I don’t usually send holiday cards or letters, but so many of you have asked about the many changes in my life this past year, I thought I’d break my “tradition” of being lazy. I had a hard time deciding how I might share about this year in an interesting way, but eventually decided to select one photo from each month that might be representative of that point in the year. This proved a difficult task. I took a lot of photos this year, many of incredible scenery and of the two cats who live here, Poco and Loco. Unfortunately, as is often the case, I took too few photos of the most important events and the people who shared them with me.
Now that I’ve gotten all the caveats out of the way, here’s my 2022 in review:
Colorado Visitor’s Center, Julesburg CO, January 2022 Driving home to Iowa, having been delayed in New Mexico after Christmas by a winter storm, I stopped here primarily for the restroom. I was feeling very emotional when this lone tree captured my attention. I wasn’t sure if it was a metaphor for how alone I felt, or for resilience despite adversity, or if my years at Prairiewoods had just increased my attention to and love for trees. In any case, this was the first picture I took in 2022, and in hindsight, it feels like a foreshadowing!Prairiewoods, Hiawatha IA, February 2022 Winter of 2022 was a pretty dark time for me. One of the few things that truly gave light to my days was being on the land at Prairiewoods. On this particular early evening I was leaving the office and about eight deer were hanging around both sides of the drive. I stopped my car and watched them with the windows down (and they watched me right back) despite the bitter cold.Prairiewoods, Hiawatha IA, March 2022 In March my sisters and my dear friend Wendy Dennis held the equivalent of long distance interventions with me, expressing their concerns for my well-being and insisting that I take steps to change my life. I felt a lot like this tree, scarred by the derecho but still standing, surrounded by the debris of what had been in the “before times”. I decided to listen to the advice of loved ones and to take Wendy up on her offer of a place to recalibrate.Ellis Park, Cedar Rapids IA, April 2022. Deciding to change my life and actually doing it were very different – though equally hard – things. This photo (more trees!) perfectly captures the spot along the Cedar River at Ellis Park where I would stop for some breathing room between work and home, both places where my to-do lists were long and overwhelming.Peace Sculpture, Prairiewoods, Hiawatha IA, May 2022 One of my favorite moments at Prairiewoods was the installation, followed by the dedication, of this beautiful peace sculpture designed by local Cedar Rapids artist Lisa Williams as part of our 25th Jubilee celebration at Prairiewoods. The celebration and the sculpture had both been pushed back due to the omicron surge, so it was a joyous occasion. Sr. Betty Daugherty, the visionary who founded and led Prairiewoods with the other Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, passed away just before Christmas in 2019. We were all still reeling from her loss when the pandemic hit, followed quickly by the death of our beloved chef, Tara King. Then came the derecho, which profoundly changed the landscape of Linn County and, of course, the 70 acres of Prairiewoods. Before her death, Sr. Betty had asked that we replace the old peace pole, which was weathered and worn (it met its ultimate end in the derecho), and we talked of commissioning an original piece that would carry our commitment to peace in a form more commensurate with the forms, materials and presence of Prairiewoods. It felt wonderful to finally see the completion of that vision. I know Sr. Betty would never have held it against me that it wasn’t finished before she left us, but it felt like the fulfillment of a promise.Sue Stork, Tommy’s Family Restaurant, June 2022 June was the shortest month in the history of my life. There was so much to do at home to prepare for the move to Colorado. And there were special people I needed to spend time with before I left. Honestly, none of the work would have been finished if it weren’t for the woman in this photo. Sue and I have been friends since 1986 and I often think I hit the friendship jackpot with her and she drew the short straw with me. Sue helped me go through and pack or dispose of or sell LITERALLY. EVERY. THING. I owned. She used vacation time to work her butt off on my behalf – thank God there was a lot of laughter and very little defensiveness between us! Physically, I was in terrible shape. Luckily, Sue is strong and indefatigable. Speaking of strong, I am also indebted to Rick Atkins, whose mom Colette coerced him into helping one day – he single-handedly carried every heavy thing (including furniture) down the stairs. On the morning of June 25, Sue and I picked up the moving van in Coralville, I grabbed Wendy at the airport, and by noon Colette and Sarah Botkin had arrived to help us load what was left of my stuff. Tammy and Curtis Hansen stopped by for a quick farewell and ended up staying and working – thankfully helping Tetris everything into the U-Haul. The sight of Sarah Botkin sweeping up the random popcorn kernels scattered all over my upstairs living room will be an image of friendship I hold onto forever in my memory (because, of course, I didn’t think to take a photo). The whole shebang took about two hours thanks to Sue’s prep and Colette’s cleaning. After a brief lunch at Cedar River Landing, Wendy and I hit the road – she with the hard task of driving the U-Haul.
