Merry Christmas

Ahhh the end of another year and beginning of a new chapter, a blank canvas, with which to write a new story.

I have a lot to be thankful for, as a husband, father, and grandfather. I wish we could all be as gracious and appreciative to others all year round, rather than making a special effort for a few weeks around Christmas.

2024 has been a good year for the Wolfe Gang.

Karen and I spent a week in March in St Lucia. We always return with lots of memories.

What a way to start the 2024!

After months of planning, we also travelled to Scandinavia in early June – visiting Denmark, Sweden and Norway with our cottage neighbours and great friends, Mark and Sue Kocaurek. Mark and Sue are seasoned travelers and made it look easy navigating all manner of travel.

We took a short cruise through the fiords of Norway – along the way generating more memories that I can count. We tried many new foods, including reindeer, whale, caviar, pickled herring – all wonderful experiences. Mark helped me overcome my “beer fear” and I have actually started to enjoy hops, to some extent. Past experiences from my youth had prevented me from indulging for fear of turning into a raving idiot. Some might argue it would be hard to tell the difference.

Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks after all!

As usual, we spent much of the summer at our cottage in the Parry Sound area, enjoying family and friends, working on projects and relaxing in between. The cottage has most definitely become our happy place.

The summer was full of atmospheric surprises as we got to experience an eclipse from our back yard, and the Northern Lights from our cottage dock.

Under the category of old dogs and new tricks, I have discovered patience as I have gotten older. Some of you that know me best my say “you don’t even know him” lol. But its true. I have to admit, I have had a short fuse over the years at times. Ok, lots of times. Any referees read this blog?

I have discovered that, with patience, comes all manner of benefits. Not the least of which is the willingness to tackle all sorts of things that I would not have done before. I fixed the brakes on the ATV. I replaced paneling and trim in the hallway leading to the bathroom at the cottage with pine. I rebuilt the deck on the bunkie. These are all things that were way out of my comfort zone just a few short years ago.

All without uttering one cuss word. Amazing! For those of you that know me best, perhaps even unbelievable!

Our grandsons Lewis and Ben, three months apart, both turned two. What a joy they are – full of wonder – and ENERGY! Words, questions, and unlimited curiosity are the order of the day. I never get tired of hearing unlimited questions, all beginning with “Papa”?

And more big news……we have a new grandson on the way. We seem to have this boy thing down to a science. Soon we will be able to field an entire hockey team.

And here we are again at the end of another year. It was a good one.

We have started to plan a trip to South Africa for the fall. It has been a bucket list item for me for decades. For Karen, it’s all about the animals. More memories to come.

Bring on 2025!

I am grateful for all of those that follow my blog and indulge my wacky sense of humour and my feeble attempts at making interesting stories out of my life experiences.

Merry Christmas to you, your families and friends.

May 2025 be your best year ever, full of wonder, love and good health.