Was this a normal year, or is this the new normal? A combination of concerns, for immunocompromised friends and family, and about long Covid, had us stay close to home this year. We did brave some flights (Ottawa to help family), and a few Vancouver trips to see Bruce. But no large indoor gatherings, movies only at home, and lots of takeout — and that’s starting to feel normal, for us. Dave worked a lot, Liz worked on art, and Bruce worked at school.
So, did anything new happen?…well yes!
We bought an electric car! We’ve had hybrid cars for a while, but the difference is vast: NO gas tank and huge power (480 horsepower and 634 foot-pounds of torque). Here it is, about to get charged at the beach house, the only place we currently have juice for it. We are jumping the gun on charging at home, which is being built but still not done.
At work, Dave agreed to move up to Group Engineering Manager: for the first time, managing managers instead of developers. He’s got a vision for the project he’s on, and this is the best way to make it happen. Outside work, Dave braved his first post-pandemic Formula One trip, attending the US race in Austin. Dave was at track side at the end of the back straight where all the overtaking happened! So cool. Outdoor seating and a steady Texas wind kept him Covid-free.
Bruce continued his studies at UBC in linguistics. He attended two in-person conferences, in the BC interior and in Ottawa, and is enjoying his cohort of fellow graduate students. He’s finishing his required classes now, and then moves into the research phase of his program, where he’ll be a full-fledged PhD candidate and could start teaching undergraduates.
Liz headed out of town to turn (ignore?) 60. We went to Whistler with Bruce, then later in the week, Dave’s cousin George and wife Sabrina joined us for a wonderful visit.
That same week, Liz’s mom moved into a care home, and we visited right afterward to help her get settled. Liz’s brothers Paul and David did the bulk of the work; we got her condo cleaned up and sorted after her unexpected departure. Turns out she had some health issues that are much easier to track with a few more eyeballs on the problem, and we’re all glad for that.
And sadly, just before we quietly celebrated our 32nd anniversary, Dave’s Uncle Art passed away. We are glad that Dave was able to visit and offer Aunt Marg his support. In the new year, Marg’s family is working on getting her settled into a new location, in the same town as Liz’s mother, so we look forward to catching up with both of them on future trips.
With a tough year under our belts, we’re looking forward to a quiet celebration with our boy. We hope you stay warm and healthy, and can celebrate the season with friends and family. We’re looking forward to a cheerier 2023, and wish you bright prospects for the new year too.