of light & flight

The first stop on our two week camping extravaganza through Oregon was the closest stop to home and one of my favourites: Mount Hood National Forest. Only 45 minutes from Portland, it’s secluded forests and lakes make for the perfect getaway from the city, especially in the summer. Though I’ve spent a lot of time in the Mount Hood National Forest, even 32 years isn’t long enough to uncover all the trails, hikes, bodies of water, and camp sites. They’re never ending.

For this trip, we had planned to climb Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain, mostly because it had two of the views in which I love about this area of Oregon and couldn’t wait to show Cas (he had only been to Mount Hood in the winter)- that lake side mountain view AND that sprawling forests and mountain views from the top.

The starting point was not far from Timberline Lodge at the Mirror Lake Trailhead. While the entire hike was 7.7 miles, the first portion of it is made up of switchbacks through the forest until finally reaching Mirror Lake. Once at Mirror Lake, we opted to hike around the lake which isn’t very big, take a little swim, and have a snack with that lakeside view of the mountain perfectly situated in front of us. We were in no rush with these views.

Afterwards, we headed up to the summit, climbing to 4,930 feet, for the main show- Mount Hood in all it’s blue sky glory. The little bit of snow that remained made it look all the more glamorous.

Tip: While we had heard that this trail gets very busy in the summer, we didn’t experience that. This might be because we went in mid June, just before school was out and therefore, before summer had really started for many people and/or families.

If there ever was a time that I considered rock climbing, Smith Rock was the perfect inspiration. Located in the high desert of central Oregon, Smith Rock’s views of the Cascade Mountains, the red walls of river canyons, and sheer cliffs makes the higher you can get, the better. Not to mention the incredible sunsets if you can plan your hike or climb right in the evening. We were not the only ones inspired by this- Smith Rock’s many climbing traverses bring people from all around the world, boasting some of the most challenging and beautiful rock climbing routes in the world.

Unfortunately, we are not climbers (yet) so we stuck to hiking and watching the climbers in action. Our first hike was Misery Ridge, climbing a steep ridge to the 3,360 foot summit. Once at the top, we took a little break to take in the views and admire the rock climbers climbing Monkey Face. Monkey Face is a 350 foot spire and an icon of Smith Rock. There are some perfect little places tucked away in the rocks to chill for a bit.

The whole loop was about 5.5 miles, though I think we added a bit on to the beginning and end, wandering alongside the river at the foot of the canyon. Towering over us in the trees was a bald eagle nest, where we watched the babies being fed from the lens of camera, zoomed in as far as it could.

We stayed for two nights in Smith Rock National Park, picking a hike or two to do each day and cozying up early in the evenings in the tent. We seemed to time it perfect both evenings, as some rain and thunder greeted us as soon as we were warm and dry, inside.

The campground, called “The Bivy”, was one of our favourites, simply because it sat on the top of a ridge, looking out at some beautiful views of Smith Rock. While it was a bit of a hike from the car to find a private and quiet campsite, it was well worth it for the views.

This was a particularly special summer for the West family. Mom and dad officially graduated their last of four children from college and sent him off to San Francisco to start his first job in finance (which he’s already kicking butt at, by the way). We also celebrated a fashion school graduate, my super talented sister, and the new job and beginnings for my other sister as she continues exceeding in her career of writing and copyright editing. Most importantly, we were all together for the first time in a year. There is simply no better feeling.

With all four kids now living away and working, three in the heart of San Francisco and one in Amsterdam, it’s getting harder and harder to all be together for long periods of time. This makes the quality time all the more special. As we sit around the morning breakfast table, I realise it’s official- we’re all adults- life is changing. We are changing, as individuals and as a family. The three others I used to build forts and play dress up with are doing far greater things than I could have imagined (though I am not surprised, at all). Our conversations change to more mature topics, our future plans are discussed more often, and their intelligence, compassion, and just all around warm personalities expel into the lives of all those around them as they chat and mingle, making me smile as I watch or hear them with others. Sarah plays like Bach on the piano in the other room, Aubrey walks around modestly but proudly, wearing her own beautiful designs, and Aaron flips burgers on the BBQ downstairs, laughing and chatting with anymore he encounters with so much confidence. They’re funny. They’re smart. They all have their own talents and interests. Most of all, they’re best friends and they support each other in California. I am one proud big sister.