Wendy and I spent the night at a casino hotel in Council Bluffs, lucky to get a room anywhere in the Omaha area due to the College World Series being in full swing there. Still, we had a lovely room and a beautiful sunset to admire. After we left Council Bluffs the following morning, I don’t think I saw Wendy again until she arrived at her home about an hour after me. The whole trip I worried about where she was and how the drive was going, only to discover that she was tracking me on her phone so she always knew my whereabouts while I was clueless of hers. Still, my arrival at the Dennis home was definitely memorable. I went to the front door, expecting to be greeted with hugs and laughter. Instead, after I rang the bell twice, the front door swung open with no one in view. As I hesitantly crossed the threshold, I heard someone yell, “Now!” and four nerf machine guns targeted me with a barrage of hundreds of tiny nerf balls. The Sheckels, who had thought they might avoid helping me move for once, were visiting and were responsible for the warm yet warlike welcome! They soon found themselves unloading my things from the U-Haul! It was the first time in my adult life that moving somewhere felt like coming home.
Mom and Pops, Toast, Albuquerque NM, July 2022 July was an amazing month! When she showed me to my room upon my arrival, Katie Dennis asked me if I liked it – I said, “I love it! Can I stay forever?” and her response was, “I thought that was the point.” I can’t speak for the Dennis family, but being here felt excellent right from the beginning. There was a 4th of July gathering, my sister Gwen came, I met several of the Dennises friends, and Colette and her daughter Skyla even dropped by!
I mentioned that I was in pretty bad physical shape. The packing and moving process had created a very painful and self-perpetuating issue with my knees and achilles tendons (exacerbated by excess weight and lack of exercise). Wendy began her campaign to improve my health, cutting my medications and getting me moving. I bought a swimsuit and went to the neighborhood pool most mornings all summer for pool walking during the lap swim times. Early mornings at the pool became my happy place – yes, I was as shocked to experience it as you are to read it! Also, I began the slow process of getting in shape to walk outside the pool as well. Gravity sucks.
The reason I chose a photo of my parents for this month is that I was able to visit them with an easy drive straight down I-25 from Denver to Albuquerque. It feels good to be so much closer to them and to my sisters Gwen and Chris (their husbands Kirk and Dave) and my nieces Hallie and Atalie. I’ve seen them all multiple times since moving here. Being surrounded by my family of origin and my family of choice feels incredible and healing!
Dave, Katie, Wendy and Dani Dennis (and me), The Chicks concert, Redrocks CO, August 2022 There is always something interesting happening at the Dennis house. One morning in early August we were cleaning the kitchen and music was blaring. A song by The (Dixie) Chicks came on and Dani and I sang along. Wendy commented that we both knew every word, and we were both sharing our life-long love for The Chicks when it was casually mentioned that they had two shows at Redrocks that night and the next. Wendy said, “Let’s go!” and…we did! What an amazing experience! Highlight of the summer!
