New Horizons

What is your perspective on the rising sun each morning? For years we have viewed a beautiful sunrise brightening the world as seen from between two houses across the street. The sunrise may have changed each morning, but the perspective did not. That is, until this year.

Our biggest news of the year happened at the tail end. Almost on a lark, in mid-November we asked to tour a house for sale several miles to the west. That place was dreadful, but as a result of our visit we found another that looked promising. A mere six weeks later, we were living in our new home. Now our view of the rising sun is still between two houses across the street. Yet the perspective is completely different, at least to us.

You might recall that Dave was laid off in 2010. Since then, he worked part-time in the printing industry and later worked full-time as a househusband/personal doggy daycare provider to Tonka and Daisy.

In 2012 he took on a temporary assignment during spring and summer as a general laborer at my office. The summer was brutally hot, his supervisor was a pain and the grounds had been neglected, but Dave did a great job cleaning up. He also discovered a new passion: riding mowers. Hmm, maybe someday he can get a job mowing lawns at a golf course?

Before my back surgery in 2011, we had curtailed our day hikes as I was unable to walk or stand for long periods of time. Then in June, we decided to take my new bionic back out for a spin. We settled on a day hike in the Lost Creek Wilderness south of Bailey.

It was hot that day (well, it was hot pretty much every day this summer) and we weren’t sure how far we’d get. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I could hike just like in years past. Except for my feet being tired and sore on the return trip, it was a a fun, almost leisurely hike of about five miles. Plus, the dogs found some water to cool their fevered paws along the way. Turns out that Creek wasn’t really Lost after all.

No year would be complete without a trip to our home-away-from-home: Salida. This year we headed out to our favorite little mountain town in mid-July. It was hot, naturally. But at least the evenings were cool and we had easy access to the Arkansas River, to dip our toes and let the dogs swim a bit.

We ventured forth on yet another hike, this time to Agnes Vaille Falls. It was billed as an “easy” hike (obviously that recommendation was given by people in much better shape than me and Dave). We made it to the falls, enjoyed the view along the way, and managed to get back to the car just before the heavens turned loose a wicked rainstorm. Ahhhh…

Over the past year or so, I reconnected via Facebook with several high school classmates. One of them helped me get in touch with a fellow I had long admired, and even had a bit of a crush on, during our school years.

After exchanging emails with Stewart (the tall guy on the left, now living with his family overseas), I learned he would be in Colorado during the summer of 2012. So I made plans with some classmates and hosted a mini-reunion in early August. We all had a great time and enjoyed a hot but otherwise lovely day reminiscing and catching up on each other’s lives. In a couple of years, it will be time for our 40th high school reunion. Oh my.

Discussions began early in the year about how to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, due in September. Originally the plan was to visit Hawaii, but circumstances dictated that we scale it back. So, what’s just like a visit to Hawaii without spending a small fortune, you might ask? Why, South Dakota, of course!

We drove to Rapid City, created a home base in a lovely old downtown hotel, then spent the week exploring Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, and even indulged in cheesy Americana at Wall Drug before finishing up our whirlwind all-American tour at the Badlands (phew, talk about hot!). Our favorite place was Devil’s Tower. If you haven’t been, you really should go.

So consider this our post-Christmas newsletter. Because we were too busy packing and moving, we skipped out on our usual holiday traditions. Still, we wanted to let everyone know that, almost out of the blue, we packed up and moved across town... to the place we intend to stay for the long haul.

Best wishes for the New Year ahead,

Debbie and Dave

Tonka and Daisy

Bumpy Roads and Happy Endings

East Pawnee Butte

"The bumps in the road just make the ride more fun."

Dave and I were late bloomers, each married for the first time in our mid-forties. We met via the Internet, went out on a blind date, and became inseparable from that point forward. Two years later on Valentine's Day, we decided to give it a whirl. We married on September 2--Labor Day--that same year.