Feeling this way, I can only imagine how Mom and dad must feel during these visits. I both, can and can’t, imagine how important this time is for them. I sometimes wonder if, as they watch in the same awe at my siblings as I do, they take a moment to pat each other on the back. Celebrate. “We did that. Four times.” I wonder if they know how much they inspire all of us.

They’re why we gaze upon each other all so fondly. They’re why we constantly strive to be more passionate, curious, strong, and successful individuals. They’re why we all crave and accept love at it’s highest expectation- total romantics (for both the good and bad that come with that quality!). They’re the core to this West Rock which has always been so close and full of love. My goodness, have we been lucky with these two to guide us.

As if our amazing childhood wasn’t enough, mom and dad also never fall short of making sure that quality time is well spent in some of our favourite and the most beautiful places in Portland. Being apart isn’t easy but along with being so supportive of our dreams, they go over the top, far beyond any expectation to make our time together memorable. I always leave hoping I’ll be even half the mom, wife, daughter, employer, entertainer, and more that my mom is. I’m sure there is no one with such a big heart, who cares so deeply for others while exuding so much strength and intelligence. Someone who can take on as much as she does with such a positive attitude and genuine compassion for all those around her. She is one tough one to live up to- but I sure will try. Even when I miss her the most, she’s carried with me a bit in all I do, in this way. The same goes for dad. I depart down the driveway of our home, already with tears welling, missing dad’s humour and geniality. How we often find ourselves in fits of laughter just looking at each other. Dad loves and when he loves he loves hard- always complimenting mom and acting like a teenage boy around her; lighting up when anything Bruce Springsteen comes on and decorating his whole garage in Oregon Duck gear. You can hear the light in his voice when his kids call, “Stephie!” I see so much of myself in this way (and in how the keys and various objects always seem to be so difficult to keep track of). He’s also the hardest worker I know, committed to providing his clients and family the best of him and this life that he can. Dad’s unwavering commitment, work ethic, love, and humour- I truly hope to radiate for my children someday, too.

I know I am not the only one constantly trying to live up to these two. All four of us kids live each day knowing we wouldn’t want to take after any other two people. And now, we’re all at a time in our lives where we really get to start being adults like the ones we love most.

So cheers, West family, to the upcoming years- with bachelors, masters, specialties, and work experience behind us, new cities and love stories to cherish- I have a feeling these next years are going to be quite exciting ones- full of so much more to celebrate.

I can’t wait.

Love you so much.

Hands down, the toughest part about living abroad is being away from your people. Your every day people- the people that just get you. You know, people like the coolest siblings in the world.

So, in a moment of explosive spontaneity, I decided to hop on an airplane with my sister and her boyfriend as they travelled back to San Francisco from an Amsterdam visit. We arrived in the bay 10 hours later to surprise my other sister. She screamed (in what sounded like complete fear) at my unexpected presence and then immediately turned to tears and lots of big hugs. It was awesome. To top it off, she wasn’t the only one surprised. One of my best friends flew in for two days, too! We only had a short time all together but it was so worth it. I couldn’t be more proud of these amazing ladies or more smitten with their chaotic and beautiful city.

Thank you for everything, Sarah, Auby, Zack, and Jules!

Hidden in the desert of Page, Arizona is one of the top places which you may never have heard of but must see in your lifetime: Horseshoe Bend.

Just a quick drive away from the rounded Colorado River is a campground where we set up a tent for the night. It was the perfect location between Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, making both easily accessible by car for a two day trip.

A spectacular sight, this horseshoe meander of the Colorado river is every bit as impressive as it’s neighbouring Antelope Canyon. Together they represent the beautifully unique landscape Southwest America holds: vast and bland at first glance yet saturated with hidden monuments carved out above and below ground by natures movement and change, over time.

Coming from a state well known for it’s greenery and hills, to be present in this historic and natural landscape was enough to make me appreciate the beauty of this planet in a whole new way.

Perhaps this weekend road trip of ours is to blame for what has inspired us to see even more of the world. What more could it be hiding?

