Greetings on the best day of the year ~ Winter Solstice! I am (finishing) writing to you from the Crash Pad where it is cold but beautiful. Light snow flakes are slowly floating toward the ground and Solrig is eagerly awaiting his first play session of the day in the snow. The snow is deep and many trees have snapped and are bent to the ground from a heavy wet snow a few weeks ago, making our first Hok ski a pleasure but also a bit of a bushwhacking event.
Perhaps you have noticed that I have not been here much this year. Still reeling from the loss of Inge, life took many challenging turns as the year moved on. There have been a lot of major life events this year - the last two brought me to my knees.
September was a particularly difficult month for me. On September 24th my father passed away.
It became clear this year that Dad was suffering from dementia and hard decisions would need to be made about his care. With his passing I felt relief for him and our family knowing he had a very good life until almost the very end (he was 90 1/2 years old!) and that he would no longer be suffering mentally or physically. Dementia is something you hear about in the news, but when you become ‘one of those families’, the reality lays bare in front of you. It is hard; if you are dealing with it I feel for you and your family. I am thankful that my Dad was prepared with his end of life decisions, which made the answers clearer and easier for my Mother when questions were asked. For a variety of reasons I was unable to be with my Dad during his last days. I am thankful for my Mom, sister, and brother for being with my Dad during his last days, and thankful for the amazing staff at Hospice of the Valley who do very special work. When I think about my Dad it is not as a light that went out, but one that keeps burning in my heart.
Returning from visiting my mother after the death of my father, one day later my position at the American Swedish Institute was eliminated and the online store I worked so hard on was closed for budgetary reasons. Many of you know me from my participation in ASI events ~ thanks for your support then and still being here!
Both of these major events broke my heart. I lost both my father and my community in the span of a week.
I have spent the last three months healing/recovering, and trying to look at things with a positive lens (not easy!).
Thankfully we were blessed with an AMAZING and long Autumn and I spent many hours at the Crash Pad gravel biking, clearing my head, building a new like-minded community, and focusing on the most important thing ~ recovering; from both back surgery and the hardest year of my life. I was able to have a successful cycling season that although started late (mid-July), went all the way until late November!
I never thought in May that back surgery would be the BEST thing to happen to me all year. I am thankful that recovery from surgery, though tough in the moment, has been successful. Physically I am feeling phenomenal, and for that I am incredibly thankful.
I have a couple of new stories I hope to complete early in the new year after a few more major life events take place. So I hope you will stay here with me. Meanwhile, I thought I would share a few things I have been enjoying lately.
Chill & Cozy Lofi Christmas music | Playlist is a great background to have on during the Holiday’s. I played it (twice) last night while my neighbors were here and they really enjoyed it, they commented on how nice the ‘humanity’ of it was. Hige & Me is one of my favorite YouTube channels.
A Very Bradford Holiday. This little dog is someone special and Kara is an amazing pianist. I have been looking forward to these posts daily.
Dani Connor Wild Vlogmas. We have also been enjoying this daily while Solrig has his dinner.
The NYTimes wrote a great reference piece on Menopause. If Perimenopause and Menopause are confusing to you, you are not alone. This article is a great place to start! Gift Link: What Menopause Does to the Body. Read it, share it.
I have spent A LOT of time the last year and a half doing physical therapy. To get me through it, I find something on YouTube to play that I can listen to (since I can’t always look at the screen). Recently I have really enjoyed Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud (daughter of artist Lucian Freud! and granddaughter of Sigmund Freud!!).
I recently walked through Dyani White Hawk: Love Language. This exhibition is the best I have seen at the Walker since Elizabeth Peyton in 2009! It is visually and conceptually stunning. Highly recommend; and if you can not visit ~ explore the excellent audio guide and transport yourself there.
Oh my goodness, I also do not think I told you we went to Copenhagen, Denmark!?! I would 1000% move there in a heartbeat. I will have to share details with you in the New Year! One recommendation for now…. Bento Copenhagen. Make a reservation (or two or three…) and go!
Speaking of Japanese food, one last recommendation. I have been eating almost weekly at Cafe Yoto, my new favorite restaurant in Minneapolis. My standard order is the Sansai Udon with house broth and a side of Karaage (I bring some home for Solrig and snacks the next day). I think I could write a story on my love of Udon at the Nagoya airport, how Japanese food saved me in China, and how my solo dates at Cafe Yoto have become a much needed respite for me this year. Perhaps I will…
P.S. The screen porch was finished! I do not think I shared, so here it is….
We were able to do a few yoga and mobility sessions out here before it got too cold and immensely look forward to spending much more time in this space in the years to come.
Wishing you peace and rest on this special day and I will see you in the New Year!
~ DeAnn