2014 was a year to remember, to be sure

(I started this post on New Years Day but had to finish it when I got home to my photo drive. Hence, it is a week late in posting. Hope my dear reader does not mind!)

This past year so much happened it seems impossible that it could all have happened in the same calendar year. Here are a few high, and low, lights. There would be no light without the dark.

January in the Florida Keys, Islamorada to be precise. I paddled with Brian, Mike Aronoff, his clients and finally the Burnams and Collins.

Greg, Cindy, & Brian

Marilyn F and myself off Lignumvitae Key

BIGGEST IGUANA I HAVE EVER SEEN!!

James and I returned to Florida together to paddle the Calusa Blue Way with the Burnams and friends from Washington Kayak Club.

The Lorax and me on Captiva Island

Mary and Bill Burnam

We then went down to Islamorada and stayed at the Kon-Tiki for a few days before returning to the misery of WDC winter.

I sold my wonderful Current Designs Sirocco. It was in the end too large for me to roll. I just kept falling out. I would have had to put acres of padding in it to make it tight. But I loved this boat. It was the first boat I owned that was stable in following seas. It gave me confidence. I heart this boat.

A man I have known for many years through the reenactment world, Shaitan aka Greg, died suddenly. It was a heart attack, like my friend Pat. He died after fighting all day. They found him by his car. It threw me for a loop. Just really shook my world. It was truly like some one had said "the sea has died." He was a force of nature and my habitat. My world was changed forever and I did not even see it coming.

Shaitan and Maegor

Another friend also died suddenly. Trish and her husband Drew were very close to my husband for many years. Although jobs had pulled us some few hundred miles apart they were always in his heart. When Trish was killed in a car accident that also injured Drew, it was terribly sad. The accident was not their fault, just the result of wrong time, wrong place. Horrible.

But Trish: I will always remember you laughing and light-hearted.

Trish, Drew, and James's sister Lynn

I attended 3 paddling symposiums and numerous classes and workshops all without my husband. Talk about pushing the edge. I never knew I could be that brave.

East Coast Outdoors and Paddle Festival, Charleston S Carolina, April 2014:

Nigel Foster Class on the water

Ladies of the Lake, Munising, Upper Peninsula Michigan, August 2014:

Kiptopeke Sea Kayak Symposium, Eastern Shore, Virginia:

I lost my 15 year old dog, Trinity. She came into my life in 2000. She went through many bumps in the road of life with me. She was the first of my second "set" of dogs, but the second to die. She joins Buckeroo, who waits for us to cross the bridge in the photo below:

Without saying too much about my kid I would like to give a written high-five to him. The bike below is concrete evidence of his hard work. Good job, Buddy. Good job, kid.

I bought my NDK Romany Surf:

This boat changed how I paddle forever. It gave me the confidence to push my edge into solid competency. I am a big fan of this boat.

I am grateful to say I found a few genuine friends on the path, friends like Dennis, Brian, Marian, Darrick, Becky, Pete, and Lisa. And there are more, I just ran out of room!

I had a surprise falling out with my best paddle buddy and all around good friend. I was served up a couple of lessons in the process. I do not believe in the "hand of fate," or "God's will." I do not believe some being plans these things but I do feel the universe works rather like a very large clock, wheels turning and clicking. I accept the lessons I have been served. I wish my former friend well. I suspect I will always feel some regret.

I left the cat hospital that has been my working home for many years. I think I left just shy of my 18th anniversary there. I needed more time to devote to keeping my health and strength up. I needed more rest than I was getting. I miss the doctors and some of the staff. They were my "third" family, after my biological family & my reenactment family. I really miss the long term clients and patients. I miss JoJo Bob's stinky self. I really do miss him, a lot.

Our adorable patients

My good friend, JoJo Bob

I went through yet another surgery this summer. This one to remove a fast growing but benign tumor. I mean, this sucker was getting bigger by the week. I figured if I let it grow by early spring 2015 I would not be able to get my arm through any sleeve. It had to go. (no photo here, I figure my dear reader would rather pass on that one.)

At the start of 2014 I found myself rather surprisedly in the Florida Keys. I drove down knowing a few people I knew, kind-of-knew. I knew nothing about where I was going, only that Mike Aronoff said "come," and I had a hotel booking at a place he liked. And here it is, the close of 2014. I again am sitting in Islamorada, Upper Matacumbie Key, Florida. The weather is warm and sunny. My "second" mom and dad are here with myself and the Lorax.

As I write and edit this I am reminded what an epic year 2014 was for me. I can't cover every event in this post. Best I can do is try to give my dear reader a feeling of how momentous it was for me. What a ride!

Goodbye 2014, hello 2015.