2023 is coming to an end. A lot has happened in my little space in the world. We have no snow on the ground late in December. Unbelievable. This is my report on the ups and downs of the last year.
Pete and I continued to enjoy good times
together. Not everything involved him, such as my exhibiting in art shows and
the times I spent at Washington Island, plus ongoing volunteering at the senior
center and library branch near my home. When we were together Pete and I thoroughly
enjoyed a lot of plays in Madison, Spring Green (American Players Theater), and
Milwaukee. We ate and played together regularly, too, with plenty of day trips
to points of interest. We also spent several days in Chicago and visited his
sister in Minnesota. In October we celebrated the seventh anniversary of the
day we met in 2016, with dinner. Our seven years together have been wonderful.
A big event this year was the Covid-19 pandemic
that afflicted me and many others. I became part of history when symptoms of a
very bad cold took over my life for a week and a half in October. Much nasal
congestion, coughing and sneezing but no fever. I stayed at home for a week and
a half until I tested negative and my life resumed its routine. Pete wisely
distanced himself from all this except for daily phone calls. He finally returned
to my abode without catching Covid.
As in other years I had great times during
the summer. I went to Washington Island for as much time as I could get away
from Madison, where once again I stayed at the campground alone in the woods. A
couple of times I stayed in daughter Sarah’s camper trailer and other times I
sheltered in campground cabins. Being in those woods is like meditation. I
walked a lot on the woodsy roads, sat in my lawn chair and read, and went to
services at the local Lutheran church where I know some of the people. I used
the local library’s wi-fi when possible. I listened to jazz by Doc Westring and
his little combo. Some of the local deer walked out onto the road every now and
then, but they did not say hello. Pete did not come to the island with me since
he seems to not see the charm of the woods.
One very good thing for me on Washington
Island was displaying my colored pencil drawings in the annual exhibit at the
Art and Nature Center. It is for participating islanders, and I qualified due
to the amount of time I spend on the island every year. This exhibit goes on
all summer and includes paintings and various media. We are among many good
artists. I have exhibited there for several years.
Speaking of art exhibits, I was happy to
exhibit colored pencil works again this spring in the large Wisconsin Regional
Art Program show for Wisconsin artists at the Pyle Center in Madison. Besides
that, I gave time and artwork to the Madison Senior Center, where student
volunteers and I helped hang its annual show for Dane County seniors in May. No
prizes for me in either event, but these are good exhibitions.
What a delight! Family friends for all our
lives, the Colburns came to Door County this summer after many years. My Allen
brothers and I and the four Colburn adult children who are about our ages all
grew up together and spent summers at our cottages in the woods of Clark Lake
north of Sturgeon Bay. We and our parents were close friends. The occasion for
their visit was distributing the ashes of newly deceased Johnny Colburn, their
oldest, in Clark Lake. I went, as did my brother Eddy and wife Mary Lou, and we
got together with many Colburns and descendants and friends for enjoyment and
food, and, of course, a fish boil outdoors next to the bay of Sturgeon Bay. I came
the first day a bit before the activity began and had a good visit with Sally
and Richie. Over the years I have been in touch with Tom and Carmen Colburn
more than the others.
Pete and I had an enjoyable six-day vacation
in Chicago in May, where we and our Road Scholar group visited museums and the
Art Institute. We had a scenic boat trip on the Chicago River to see the
downtown architecture, and we heard a lecture about the history of Chicago politics.
Pete and I both were born in Chicago and lived our early years in the suburbs,
but it was good to see the well-known sights again.
I didn’t see my adult offspring much during
the year other than John and Sherry who graciously gave me dinner at their home
on Monday nights, with Laura and Ian present sometimes. The Covid pandemic has
changed the occasions for getting together even though the disease seems to be
waning. Libby, Dori, Steve, Robbie and Dana came to Madison to see me a few
times. Sarah continues to recover from radiation treatment with cancer she had
a couple of years ago, so we don’t see her as much as I would like. I didn’t
see Mary and Gareth in Maryland at all in the last year. Alas. When and if life
returns to normal, we can move around more.
Life has continued to be busy as old age
creeps up on me. Plenty of volunteer work at the senior center and library keeps
me busy every week, and life is good in the company of the church group of
ladies which I call the book group that hardly ever discusses the book. We get
together online on Zoom and comment on politics and other life situations
during our meetings. Did I say I am getting old? I’m only eighty-two and still
getting around. I expect to be here for a while longer.
