The Year in Review
28/12/14 12:00
So Christmas is behind us and we’re on the ledge. We’re on that week of time between this year and the next. This is a time for reflection. Actually if you had a Christmas like we did it’s also a time for digestion but that’s another story. For the moment we’ll deal with reflection. Reflection about the year that has passed. If 2013 was a year that started high and then went down, 2014 started a bit rough but very quickly got better and better.
So let’s start with the dark. At the beginning of the year we were going through chemo. OK I was going through chemo and Marsha was experiencing sympathy pains, but nonetheless it wasn’t fun for either of us. Then we discovered the pains weren’t sympathy. She had a coronary blockage. Fortunately her issue was resolved with one long day in the cardiac unit of the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. A stent and ongoing drugs and she should be good for another 50 years at least. Finally spring arrived and with it more daylight and warmer temps. Along with that came new contact lenses, and resolution of the acute health issues for both of us.
In the summer we took a trip to Minnesota.
It was nice to get back there. Marsha has been going every year but for several reasons I hadn’t been back for a while. It was nice to see everyone, and I’m sure it was good for everyone to see that the two of us were still on the right side of the grass. It was also nice to get a bit of vacation, which I also hadn’t had in several years. Speaking of visiting, we also had a number of people visit us over the year culminating in Marsha’s sister Margaret who stayed with us for three weeks in the fall, which was nice. Oh and there were several additions to the family. On Marsha’s side Lars Versteggisad Svelviggen Esterly was born while she was back in Minnesota. I’d had to return early and I wasn’t there for the event, consequently, I may not have the name quite right. (You, think? mga) On my side we added Aria Vaira, who I’m getting more comfortable with.
This summer we also finished phase 3 of the remodelling so we’re finally all done with fixing up the house. The suite downstairs is done. We’ve moved our bedroom down there and moved Marsha’s office up to the old master bedroom. Now she has a window and actual light, unlike when she was on the lower level sharing an office with Gollem. We still have a few details to iron out but it’s a big improvement for Marsha. In addition we now have TWO guest bedrooms plus a couch downstairs for people who want to visit. Oh and in the remodelling vein we have also replaced the roof, something we had wanted to do since we moved in. The house is now completely done. Well, almost. While Margaret was visiting, she pointed out how much sense it would make for us to extend the deck the full length of the house and replace the guest bedroom window with a door. OK, I guess that’s phase 4.
In the spring I auditioned for The Lady in Black which I didn’t get. Later in the summer I auditioned for Ethan Claymore and got the lead.
This lead to what we now call the lost eight weeks. You see originally the plan was to just do the play. Actually, originally the plan was to do The Lady in Black which finished at the end of October, but that didn’t work out. So Ethan Claymore, which ran through December was in full rehearsal mode. Then we got involved with the Vancouver Island Opera production of Rigoletto,
So we were rehearsing, and performing, that as well. Then my doctors wanted to remove something suspicious on my lung so I had to take a couple of days off for that, and then take it easy afterwards. Then Immigration Canada scheduled our citizenship test for the beginning of November, just a couple of weeks after the surgery, and four before the opening of the play. And on top of everything else Geiger left us abruptly which was a huge shock and left a hole in our family.
It was a busy stretch. No actually it was a VERY busy stretch but it turned out well. The lump is gone, Rigoletto was a blast, we passed our Canadian Citizenship tests, and Ethan Claymore has gotten great reviews and we’re performing to full houses of enthusiastic patrons.
So the year that started in the dark is ending on a high note in the glow of stage lights, with clear scans, new family members, and with us enjoying our upgraded, if quieter, house.
And overall that is a happy ending.
So let’s start with the dark. At the beginning of the year we were going through chemo. OK I was going through chemo and Marsha was experiencing sympathy pains, but nonetheless it wasn’t fun for either of us. Then we discovered the pains weren’t sympathy. She had a coronary blockage. Fortunately her issue was resolved with one long day in the cardiac unit of the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. A stent and ongoing drugs and she should be good for another 50 years at least. Finally spring arrived and with it more daylight and warmer temps. Along with that came new contact lenses, and resolution of the acute health issues for both of us.
In the summer we took a trip to Minnesota.
It was nice to get back there. Marsha has been going every year but for several reasons I hadn’t been back for a while. It was nice to see everyone, and I’m sure it was good for everyone to see that the two of us were still on the right side of the grass. It was also nice to get a bit of vacation, which I also hadn’t had in several years. Speaking of visiting, we also had a number of people visit us over the year culminating in Marsha’s sister Margaret who stayed with us for three weeks in the fall, which was nice. Oh and there were several additions to the family. On Marsha’s side Lars Versteggisad Svelviggen Esterly was born while she was back in Minnesota. I’d had to return early and I wasn’t there for the event, consequently, I may not have the name quite right. (You, think? mga) On my side we added Aria Vaira, who I’m getting more comfortable with.
This summer we also finished phase 3 of the remodelling so we’re finally all done with fixing up the house. The suite downstairs is done. We’ve moved our bedroom down there and moved Marsha’s office up to the old master bedroom. Now she has a window and actual light, unlike when she was on the lower level sharing an office with Gollem. We still have a few details to iron out but it’s a big improvement for Marsha. In addition we now have TWO guest bedrooms plus a couch downstairs for people who want to visit. Oh and in the remodelling vein we have also replaced the roof, something we had wanted to do since we moved in. The house is now completely done. Well, almost. While Margaret was visiting, she pointed out how much sense it would make for us to extend the deck the full length of the house and replace the guest bedroom window with a door.
In the spring I auditioned for The Lady in Black which I didn’t get. Later in the summer I auditioned for Ethan Claymore and got the lead.
This lead to what we now call the lost eight weeks. You see originally the plan was to just do the play. Actually, originally the plan was to do The Lady in Black which finished at the end of October, but that didn’t work out. So Ethan Claymore, which ran through December was in full rehearsal mode. Then we got involved with the Vancouver Island Opera production of Rigoletto,
So we were rehearsing, and performing, that as well. Then my doctors wanted to remove something suspicious on my lung so I had to take a couple of days off for that, and then take it easy afterwards. Then Immigration Canada scheduled our citizenship test for the beginning of November, just a couple of weeks after the surgery, and four before the opening of the play. And on top of everything else Geiger left us abruptly which was a huge shock and left a hole in our family.
It was a busy stretch. No actually it was a VERY busy stretch but it turned out well. The lump is gone, Rigoletto was a blast, we passed our Canadian Citizenship tests, and Ethan Claymore has gotten great reviews and we’re performing to full houses of enthusiastic patrons.
So the year that started in the dark is ending on a high note in the glow of stage lights, with clear scans, new family members, and with us enjoying our upgraded, if quieter, house.
And overall that is a happy ending.