Jen!

And shares cake with Gramma and Grandpa K.

I managed to take the boys camping in the hottest temperatures (105 F) in my favorite Bavarian-themed town last August, and when we came again as a family for the weekend, we hit the coldest temps on record here, at -14 F. At first, I was bummed that it was too cold to spend time outside, rent cross-country gear, or even sled. (I still have to learn the hard way each time that sledding on iced-snow hurts. I stopped the second time I knocked the air out of my lungs for a disconcerting amount of time.) But we were all at various stages of colds, and Piper had just gotten hooked on BBC’s excellent Sherlock, and probably for the only time in 2024, I cuddled up on a couch and watched hours and hours of TV– and reveled in it! We still got a snowball fight in, a walk to town for gingerbread cookies and festivities, and, as is my want, alternating hot rubbing and snow-angeling. Usually, I have no interest in going someplace only to sit around in the rental eating popcorn. But maybe this whole resting thing is something I can roll with for 2024.

Postscript: “But maybe this whole resting thing is something I can roll with for 2024.”

12/31/2024 Update: it is not.

Second Postscript: My stance on beer remains constant.

After a lovely NYE with both brothers and their families and a fabulous Brazillian feast by Dwayne, we woke up to a low-key 2024 that needed a little more splash to it. Sweet, darling, naive Brian and Sandi talked themselves into jumping with Wes and me. Dwayne and Piper took pictures, while Kyla missed the fun while she went to work. This boomerang video is my favorite.

I’ve have been abusing this bikini since my 20s (which is the beauty of bikinis–if you have little shame, they are hard to outgrow). I was really proud that Wes braved it with me and loved that S&B joined us. All three my parents’ kids jumped on New Years Day! Good luck for sure.

Happy 2024!