2011

Welcome to the New Year!  Sage has been busy thinking about her New Year's resolutions (yes, we actually do them) and is looking forward to the new year.

But this past week has been a time of reflecting about the past year or two.  We went to eastern Washington, where there was lots of snow and it was cold.  5∘cold.  So, in order to stay warm, we got active: downhill skied, snowshoed, hiked, ate good food, played in the snow.  It's much quieter in eastern Washington on New Year's Eve, so Sage didn't have to worry about firecrackers, fireworks, neighbors banging pots and pans, or other revelers in the city.

We begin a new year.  It's so interesting that ten days after the Winter's Solstice, we think of "new beginnings."  The forester in me thinks of spring as "new," and winter as "dormant."  But here we are.  We are resolved to spend time with family and friends.  If these past few years have taught us anything it is that life is precious, short, and we all need each other.  Sage has resolved to look out for her pack with even more sense of urgency than she does normally.  She turned 7 this past week.  All I could do is remember her as a puppy, happily in a soft travel crate underneath the seat in front of me on the United flight back to Seattle.  The flight crew fell head over heels in love with her.  Me too.

2011.  May we all have a wonderful, healthy, happy year.

Murphy's Day.