Who would have thought?

I realized I hadn't updated Kinley Travels since late November, and thought it was time to look back and record this historical period in our lives, and indeed in the world......

After our trip to New Zealand, we went to Washington to spend an early Christmas with Brad, Anette and Magnus as they were spending the holidays in Alberta.

Magnus and Roger love shelling peanuts by the fire, so we brought our fire pit with us, and they had had fun together.

We went to a Christmas tree farm and picked out a beauty!

Mimosas, presents and the family make for a perfect Christmas - no matter what date it is celebrated.

The following week we went to Alberta for the Kinley Boomer that has been going for more than 130 years.  Held in Ponoka, lots of family members came and we had a great time catching up.

Roger with the family's beloved Aunt Vi

Roger's dad, John and his sister, Vi

 Back home on the Island, we got ready for Christmas!

"Magnus" got lights this year!

Roger mowing the lawn on December 23rd!

We were invited to the home of our good friends, Kevin and Dawn for Christmas dinner, and had a wonderful time.

Left to right:  Roger, Marnie (Dawn's sister), Dawn and Kevin

And then 2020 arrived.

As usual, I was acting pretty smug over how green everything was here as I heard friends and family in Alberta complain about the cold and snow.  And as usual, Mother Nature decided to put me in my place as we got a few days of snow and it pretty well shut the Island down.

And it just kept on falling.....

Roger's first car was a 1956 Corvette that he bought in the late 70s.  When he finally sold it in 2004 I told him not to feel sad and that he'd get another one sometime.

Brad as a baby with me and the '56 Corvette.  Brad grew up loving Corvettes and bought one a couple of years ago.

Well, his dream came true and he bought a 2019 Corvette but the ironic thing is I get to use it as my daily drive.  A win for me!

This caption is definitely: "A boy and his toys".

We welcomed our sister-in-law, Margaret who came from Calgary for a few days in February.  Such an easy guest to have as she loves beach walks, wine and good food -- which we do as well! 

Margaret and Heather

We headed back to Washington for another family fix on February 28th, where there was definitely a sense that COVID-19 was real due to the number of cases in the state.  

Brad spent the weekend ordering food, medicine and household goods in preparation for what he felt would be a shut down of services and a heightened risk being out in the public. Brad started working from home and Magnus began being home schooled on the day we left.  Brad's company has already made the decision to have staff work remotely until at least the end of the year.

We love hanging out with Brad and Anette (and of course, Magnus).  How lucky we are to have them as friends.

When we left on March 3rd, we had no idea we were saying goodbye for what is turning into a very long time with no end in sight.  It didn't take too long after our return to realize that "shit just got real".

By March 17th, I was working from home and "Zooming" took on a totally different meaning and quickly became part of everyday communication and a means to connect with friends, family and work.

Our dining room table became my "office".

I was proud how our team pivoted when our in-person programs were cancelled and switched to on-line programming.  Check out our YouTube channel!

Staff meetings were held over Zoom

We had a "Kinley Happy Hour" that spanned California, Washington, Kansas, BC and Alberta with ages from 6 to 91.

We had regular Zoom and FaceTime happy hours with friends, and those became highlights of our days and a great way to feel semi "normal" by sharing a few laughs and drinks together.

My Book Club also met via Zoom.  One of the girls dressed up like someone who has been in self-isolation for too long ---- at first I worried someone was Zoom-bombing our meeting!  

In March, we decided to start a vegetable garden.  Partly to keep busy, but in the back of our minds we thought there might be food shortages (after all - who expected there would be a run on toilet paper?).  Three months later, we've had prolific batches of green onions, radishes and now peas.  Carrots will be next up!

Yes --- this is what March looks like on Vancouver Island.

Roger meets three friends every Monday for breakfast.  The group went on hiatus for several weeks, but then started picking up breakfast at McDonalds and taking their camp chairs to a quiet spot in Parksville where they managed to still visit while socially distancing.

On a rainy Monday morning, the guys met under our covered patio with the fire pit keeping them warm.
Left to right:  Roger, Stu, Bob and Fraser

Mother's Day was spent on the water, and what a gorgeous day we had.  No filters on these photos - it really was this beautiful blue.

