January 1, 2011

Today is 1/1/11- Saturday Happy New Year!

Hiking in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, USA with Jim and our puppy, Brody, was a great end of year afternoon excursion yesterday. Warm temperatures, sunny skies, and soft snow made walking through the wilderness easy. Brody ran along the edges of the Greely Pond Trail in and out of the snowy brambles hopping around the trees with glee. He wondered why we remained on the hard packed path already showing many bare spots due to the unusually warm winter week. When Jim and I asked Brody to cross the Mad River he was a little skeptical. That water was rushing fast. We guided him across on the safest part. On the other side, breaking trail heading up the Scaur, Brody delighted in all the hiking through fresh snow. “Now my owners are hiking on the kind of trail I like.” I am sure he was thinking in his dog thoughts!

We reached the rocky over look just as the bright sun was setting. A panorama of the entire Waterville Valley stretched out before us in the alpen glow as we leaned back on the granite ledge basking in the final sun rays of 2010.

Following our tracks back as the woods turned purple, we reminisced about our last hike up the Scaur which was in September 1993 with our children Keara then age 13, Xander age 11, and Fraser age 6. We shared many fun memories of our years skiing, hiking, and skating in this winter wonderland. Waterville has been such an important place for us. Winters became magical. Over the years, we celebrated most New Year’s Eves here with our friends and family.

This year I was happy Fraser and his girlfriend, Erin, joined us after skiing for the day at Cannon Mountain. Xander and his girlfriend, Sam, flew over to France to celebrate New Year’s with Keara and Charles who live in Saint Genevieve des Bois just outside Paris. “Bonne Anne” which we always joked about at every new year’s here has real meaning this year – in France!

For New Year’s Eve we gathered at the Hansel’s condo near Tyler Spring for a delicious lasagna dinner, walnut boat fortunes, and dancing into the new year! Three families – Hansels, Tullers , and Watsons have been sharing fortune walnut boats this way first to show the kids that an old year was passing and a new year was starting, but maybe because we are all sailors the floating of these tiny boats became a tradition!

My half shell walnut boat with a lit birthday candle floated to the edge of the water filled pan. The paper attached on the rim closest to where the nut-boat landed was mine. I untied the ribbon and opened the paper to read:

‘ “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” John Quincy Adams
Your confidence and momentum will keep you going to make positive results that will be personally beneficial in the year 2011.’

Personally beneficial? How nice! This is perfect for me.
In 5 days, I leave to work in far off Vietnam! I am joining the team of volunteer professionals with the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss.

I can be patient. I have perseverance! I like magical effects that make difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish! I can go with confidence. I am excited about my adventure in Vietnam. I feel grateful to be part of the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss.

New Year’s Day was great relaxing time. Fraser, Erin, Jim and I relished the special “Brody time” we shared. This puppy has made us pay attention to things like; ‘early morning’, ‘just hanging out’, and ‘quiet moments’. He does not ask for much, just our undivided attention and love. This puppy has helped us stay in the present moment.

Jim shared his quote from last night’s walnut boats;
“We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, not drift, nor lie at anchor.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

Fraser’s: “If you obey all the rules, you miss the fun.” Katherine Hepburn

Erin’s: “The best things in life are the nearest. Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life." Robert Louis Stevenson

Interesting quotes to ponder as 2011 begins.....as I pack for my adventures.....