What can I say, this winter was pretty hard. I’ve been trying to come up with some nice things to share, but really it was kind of a dark period. The holidays were somewhat subdued for me, having just lost my dad. Tax season was particularly demanding this time around, and I spent three nights a week at Cousin Bev’s house in Eugene. Josef started seeing a pediatric occupational therapist to help him with sensory processing issues; his fussiness about clothing had reached all new heights, to the point that getting dressed for school in the morning became an agonizing experience for all involved. He is now officially that kid who only wears one outfit. It was probably the worst winter of my adult life, and I am delighted that it is over!
We did have some good times though, and I tried to capture some of them below. Josef and I went to Silver Falls on Thanksgiving day and went on a pretty insane hike. Just as he started to lose steam, we got caught in the most outrageous torrential downpour I have ever been in outside of India. It was absolutely DUMPING on us. Josef was not impressed, and has yet to learn how to relish a Fine and Pleasant Misery. We had no choice to but to plod the last mile in the deluge, me half dragging him along in his despair. His boots and raincoat pockets were sloshing and filled to the brim with rainwater. Fortunately, the lodge was open and serving free cookies and hot chocolate, which had the magical effect of immediately erasing the slightest trace of his agonies.
This was one of many hike that happened during the winter. I made a point of going out for a couple hours every Sunday to replenish my spirits after a long work week. In the winter, the moss and ferns really take the stage; everything is dripping and still, and it’s a totally different experience that the rest of the year. The whole family got out for some good hikes too, notably the hike to the waterfall downstream from Alsea Falls, where Josef got to climb a muddy knotted rope hand over hand up the steep slope along the falls. Rachael and I also went away to the coast together and spent lots of time walking on the beach. We also went up to see the amazing view at Cape Perpetua. Sundays were also the day for scooter adventures with a school friend. Josef just learned how to race around on a scooter and campus was the perfect place to do it. We would invite a different friend each time and head over to a covered area that also had some slopes nearby. As it was usually rainy, we tended to finish with a warm cup of cocoa at home, which I am beginning to use judiciously as a motivational tool.
For Christmas Josef got art supplies and a nice shelf in which to house them, a globe, and a pirate ship (his coveted marquee item, which has subsequently received very little attention, I might add…). The real hit was a bunch of legos. Rachael drew a really cool map of local landmarks and then tore it into pieces, which Josef then found each day in his advent calendar. He slowly pieced the treasure map together and on Christmas eve we followed it to discover a trove of mixed legos. He also got a bunch more from Grandpa and Nana. This turned out to completely captivate him, and we have since had the blessing of hours of distraction while he builds things, along with the inexorable curse of legos EVERYWHERE. He seems to be equally happy to build things from the instructions, or just improvise creations. I love seeing the things he creates; it’s a similar feeling when he first started drawing things. There is just something amazing and inspiring witnessing the spark of creativity arise. I suppose it is one of those sacred human traits–the ability to imagine and create–that I take for granted until I see it in my child.
So farewell to thee, crummy Winter of ’18; spring will now be all the sweeter!
Thank you Hans for your beautifully written updates.