Chrome Island Lighthouse

Roger spent the day fishing - not catching.  Plan B dinner menu was enacted.

Magnus' 7th birthday was coming up, and because of the US/Canada border closure we couldn't be there to celebrate.  Hoping to find a way to make it special, I contacted the Northshore Fire Department in their community and asked if they would do a drive by.  They graciously agreed to do it - and we ended up with a very excited and happy boy.

Brad and Anette supplied the poster (and other fun activities earlier in the day), and the fire department made it a birthday that Magnus will never forget!

Brad with Magnus --- notice everyone wearing masks?

They disinfected the fire truck and let Magnus climb in to have a look. 

What made my day...week....month.....was when we were FaceTiming with Magnus later, and he actually hugged the iPad as a way to give me a hug for arranging it.  So happy our fun and smart Magnus had a great birthday.

In early June we decided to do an overnight trip to Deep Bay, just 18 miles up the coast.  It was a little windy, but the swells were more than we've ever experienced in 25 years of boating.  I screamed twice.  What kept the screams to a minimum is that I trusted Roger with my life, and I knew the boat had power and was mechanically sound.  It took 2-1/2 hours to arrive.  

We cruised into Deep Bay to flat waters and I poured my first glass of wine once the anchor was set. It was a spectacular evening.  Roger caught so many crabs we could pick and choose which ones we kept.  

Happy man

Wine flowed freely and memories of the wild trip faded. Until morning.  Plans of a hearty breakfast were dashed when Roger heard the weather report.  We quickly pulled anchor and headed south. This time it took about 1-1/4 hours but the swells hit us for the last half hour and I screamed again as we pitched into the waves.  We were having our breakfast in the safety of our home by 8:30 a.m.

B.C. has really done an excellent job of handling the COVID crisis.  While I didn't vote for Premier Horgan, I commend him for letting the health professionals manage the communication and protocols.  Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, has become a hero for her trademark saying, "Be Kind. Be Calm. Be Safe." With numbers low, and no new cases on the Island since mid-May, we decided to do a 24 hour getaway to our favourite city, Victoria.

Waitresses at Milestones on the Inner Harbour wearing masks

Cocktails and appetizers at one of our favourite spots - Finns

Il Terrazzo is a fabulous restaurant and we had a wonderful dinner

The dessert sampler is oh...so....very....good!

We were really impressed with the COVID protocols used at our hotel and all the restaurants and bars we went to, and we felt very safe.  The getaway was quick, but it was perfect.

I returned to work in the office in mid-June, and admit to feeling more energized and liking the separation from work and home.  I will be working 10 hours a week for the summer, and we're hoping our programs resume in the fall.

This week, I had more skin cancer surgery and will get my results when I get my stitches removed.

I told Roger that my nose looks more like a snout.  He said it's adorable.
I love that man.

So, that's kind of summed things up over the last 7 months.  Ordinary events in extraordinary times. We have been so fortunate that we've been healthy, don't know anyone who has gotten COVID-19,  we've been able to continue working, have a lovely home where we are safe, and have confidence in our government to do their best.  We know many can't say the same.

I have always said that each experience, good and bad, helps prepare me for the future.  Certainly the years we lived overseas was a dress rehearsal for physical distancing because often due to remote locations, language barriers, or multiple moves, Roger and I have spent lots of 24/7 time together.  I'm grateful to be married to my best friend who makes challenging times seem like just one more adventure.

In many ways, the world hit "Pause", and the environment responded with less pollution, cleaner waters, and thriving animals.  The good in people I believe overshadowed the bad as man's inhumanity against man got the spotlight.  But I hope the events over the last few months will bring to light that we are all in this world together and it is up to each and every one of us to help one another.

We know we're not out of the woods yet - and we don't know how long this "new normal" will be part of our lives.  But I do know that I will learn more life lessons, along with the rest of the world -- and we will all be stronger for it.

"We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools."

Martin Luther King Jr