Christmas 2021 - the next normal... whatever that is

I took my 2020 Christmas/Holiday cards off the kitchen wall last week. They made me happy all year long, but when the next round came through, it was time. Even though 2021 was better than 2020, the next normal still feels a long way off. 

 We spent most of 2021 outside – backpacking in Trinity Alps, hiking in the Olympic National Forest, the Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Tahoe, and hanging out in backyards, local parks, and around our own firepit. 

 

This was a year of milestones. Hadley, (and bonus daughters) Toco and Chiko graduated from high school, San Jose State, and Holt College of International Business. 

Tracy and I marked our 25^th anniversary by going to tennis camp at the USTA National Campus in Florida. And when I turned 50 in September, Tracy threw me an epic 80s party. I can’t find my keys, but I still know all the words to every Erasure song. Mad life skills. 

I hate the term “empty nest.” It’s saccharin, glossy, and patronizing. That said, if you’re sending all your kids off to college, don’t send two at once. The life in the house evaporates overnight. Tracy and I have compensated by showing up in CO multiple times (lucky Skyler and Hadley), getting bees (that abandoned the hive, but left five gallons of honey), and drinking midday margaritas at Indian Wells. Clearly, we need more practice. Any suggestions? 

 

Skyler is a pre-med super senior at UCCS majoring in psychology, philosophy, and a minor in biochem. He’ll graduate in May, but if the MCAT goes well, he won’t be off our payroll for long. He’s added working in a local ER and volunteering at a food pantry to singing in his a cappella group and rock climbing. Apparently, that’s all too normal, so he took a side trip to Vegas to learn how to eat fire. Seriously. If you want to debate “isms” late into the night, come visit over the holiday break. He’s also gifted in acquiring free t-shirts, and is closing in on not buying a single article of clothing for his entire college career. Goals.   

When Liam found out Foothill College would be primarily online for a second year in a row, he 

applied to a handful of colleges with rolling admission. Oregon State was the winner and he moved to Corvallis in September to study electrical engineering (probably). It’s tough making new friends as a transfer (during a pandemic), but in person classes and an easy flight home for visits mitigates the transition. He’s taken up cycling and doesn’t seem to mind the cold rain… yet. 

Hadley is a freshman at CSU in Fort Collins studying evolutionary biology and genetics with a concentration in botany. She says everything in CO is better than CA, and sends us links to horse properties for sale. Um, no. It was tough doing her entire senior year of high school online, but at least field hockey restarted, so she got her final season as captain. In February, we visited the Word Equestrian Center in Ocala, FL where we found a four-year-old dark bay thoroughbred called Ollie. She spent the rest of the year training him and working for Nordstrom – nice discount! Ollie joined her at CSU in October. The eventing center is close to campus, and she can ride every day. 

 

After nearly two years as proximal colleagues, Tracy and I still like each other. His office is more open than mine, but hopefully 2022 will bring some equilibrium to our work and our world. We hope to see you soon and wish you all the best this holiday season.  

 

Love, the Colwells