No matter how far you travel or what types of places you discover, there are some places in the world that will always remain a significant part of you. Your favourite places. Manzanita will always be one of these places for me. It is where we decorated our bikes to celebrate the 4th of July in the tiny local parade, ran through the dunes playing hide and seek, and played games as a whole family in the rainy weather. It is where dad helped us fly kites and build forts to shelter us from the wind and mom helped us build our delicious s'mores in the crackling fire. It was where grandpa took us crabbing in the boat and rocked in his big chair, snoring and grandma helped us collect seashells and sand dollars at low tide. It was where old photo albums never got old to look at and we'd have to walk to the video store for movies to watch on a fuzzy screen. It was where cousins, aunts and uncles gathered. It was our spot. 

Over the years it's grown in popularity. It's become even more families' spot. The fourth of July parade is no longer cute and quaint and an evening of fireworks now saturates the entire town in hazy smoke. Our family game nights are accompanied by margaritas instead of orange juice and the furniture becomes more modern with less kids to dirty it's fabric. Regardless, it'll always have the same feel. The tires still make the same cracking sound over the rocks in the drive way and the water that comes out of the spout when we wash the sand off our feet is still freezing cold. So cold you are dreading it for minutes before. The downstair "kid room" still has the same smell, where we'd sleep all together, giggling through the night. The dunes change shape but manage to still hold the same memories of neighbour boys I thought were cute and sliding down the biggest ones on my bum. 

When I think of family, I think of Manzanita. I can't think of any place more beautiful and full of love, no matter how far I go or how many places I see.

After a five hour drive, a short stay at a small motel on route 66, and an impatient appetite for some beautiful views we arrived at Hualapai Hilltop trailhead! It was in the middle of nowhere, located nearly 70 miles from any services and had very little parking. The main road was lined with cars from campers and hikers already inside the Grand Canyon. We excitedly put on our backpacks and started down the steep descent into the world famous canyon.

It took about 3-4 hours (our phones died so we had no conception of time the entire trip) and 8 miles before we arrived in Supai village, home of the Havasuapi tribe. We learned a lot about the tribe in a short stay in the canyon. The Havasupai's are a tribe of 1,000 members, 550 in which live in the village. There was only one school, one restaurant, and one grocery store. Because of the remoteness of the city, all food, beverages, and goods were brought in by helicoptor. This meant that the little store had very little to offer-boxed dinners, not so fresh fruits, and many sweets.  We also learned that alcohol consumption is actually illegal in their village, as we watched the same girl get arrested two days in a row! Apparently this tribe also is incredibly fond of specific herbal substances! They grow their own and are proud to say 90% of the village are avid users, even council men/women! The students attend school until high school in the village and then they are sent out to attend school elsewhere. They may end up in places as close as Phoenix or as far as San Diego. The education in the village, however, is poor and the there remains a lot of poverty. We noticed messy backyards of randomness, broken down homes or trailors, and what looked like starving horses and mules that are most likely used to help travelers with their gear on the long hike to/from the hilltop. There were no cars, everyone walked to and from destinations, and the villagers did not seem particularly happy about all of the tourism but we figured that they make the best of the life they have and we definitely respected them for that.  

Nonetheless, it was incredibly beautiful to witness their culture and beliefs still in practice. We were greeted by two large pillars in the canyon at the entrance of the village, learning later that these pillars are thought by the people to protect them. They believe that if those pillars were ever to fall, so would the time of their people. They feel such a strong connection with the canyon and it's blue water that they often personify aspects of the canyon, as if it is a person. 

Right outside the campground, opposite of Havasu falls, is an even larger falls called Mooney Falls. It is about 150 feet tall and surrounded by remnants of stone that have been shaped from water falling from centuries before. This falls' hike is perhaps the most famous of all the Havasupai falls in the area due to the difficult descent down. At the top you see a sign, warning you of it's risk. The first thing you will approach on the climb down is two small tunnels. You squeeze through the black holes, quickly leading you downward toward the waterfall until you are presented with an incredibly steep drop. The decline was lined with bolted chains leading down the cliffside to the ground. These chains are meant to be railings for your climb down. With the mist from the waterfalls moistening the chains and boards it can be incredibly intimidating and dangerous, especially because you are ultimately climbing straight downward! Luckily, the placement of the chains and handbars are strategic and convenient for climbers, making it anything but impossible to get down to the beautiful Mooney falls. 