2002: The first half-year was completely worry-free, wedded bliss. First Christmas ornaments, first this, first that, loads of fun all around. Then the roller coaster ride began and our lives have been pretty hectic ever since.

2003: We decided to remodel this old house. At the same time, I learned my job would be eliminated so I scrambled to find another and oh my, was it ever a horrible job. Construction was completed by our first anniversary; two weeks later, Dave was laid off from his job. He quickly found another, which he hated nearly as much as I hated mine. Then just after Christmas, Dave’s older brother became ill and died very unexpectedly. It was a devastating time for his family.

2004: I landed a good job working for the state. About that same time, dad was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and struggled with his health all year. My brother Ted and I spent a great deal of time helping dad meet all his needs, determined to fulfill his wish to stay at home as long as possible. And he did, right to the end.

2005: Dad and Ted were at a memorial service for one of our neighbors when, after the service, dad collapsed with a heart attack and died outside the chapel. Somehow we always knew that's the way he would leave this world: poof, gone in the blink of an eye. Ted and I cleaned out and sold our childhood home. Dave was laid off again but soon found another job.

2006: Our old dog Raven destroyed the ligament in one of her back legs while chasing a kitty down the street, which necessitated a form of doggy "knee" surgery. We finally had a chance to indulge in one of our dream vacations: Autumn in New England, visiting Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Dave's father was diagnosed with congestive heart failure shortly after we returned. A week before Christmas, his mother suffered a stroke.

Cottonwood Pass, west side of the Continental Divide

2007: We both turned fifty, and spent most of the year selling Dave's family home, settling his parents in a nursing home, and managing their finances. After a long and difficult summer, as his illness grew worse and more unforgiving, Dave's father mercifully passed away in September.

2008: My mother-in-law's health stabilized and she seemed comfortable in her new surroundings, so we took a road trip to the Meteor Crater, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and the Four Corners. We had a wonderful time. Later that year, after a Broncos game, my gall bladder exploded. A quick surgery fixed it right up.

2009: Raven was diagnosed with canine lymphoma; we kept her comfortable and happy the final few months of her life. We also added a new dog to our family, Tonka, then took a long-overdue vacation to Washington DC, Virginia and West Virginia. At the end of the year, we lost Dave's beloved mother Marge. She was buried on a brutally cold December day.

2010: Dave was laid off once again but worked part-time for most of the year. We took several weekend trips around the state. I returned to my own form of therapy: writing, and discovered this wonderful online home for my journals. After suffering through years of back problems I turned to holistic treatments, without success.

2011: Dave spent the year honing his househusband skills (he's really quite good at it). We decided to add a second dog to our family and after much searching found our little Crazy Daisy. The doctors finally diagnosed the source of my back problem, and I chose corrective surgery. Recovery was slow but went well. Plus, I had the best home health care aide you could imagine.

2012: This year has been good. I feel stronger than I have in a long time. Tonka finally admitted that he does, in fact, kind of like his little sister Daisy (shhh, don't tell her). Dave held a difficult but good-paying temporary job for several months; he is now focused on relearning his househusband skills. And for the first time in years, we are taking a vacation!

Originally the plan was to visit Hawaii for our tenth anniversary, but we scaled it back to suit our circumstances. South Dakota, here we come!

Owl Creek Pass, southwestern Colorado

"Somewhere along the way in this hard and bumpy road called life is someone who will fix your broken-down car and drive you to your happy ending."


::: handing Dave the keys :::

Anniversary Tribute

Today is our ninth anniversary. Dave and I were both late bloomers, we met in mid-life and each married for the first time at age 45.

Similar in many ways yet complete opposites in others--the sensitive, romantic dreamer and the sensible, logical science guy--we are a good match. He has been especially kind to me this year, helping me prepare for and then recover from surgery. His recent unemployment has been stressful at times but turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Dave was right here with me when I needed him most, and was my very favorite nurse during this entire experience.

I never knew you could love someone the way I love Dave. So this video is my tribute to my one true love.