Another year is drawing to a close, and we look back with gratitude for all those friends, family and strangers that made our year blessed! We would like to share some of those with you!

Like for many of you, COVID continued to influence our lives in 2022. We became accustomed to wearing KN-95 masks in stores and other public places. Bi-weekly runs to Costco became an anticipated event. Activities with friends were less frequent. Travel planning focused on 2023. Yet as year-end draws near, it feels like it was an unusually busy year. How so, we wonder?

The year started off with Susan finally getting a hip replacement procedure at the end of February, after being delayed a month when COVID closed non-essential surgeries.  After 2 hours in surgery and another 3 hours in recovery, she headed home to begin the healing and rehab stages.  Thanks to a hospital bed (to minimize climbing steps), a walker and crutch (for mobility), daily exercises, friends that brought meals, cards and visits and most of all Rich’s attentive care, she was back walking at the park at 2.5 weeks.  At 4 weeks, Susan was back to 90% of her normal activities.  The other 10% took a while longer.  We are grateful for her Orthopedic Dr and modern surgical options!

As her recovery progressed with physical therapy, we were able to pick up our activity level.  Performances resumed at Village Theater, where we have had season tickets for over 35 years.  We attended a Paul McCartney concert, before he and we get any older.  The Beethoven of our generation, he is still writing music at 80.  His voice is still good, although a bit raspy.  September brought a Steve Miller Band concert to Ste. Michelle Winery’s outdoor venue. Like McCartney, they are an older band, but their show did not disappoint!  In August we attended a performance of “Hamilton”.  The music and performance were outstanding—it took a bit to get ourselves into the “rap” style of music.  Old ears on old people!!

Spring allowed us to indulge in our favorite professional sports teams. Thanks to dear friends the Bloxhams, we got to attend 7 MLS Seattle Sounders soccer matches, including their ConCACAF victory – a first for any U.S. soccer team. Our attendance at Mariners games slipped to one, but that will change next year! Seattle has some young, fun players and anticipates better years ahead! We were invited to the Seahawks draft party. A first for us, and a fun event to engage with crazy, rabid football fans! Rich won the big door prize—a Tyler Lockett autographed helmet! Rich later attended a Seahawks game and watched him catch the winning touchdown pass.

Susan’s recovery also allowed us to re-open Hotel Hopkins to family and friends.  Visitors included Rich’s cousin Susan Thorson (twice), brother John with niece Mandy whom we haven’t seen in several years, and friends Linda and Randy Sharp.  And although he didn’t stay long, we were also visited by a wild bobcat.  We also reciprocated by visiting local friends kept apart by COVID.  The Sharps in Bellingham (twice), the Schmuhls in Port Ludlow, the annual Bloxham Lake house event, and all of the above for a weekend near Portland at the Edgefield hotel.  We have even transitioned from takeout to dine-in for dinners with close friends.

We completed our semi-annual migration to Evansville to join Susan’s siblings for a summer gathering.  Included was the wedding of her nephew Chris, a trip to Indianapolis to visit friends, and a family reunion.  We are always so grateful to Louise & Bob for hosting and coordinating all the family activities.  Christmas will bring another anticipated reunion, now over 40 of us.

With the pandemic declining, we headed to Orlando in October for 2 weeks to visit Rich’s brother Ron and family.   Nieces Erin and Jennifer, no longer little girls, have now graduated from college and joined the work force.  Time with them will be less available in the future.  Arriving a day after hurricane Ian left, we ventured south to Naples, about 50 miles south of the destruction epicenter at Ft Myer.  We weren’t able to witness the destruction as sightseers were kept away.  But we did enjoy a wonderful stay with Rich’s cousin Jim Parkinson and wife June.  We also spent a day at Disney World, and another at Disney’s Hollywood Studies, where we briefly visited another galaxy on the Millennium Falcon (a Star Wars ride). 

Being confined to home had some benefits.  The new siding installed on our house late last year got painted, concrete sidewalks pressure washed and resealed, some tree tops pruned to maintain our lake view, a new retaining wall built, and other repairs and improvements. All in anticipation of moving in 2024.  We were also around to enjoy a bumper crop of dahlias and beautiful sunsets (sometimes enhanced by forest fire smoke).

Post-surgery, Susan has resumed her volunteer activities and book club group. It took additional physical therapy before she was up to yard work, and even then it can be a struggle.   Occasionally, she finds time for a sewing project or making jam from fresh fruit.

Rich’s small financial planning business keeps him busy at times.  Now he is investing more time in “downsizing” items on eBay not used since younger years.  House repairs also seem to be endless.  Then there is the yard.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and safe 2023. 

Rich and Susan