Mooney Falls was even better than I had imagined, our own little Neverland from Peter Pan fairy tales! We hiked down stream from the roaring falls, only to find our own little paradise of small showers, glistening like little diamonds falling over the red rocks. The colors were so vividly green and blue that it looked like something out of a HD Discovery series about the dinosaur ages. The stream led to many other waterfalls and small pools of warm spring water. We hiked around, climbing and wading in the falls and streams, until finding the perfect place to take a dip! We jumped in and swam for awhile in a secluded pool shadowed by a large tree and near another set of smaller falls. We let the current push us downstream for awhile until it was too shallow for us to remain sitting and then we got out to eat some lunch! Definitely one of the highlights of our Grand Canyon adventure! 

After four years in Amsterdam, I turned to Cas one morning and asked, "so, what do we do for fun on the weekends here once we've done everything?" The Netherlands is flat and coastal. No mountains. No hiking. No rapids or volcanoes or central Oregon charm. The city is busy, beautiful, but lacking in that natural beauty, with most of it's parks man made. There are days I miss beautiful Oregon. I miss the smell of pine, quick drives to the lake or mountain, camping with friends and hiking until my feet have blisters. Most tragically, I miss those Columbia Gorge views.  

You can take the girl out of Oregon but you can't take the Oregonian out of the girl.

When fast rushing water flows through a narrow pathway of rock, something magical happens: it shapes it into a unique canyon, much deeper than it is wide. This is called a slot canyon.

This week I learned that Southern Utah has the densest population of slot canyons of anywhere in the world, with over 1,000 slot canyons scattered around the desert lands and extending into Arizona. The most popular slot canyon in the US was just right around the corner from our campsite: Antelope Canyon.

Located in the Navajo lands of Page, Arizona, the upper and lower Antelope Canyons show just what can happen when flash floods from excessive rainwater tear through sandstone rock. Today, these flash floods still occur, closing down the attraction and causing it’s beautiful orange walls to overflow with muddy rain.

Knowing this small fact, makes walking down into the enclosed space slightly more confining, the walls seemingly closing in to make it harder to breathe. Each curve of the walls is strangely smooth and almost artistically sculpted with fine lines and patterns.

Nature truly is an artist.

The floor is made up of the softest, clay coloured sand and as time moves forward, the colours shift with the movement of the sun. What started as a dark, red cave transformed into a yellow sanctuary of sparkling beams coming from above. I had never seen anything like it.

It’s February 14th and Cas has planned a Valentines Day surprise. I’ve been told to bring a bathing suit, towel, and flip flops. While this warm weather attire is not odd for sunny Arizona, I couldn’t quite imagine what I was packing for. Up until this point, we were hikers and adventures in Arizona’s vast nature- why was he not telling me to bring my sturdy shoes and bug spray?

It was a decoy; a plan to throw me off or lead me astray. It worked. As we drove out to the middle of nowhere, surrounded by flat, desert lands I couldn’t comprehend what we were about to do. Unfortunately, while Cas had prepared me well to have no idea what the surprise was and had even asked my dad for permission for what we were about to do- he probably could have prepared me just a bit better for what lie ahead.

And so, I arrived to sky dive wearing a bikini and flip flops!

After borrowing the receptionists clothes and signing endless papers warning us we could die, we were on our way up in a shaky plane and two instructors.

I watched Cas roll and somersault out of a moving aircraft, free falling to the desert below with wide eyes and the strangest sensation of fear and thrill. Not along after, I followed.

After a full minute of free fall, the parachute opened and I led myself down to the ground, floating from right to left, until Cas was finally visible, waving from the landing spot. My feet slid across the dusty sand as I plopped down hard on my butt and before I knew it, Cas was there giving me a big, huge kiss.

The best surprise ever!

While couples and families cuddle together to watch the world’s golden arch sink into the distant horizon of vast ocean, the Hawaiian Na’ia are just getting their day started. Heading off into the darker, deeper parts of the sea to hunt, they travel in schools to feed and nourish their young.

Their harmonious songs of clicks and squeaks are used to stay in constant communication with one another as they search for prey. Not far off in the distance, we close our eyes to sleep. We’re just far enough away to be completely unaware and naive to the adventures they are embarking on.