Also in August, Wendy learned about a place called The Stretch Zone, where one can go for personal stretching sessions. She thought it might help with my pain, so I went for a consultation. To say that the free stretch provided during the consultation was life-changing would be accurate. I signed up then and there for regular sessions. That very night the change in my gait was visibly apparent. My knees still give me some grief, but the pain in my calves and achilles tendons is virtually gone. The stretch sessions have made it possible to be on my feet and to walk for much longer periods of time – which is wonderful because I now live in the mountains! The elevation where we live is 5910 and in about 10-15 minutes of driving we can be in the mountains proper. I’ve never wanted to hike so badly in my life!
Anne Hanson and me, Snohomish Falls WA, September 2022 In September I was able to use an airline credit to visit my sister Anne in Seattle. We spent two days on Lopez Island in the San Juans and the rest of the week sightseeing in the city. I’ve never managed to visit Anne in Seattle or when she lived in Maine, so this was a long overdue trip. I finally met the infamous Lucy, Annie’s beloved elderly cat. She’s a querulous old thing and Annie takes precious care of her! I was also blessed to visit with Betsey Winter and my high school friend, Debbie Ross. Debbie and I hadn’t seen one another in decades! The only down side to the visit was there was so much smoke from Canadian wildfires that, despite Seattle being surrounded by mountain ranges, I never saw them. Even Mt. Ranier was obscurred from view the whole time.Dave, Katie and Wendy Dennis, Spencer (Katie’s boyfriend), CO, October 2022 Many people suggested that there would be no “real” autumn in Colorado. I can categorically deny that – my sister Gwen and I spent a weekend in Breckenridge in October and it was incredibly beautiful with the fall colors. In the photo above, we were exploring Littleton where the Halloween decorations were totally on-point and where there is a restaurant called Bacon Social House – what could be better on a crisp fall day?!Mom and Chris Finnegan, Thanksgiving, Los Alamos NM, November 2022 Early November saw Sue visiting from Iowa. We hiked at El Dorado, hot tubbed during the first snowfall, and visited a number of vintage shops (Sue’s interest!) After Sue left, I started doing bead embroidery, and it has been great to engage my creative side – I had forgotten how much I loved working with beads. Dave’s parents, Dean and Karen, visited and his brother Matt came to stay for several weeks – which means my Gin Rummy skills are sharp! I celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents at my sister Chris’ house in Los Alamos. It was a quiet and very fun holiday, which may have included the completion of a fairly difficult jigsaw puzzle and the weirdest dominoes games ever.The View from Happy Road, December 2022 Which brings us to December. I don’t actually know the name of the road that takes me to this spot, but the Dennises call it Happy Road, and now I do too. I’ve been in Colorado for six months. I have learned that I was always meant to live in/near the mountains. I feel like I’ve found my place. I don’t know what the future holds, or where I will eventually settle, but I hope I am never far from mountains or views like this one.
I will begin a job in January as a K-3rd grade literacy tutor in an elementary school that is part of the Denver PS. I’m not certain how I will get used to being in place at 8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, but I’m looking forward to working with the children.
I am beyond grateful to the Dennis family for adopting a 61-year-old woman and giving me people and cats to love and laugh with every day. Many others – too numerous to name – made it possible for me to change my life in 2022. I am humbled by the support. I am not good at staying in touch, which is a fault of character I’ve never been able to break. But please believe that you are often in my thoughts and always in my heart.
Happy holidays and many wishes for a very happy new year!
Jenifer, Thank you for sharing your pictures accompanied by your story for the past year. Your written word has always been so inviting to read and this blog with your year story was additional touching. I appreciate your inviting me to share by sending me the link. May you continue your journey to health and happiness in those mountains. Shari
Jenion 
Hi, Jen. Thanks for sending! I can’t access your beautiful photos, though.
Password??
LAW
Jenifer, Thank you for sharing your pictures accompanied by your story for the past year. Your written word has always been so inviting to read and this blog with your year story was additional touching. I appreciate your inviting me to share by sending me the link. May you continue your journey to health and happiness in those mountains. Shari