Travel is one of my biggest passions, and friends are so precious to me, that in my life I combine those things so much, sometimes even I get dizzy. people and places make for wonderful experiences and memories, the most prized possession I have ever wanted. This past year hasn't been much different, despite shut downs and general "afraid" of travel by majority of population in the whole world. In fact, if anything, travel has been pretty darn easy due to fewer folks on the planes and cheaper airfares and hotel rooms. Score for me, bad for businesses!
Soon as the year rolled, Larry's son Harrison came over for his second visit of our new home. By the end of January, while still in pre-crazy times, I flew to Portland to check on my kids and see my friends Natalia and Monika, who always offer their homes to me. I try to split my nights between them, and enjoy conversations and food. January has also a weekend when our Boulder area/former Austin running friends came for a visit, doing Incline and Garden of the Gods.
By second week of February Larry and I were driving to Austin, both of us for work. If he only knew it was his last time being in Dell office and seeing all his coworkers, some of whom are also dear friends...how everything changed with "work-from-home as a must" now. We had lunch with our friends Scott and Karyn, he left a bit earlier to drive through Lubbock and have a visit with his son, I stayed behind for couple more days, spending nights at Pam and Peter (I am so blessed with my friends' home cooking, I always gain a few pounds after trips).
By first week of March I was on International flight to Moscow. My yearly visit of my family and home country couldn't have been times better, and all by accident, since I am always buying my tickets a few months in advance! I had a chance to help my sister (who sold her apartment and bought another one) to clean the place, pack, and even move some. And what a timely purchase for her that was, as well! I spent good time with mom, saw my best friends from Medical school Sveta, felt very useful to my sister Tanya - and I did go to an art museum without a mask!. Upon landing back in USA on March 11th, a couple days later learned the borders got closed. Yo, that was a close call!
We did squeeze a get-together with Larry's little sister Stephanie, her hubz and a baby right that weekend, before everything went to shit, meeting on neutral territory between us (they live in Denver).
Of course, this whole "we are shutting down for only 2 weeks" extended into 4 weeks, then 6...I kept hope, which quickly deteriorated. As soon as even a window of "you can go" opened up, first week of June, I was on the plane to Austin to see my patients for their massages. 4 months of stress and stuff! Again, I stayed with Pam and Peter, and worked my 12 hr shifts, trying to conform to new rules in TX.
A weekend after I dashed to Portland again, just for a day. Fitting these kind of necessary trips into my life here and schedule at work now absolutely full of patients all days long is not easy, but well worth it. besides kiddos, only got to see Natalia this time.
Literally, a week later, Larry and I drove back to Austin, again. He - to see his son now on a summer break from college, and staying with his mom. Me - back to work. Of course.
Last weekend of June blessed me with a visit of my Oregon friend Pam Smith. We did all the staples, Pikes Peak, Incline, Mt Rosa and even just one of the regular trail routes I do weekly. It was so wonderful to reconnect!
July took me to 2.5 days (105 miles) of Collegiate sufferfest, and then pinned me locally. We also celebrated Independence Day with our neighbors Jess and Josh and their families, and on the last weekend - Larry's birthday in our backyard with neighbors on both sides (adding up newly moved Steve and Jeannie).
August started with another (unsuccessful) go at Collegiates, a drive to Leadville to scale Sherman and see our TX friend John Sharp (with subsequently meeting a great local young gal and a running talent Annie), and then a week long trip together with Larry to backpack in Wind Rivers. THAT was the best part of summer!
First week of September, I finally nailed that Collegiate Loop FKT. YES! Stubborn is determined, right? The following weekend I flew to Boise and spent 3 wonderful days with my best friend Theresa from way-back-when of our Montrail days. 13 years, and we are closer than we ever were! We hiked the part of the course of IMTUF 100 miler while the race was in progress, and hung out in local places on the trails. And we talked, and talked, and talked...I flew home on Monday, and on that Sunday Larry and I were driving to Steamboat, CO - to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. 11 years, that's a number over the hill for the second marriage for both of us! We explored the area, right smack in the middle of foliage, and ate at a fancy Thai place. What do you know, the following week I was flying to Austin...my VERY LAST work related trip to Myo, to see my clients. I didn't say goodbye, neither to them, nor to staff, but I knew from the get-go it'll it for me. Between new rules at Myo, full schedule in Springs, being away from home and Larry, and not having an easy place to crash to make it all financially coherent (2 of my friends left the city, and 2 other who I stayed with are Covid-high-aware), it is time to move on and leave Austin behind. I stayed with my running friend Joanna (thank you!), but for the most part, didn't do anything at all besides working 14 hrs. Tired is an understatement!
I turned 51 on October 9th, so we drove up Guanella pass and hiked up a Square Top mountain (some 13,700, give or take, right across a Bierstadt). Next week, I was back on the plane for my always-after-birthday Portland trip to see my boys. This was a quality time spent with both, plus a bonus of Natalia, Monika and Anna. Not to mention, I got my probably last hike around Mt. Hood, on PCT nor less.
November was quiet, catching up with work and home and our relationship. We also dropped by our Austin friends Meredith and Paul who bought a second home in Twin Lakes, near Leadville. On the weekend before Thanksgiving we drove to Lubbock to see Harrison (Larry's son). It was a quick turn-around, but a much needed and good visit. Thanksgiving dinner was spent with our neighbors, and on Sunday we opened a ski season at Monarch.
That brings us here, December...more skiing, another very short 1-day go at Portland for my son's 25th and 30th birthday (they were born the same day, yes, it's true) with a one night stay at Natalia feeding me all kinds of Russian food, and our BIG awesome pre-Christmas vacation (which has its own separate post).
Of course, there was lots of skiing at the beginning of the year, and lots of good drives and small towns stops for coffee, and more mountains...We are living our life to the fullest, whatever happens in the news on TV and other media sources. Which is exactly what we intend to do next year. Well, maybe Austin and Portland will be cut off for the most part, and that's ok. There's so much to see around, and so many good people to hang with!
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