The next morning, we wake up just as naive as the night before. Cas and I decide to go swim at a small, local beach called Hookena Bay. The road is windy and long, the parking lot small and paved with rocks. Hawaiian locals are set up with tents and picnic tables on the backside of the beach, protected by a large cliff of rock on their backside, overgrown with tropical greens. If weeds, they’re the most beautiful we’ve ever seen. Palm trees tower above the tents, fearlessly leaning over the edge of the cliff, perfectly arranging shade for those camping underneath. The families are just waking up, rubbing their eyes as they exit the tent, already in their bathing suits as if they were never taken off. Really, why would you ever need any other type of attire on this island?

The beach is snuggled into a shallow bay of white sand, surrounded by rocks and a gentle current from the tide. We swim out until we’re tired, flipping over to our backs and letting the salt water glide us over the sea life below as we gracefully push the water at our sides to continue forward. Once we are about a half a mile out, with no one else around, we see them in the distance.

After a long night of hunting, the Na'i’a or wild Spinner Dolphins, rest in the very bay we have come to rest in. With more in common than we think, both of our “resting” looks a little bit more like playing. We swim and snorkel under the water while they jump and spin just above it. Unafraid of our wiggling legs, they swim just below us and allow us to follow close behind or just next to them. We can’t keep up. I can hear myself making sounds of amazement as they cruise by in schools of five or six, seemingly looking right at me as they pass-smiling. I have to come up to breath. I am so overcome with excitement. Did my favourite animal just smile at me? Are they coming this close because they want to play?

Some moments in life can only be explained as magical. This was one of them. We’d take turns with the goggles to see them, sometimes just closing our eyes and going under water to hear their song. Before we knew it, hours had passed, though we had no conception of time in the moment. I only realised how long it had been later when my back was crisp and bright red from the sunscreen wearing off.

There is something so human about their gaze. The way they look at you with curiosity and swim just close enough to show off their playful, intelligent personalities. All around us they play with one another, gliding just underneath each other, rubbing again one another, and even appearing to hold hands.

This is Hawaii- a place that connects you with nature in a way you hadn’t expected. We loved the experience so much that we came back two mornings later. This time with the GoPro. Though harder to spot this time, our patience paid off as we were eventually greeted by even more schools of Nai’a, just as playful as the last. Perhaps the same ones. Did they recognize us? Some say they might.

There are a lot of faces I remember from our travels. Smiles, wrinkles, and warm glances that I think about from time to time. Always human. Now, I have these smiling, curious, non-human faces to reflect on for the rest of my life. Each time feeling the same excitement I did in that moment.

If that doesn’t explain the magic of Hawaii, I don’t know what does.

Our next adventure was just 45 minutes north of Portland! Another amazing destination: Mount Hood's very own Timberline Lodge! Our plan was to do some snow shoeing and exploring around the mountain but much to our surprise, it was too warm of a winter in the Northwest! There was not much snow on the mountain! We slipped and skidded around a bit (I did not fall this time), and warmed up in the lodge with some awesome NW microbrews and hamburgers...Mmm! We stayed until it was dark and let the kids in us have a little fun too: we went glow tubing at Ski Bowl. Neon lights, fun music, racing on our tubes (he always won), and my guy by my side! Another amazing day in Oregon! 

There is something refreshing about the Hawaiian culture-how it kidnaps you from any worries or consumptions, into a time and place where you are in your purest, most natural and happiest form- surrounded by the most beautiful of nature. It’s a step back in time. During these moments, there is no good excuse for make up, nice clothes, or technology because you are far too immersed into the beauty around you to need it. Ocean, lava, mud, waterfalls, vibrant vegetation, exotic fruits, wild animals, the intensity of the most cheerful sun. Suddenly, I understand the Polynesian culture and their connection with nature so much more. Such a willingness to acknowledge and be among such natural beauty and phenomenons could definitely be felt as spiritual.

At night we fall asleep to the singing of the Cogui Frog and barking of the geckos and in the morning, we wake up to the sound of the chirping birds and whistling wind. Occasionally, it rains a tropical downpour and the smell of hot, wet pavement leaks into our room to wake us up. Windows and doors are invitingly left wide open at all times and when we return from a long day, our local host has brought home lychees, passion fruits, star fruits, apple bananas, and more from the local farm he works on. We squint at the sourness but continue eating nonetheless. They’re so good.

