Friday, February 01, 2019

Adieu, January; We Liked You





I have now survived 71 January's. 

And, who knows how many more to go!

This year, however, I'm more than happy to report that the term "survive" was not nearly as appropriate as it certainly was 50 January's ago.

Fifty January's ago, we truly were surviving as snow, bitter cold, wild winds and severe cabin fever tested our patience and, even more, our ability to tackle the basics---like getting to the barn or staying warm at night. 

Folks were holed up in their homes for as long as week with snow piling up to the roof tops and roads impassable for days until special snow removal equipment could open them up. 

This year's January?  

It's been a piece of cake, and a lovely one at that. 

We've hardly chalked up hours and hours of hibernation and whining during January, 2019.  

Instead, it's been a month of go, go, go. 

Go to basketball games. 

Go on snowshoe outings. 

Go for drives and walks on gorgeous sunny days. 

Go to Spokane for games and airport runs. 

Go to Canada with a German visitor.

Go take pictures and pictures and more pictures.  

Go outside for hours on end with far less drudgery than usual, cleaning out the latest snow dump.

We've had the overnight dumps, but they've been manageable this year. 

So, in short and happily, January, 2019 never seemed nearly as long and blah, blah, blah as most January's past. 

Yesterday's last day of the long month actually turned out to be rather relaxing, comparatively speaking.

We did enjoy a short visit with Olivia who came to meet the horses which were more than happy to meet HER,  up close and personal. 

 She also took a few minutes to try her first snowshoe outing. 

Something got lost in translation, however, as we trudged through the woods. 

Olivia stopped, turned around and noted that she had 15 minutes before she'd have to leave for her next stop at Debbie's office. 

Okay.  

I figured she wanted to get back to the house, which was exactly where we were headed.

When she pointed toward the Lodgepole pasture, however,  I figured she just wanted to get in some more time snowshoeing.

"Lead the way," I said, happily thinking that she must really like this new mode of winter travel. 

We went on through the woods for a while and then Olivia again stopped. 

Turns out she had gotten a bit disoriented as to exactly where we were in the woods and had thought we were going further away from the house instead of TO the house.

It all worked out, though.  We chuckled and moved on.  Soon, she was on her way. 

After Olivia left, I watched a fascinating but disturbing CNN documentary on triplets who were adopted and purposely separated as part of an ongoing research project which never published its findings. 

Twas a sad commentary on the adoption agency, the researchers and especially the three young men who never knew until their young adult years that they had identical siblings. 

When they did reconnect, the trio became famous, appearing on numerous national talk shows and even running a New York restaurant.

Sadly, their separation from each other and the manner in which each was reared, affected them adversely in their adult lives.  

Later, of course, Bill and I sat up to watch the late Gonzaga game, only to watch an overtime contest between Arizona and Arizona State.

Apparently, the ZAGS didn't need our vibes, cuz they won easily over BYU's Cougars IN the Marriott Center. 

And, today's another day in another month.  

I've never wished away the days of February, and the schedule for this month looks like I won't have to, good weather or not.  It's gonna be another busy month ahead. 

Happy Friday.     















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