So I am reflecting over the past year. Yes, that year in which I completely disappeared from this blog! Don't think it wasn't on my mind as I have over two hundred posts started that never got finished.
It was a year of big, no huge, changes for me. I made the big move from California to Montana. I lost my precious Golden Retriever to lymphoma and I became a grandma for the first time. This, in addition to getting settled, made for a very busy year and I am still knee deep in busy!
RJ and I arrived in Montana in the midst of the coldest, whitest winter in thirty years. But hey, would it have worked out any other way for us? I don't think so. Everything was white for months and the snow just came and came and came with temps often falling below zero. In hindsight it was probably the best way to become introduced to winter. It was the whole winter scenario that really kept me from moving here sooner. I quickly learned though that winter is really over-rated. Being in an environment that dances with the four seasons is actually wonderful, especially after having spent years in only one season.
It really wasn't the weather that was the most noticeable change to my new environment. It was the people. Now I wake up every morning to a picturesque small town where everyone waves and the compassion that flows out of here is tough to beat even for the 80 degree Christmases from my past. Politeness and kindness are king, but I have to admit, it takes some getting used to. Coming from California, RJ and I are skeptical people. To find this genuiness is beyond our expectations and often we ask each other if we are reciprocating properly, as it has been a long time since either of us have been around human beings who are so mannerly.
It takes an hour or two to get to any big box, logo loaded stores but that's okay too. You find out that there really isn't much that you need after all. You discover that you don't miss the crowds and traffic that go along with living in a place that has everything. The Internet is always available if you really need something if you must have it. We are finding that the good life is void of consumerism and stuff, and simple is far better.
We do miss our Murphy dog. He passed away in April despite the wonderful treatment he received from weekly vet visits a hundred miles away. Along with being a great dog doc, we were shocked at how reasonable the vet bills were enabling us to provide care that we would never have been able to afford in California. Murphy is sorely missed by us, not to mention by his compadre, Vinny. I am happy that despite our winter arrival, Murphy was able to walk along the creeks, climb the nearby mountains and discover new species of animals like deer before he became too disabled to do so.
The very best event this past year was the birth of our granddaughter who almost arrived on Easter Sunday! Thankfully we were at the birth--and can I tell you how incredibly proud I was of my daughter! She is a true member of this family, no whining, no screaming, no self-pity and bounced back like a chipper little bird once the torture was over. She was stellar! I actually felt a little guilty that she was NOT a wimp, thinking that perhaps she had been raised too much in the grin and bear it mode.
Our granddaughter is a beauty so we took a quick trip to see her again at age two months and then we had the long enduring wait for their visit to Montana six months later. They arrived during our cold spell but seemed to thoroughly enjoy all that is offered by small town mountain living. It was so fun to became acquainted to the adorable little personality the baby has developed. She is an angel. Like her mother, she is a good baby, actually a perfect baby! I did fear she would scream every time I tried to hold her, being that she didn't really know me. My fears though were put to rest as she was more than willing to let me into her little world. I can't say enough about her and I am sure there will be future postings full of grandma bragging rights.
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