We wander down to a local bay to swim and nearly a half a mile out we are surrounded by a school of wild Nai’a or Spinner Dolphins who have come to rest. Resting for these friendly creatures looks a lot more like play, spinning and jumping all around us. They swim right underneath us. Each time we hold our breath and go under the water we hear their song, clicking and communicating constantly. The locals tell us there are dolphin whisperers who visit the bay often. They tell of how they walk into the water, sing to the dolphins, and welcome kisses and play from these amazing creatures who actually remember them.

As we swim in various beaches, Green Sea Turtles pop their heads up all around us as they take a break from munching the algae on the rocks below. When it’s time to rest, they join us on the beach as the only sea turtles in the world to share a favourite human pastime- basking in the sun. They lie flat with heavy eyes on the beach, occasionally lifting their lids, gazing at bystanders with what appears to be annoyance. They don’t move. They aren’t scared. They’re as chill as the humans living on the island.

Driving south on the big island, we enter a heavy vog- a type of fog that occurs from the sulfer dioxide and gases that have been emitted from an erupted volcano. We keep our eyes peeled for large cracks in the road from it’s initial eruption. As the sun goes down and the road gets dark, a heavy glow of red lies in the distance. Lava. It runs down the south west side of the island from multiple fissures, putting on quite the performance as it pours into the ocean- a large flame and gases appearing above it. We can’t get close enough to feel it but the sky is lit just enough for us to understand it’s outrageous heat and devastation.

For two weeks, we had sand in the weirdest of places and our hair was stuck in waves of salt. We were sticky with sweat and wearing clothes that were covered in yesterdays adventures. We traveled and lodged low budget but found this brought the most riches, eating from local markets, meeting wonderful residents, and entertaining ourselves with the simplicity of catching waves and letting them roll us around at their break or trekking through jungles and waterfalls of the lushest greens we had ever seen. They seemed so thick and full of leaves that you could catch yourself wondering what creatures have gone undiscovered. If ever a place a dinosaur could still be found, it’d have to be here.

There’s another beautiful side to Hawaii. There is the Hawaii that is Waikiki and resort beaches. Sparkly and relaxing, full of firework shows and striped umbrellas, towel boys and expensive excursions. There is nothing wrong with this Hawaii as it too has a way of uniting everyone with the islands beauty and chill vibes. Families from all over the world, laugh and play in the same natural beauties we’ve enjoyed.

At the core of everything Hawaii is the spirit of aloha. While there is many meanings for this word in Hawaiian, it ultimately refers to love, compassion, and caring. All of the people and adventures this trip welcomed us with seemed to embody ‘aloha’ and because of that I think it’s safe to say we leave the islands of Hawaii full of the spirit of aloha, bringing it back home with us to Amsterdam.

A hui hou, Hawaii. Until we meet again.

Mahalo.

More stories and photos of swimming with Wild Nai’a, Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, here.

The most magical time of year isn’t at the Griswolds- it’s right here at the West’s. Like Clark, dad’s lights and moms decorations never fail to make it the best, most festive, time of the year. The time that welcomes the innocence of our childhood in the form of baking cookies with mom and grandma, decorating a freshly cut Christmas tree straight from a farm, waking up early to open gifts and stockings, and giggling our way through 24 hours of all matching pajamas. No matter how old we get.

It’s also the time of the year that we get to see the whole family, catch up and gawk at how we’ve all grown so much. Cousins who once got up to mischief are now having kids of their own. Aunts and uncles who were once chasing little ones around are now sending those little ones off to live and work in other places around the United States, proud and full of excitement to tell their story.

This Christmas had one more, very special, element to add. Cas somehow managed to make it on the 10 hour flight after a traumatic motorcycle accident only two months before. Some might say we were crazy for doing it. We probably were. But for both of our mental states, I think we knew we had to try. We had to be out of the house, we had to see people we loved, and we had to start feeling the progress of the recovery, even though we knew it would be tough. It was every bit as hard as we expected. I needed to carry the bags and push him in a wheelchair through the airport. He was tired quickly and still very weak which meant about one Christmas festivity was all we could handle in a day and only for a few hours. Then we would rest. He was a trooper- a true Christmas miracle in every way.

The decorations sparkled just a bit brighter and the pajamas snuggled around my every bone, just a bit more cozy this year. It was a Christmas to remember. I couldn’t love this family or the man whose joined it as my life partner, any more. I am so thankful we could be together. That he could be here. That thought has a bit more potent of a meaning this year than any year before and possibly any to follow.

Merry Christmas.