Halen’s 1st Golf Tournament

When hockey ended a month ago, Halen put away his skates and promptly declared he was ready to start playing golf with the goal of playing in his first tournament on May 21st. Oh hello left field, nice to meet you.

There was no way. This would give Halen four weeks to practice (and realistically, between seeding and baseball this meant only getting to the golf course at best twice a week) but Halen was determined.

We phoned Jeff Chambers, a golf coach in Swift Current, booked a few lessons and told him Halen’s plans. Jeff was amazing; a great coach who filled Halen up with encouragement and excitement for the game. He was honest about his thoughts on Halen’s first tournament. The kid can rip the ball, but he doesn’t have a tight enough game to win, so if he’s alright to walk a course for 18 holes, keep pace, and have a good attitude while he likely loses, then go for it – it’s a great experience and a lot of fun. I was nervous for what this would mean for him as well as myself considering I don’t know the game of golf and I would have to be his caddie since Quinn would be spraying.

The Maple Leaf Junior tournament is the most played kids tournament within Canada and I didn’t want him to go out there and get creamed. Despite the warnings and our hesitations Halen was unwavering “I don’t care if I lose, I want to see what it’s like so when I am ready to win, I know what I’m doing”. Gulp. What a humbling parenting moment. Some of our greatest lessons in life come from losing yet it was MY insecurities and desire to protect him that wanted to shield him from that. There were so many things growing up that I didn’t do because I wasn’t good enough. The problem is, because I was never willing to not be good enough, I didn’t end up learning those things at all. I’m glad Halen knew he needed to push himself and I am thankful I didn’t hinder that willingness or vulnerability in him. 

Needless to say, this Saturday Halen played in his first MJT golf tournament and he loved every single minute of it. He played a great game, made some incredible shots, never complained, got discouraged or too tired. He made some new friends and enjoyed cheering them on, and he was my biggest cheerleader as I was a bit nervous in my new caddying role. He placed last in his age division with a giant smile, already begging to sign up for the next event before we left the course.

Halen and I met a great group of people, plus this was one of the first events Halen had to do completely self sufficiently. He registered himself into the tournament, kept his and a teammates score, returned his scorecard to the judges with his teammates only. It was an awesome launch to more independence and really neat to watch as a parent.

To say I was proud of Halen with his foresight, golfing ability, and willingness to be brave would be an understatement. I am thankful Halen encouraged me to stretch, not only as a parent but also as I stepped into an unfamiliar role myself. I couldn’t have loved sharing this day with Halen more – although this was his first tournament, it definitely will not be his last!

Halen Turns 8

Happy Birthday Halen, yesterday you turned thirty-five. I mean technically according to your birth certificate you turned eight, but I’m fairly certain your true age is closer to that of a middle aged adult. You are serious and smart, driven and wise. You are so caring, with a giant heart of gold. You are strikingly handsome, and you are mistaken to be years older than you are anywhere you go. You know what you want and you use your competitive nature to get it. You make me proud…every single day.

You are my boy and you love me better than I ever knew someone could love me. A while ago you woke up in the middle of the night feeling sick. I was startled out of sleep by you silently crying on the end of my bed. I jumped up “what’s wrong baby??” and you cried harder. As tears hit the floor you said “I’m really sick Mom, I think I’m going to puke. I came in to wake up but you looked so nice sleeping”. How?! How did I get so lucky to have such a loving boy? Plus, looking at you is like looking into a mirror. The way we look, our emotional side, the way we process the world around us, we are so incredibly similar. This year the first thing on your birthday wishlist was for your Dad to sleep in your bed so you and I could have a sleepover; a whole night of giggling and cuddles. Your wish was granted, the night was so fun and I fell asleep grateful that your gift ended up being my gift too. For your birthday you also asked to forego a friend party so you and Banks could go into the city for a Rush game. You got real hockey blades this year, a new hockey stick exactly like your Dad’s and a red BMX bike. Uncle Conner and Uncle Carter even made it out for your birthday party and you were very grateful to be surrounded by so many people you love.

You are an excellent brother Halen. This year Nicco’s one and only baseball game happened to be when you had the flu. You had been getting sick for a whole day and running a fever but the thought of not being there to cheer him on was devastating to you. I told you there was no way you could go, you looked at me deadpan and said “text Dad and ask him”. Your Dad understood this need for camaraderie so we loaded you in the van, stacks of blankets and puke bucket in hand so you could be there to cheer Nicco on. You two can bicker like crazy but you also play so well together. You go to the park together, play hockey downstairs endlessly, and you even let your little brother play with your friends when they come over. Then there is Charlie, she’s your baby sister and she has you wrapped around her finger. Sometimes Charlie wakes up in the morning instantly asking for lipstick. The routine is: she asks, I say no, she tattles on me to you, and you come find me to plead her case listing all the reasons she should in fact get lipstick at seven in the morning. Your heart melts when Charlie is dolled up and you are the first person telling her how adorable she is with every outfit change throughout the day, encouraging her to ignore my laundry rambles as laundry shouldn’t matter when she looks this cute. You like jumping on the trampoline with her, giving her piggy backs, reading her stories, or playing in her room. Sometimes you will let her snuggle on the couch with you and you are patient as you try to teach her new things like how to putt on the golf course or write the letters to her name. The newest addition to our family was our puppy Lulu. The first time I took you to see her she was so new she couldn’t even open her eyes. You took one look at the litter and knew she was “the one”, you’ve loved every day with her since. You are good at helping to feed her, you love her snuggles and your favourite is when she sneaks into your bed at night so you can play with her quietly while I’m tricked into thinking you are sound asleep.

You’re a big kid, always the biggest in your class or on your sports teams. I love this about you, you’ve got big paws for hands and thick flat feet like Papas. You’re a gentle giant, aware of what you could do with your size, but never using it to intimidate other kids. You are just about four foot seven and you weigh 93 pounds. You wear large or extra large youth clothes which is usually a size 14/16, this year I bought you your first mens small shirt which you were very proud to fit into. You love good outfits and cool clothes. You like to be one the best dressed kids on the golf course and you are certain a good outfit makes you a better player. You have permed your hair twice this year and you love it! You are also growing your hair out in preparation to have the longest hockey hair on your team next year. Sometimes I wish I could chop it all off but I love how you are already so sure of your own style and I want to give you the freedom to be and look how you prefer.

This year a few of your favourite things are, playing mini golf or laser tag, nights at hotels with waterslides, roadtrips, playing your switch, sleepovers with Banks, and riding your bike or going rollerblading. You also enjoy campfires, flying your drone, riding your quad, and going out to the farm with your Dad. For such a serious kid, you have a really fun silly side. You love dancing whether it’s a celebration dance or a funny one to make your friends laugh. You are also starting to show quite an interest in drawing. When we take you out to eat and you get to pick the restaurant, you always choose a breakfast place and order the largest thing on the menu. The waitress comes with our meal, places it in front of your Dad and we all chuckle when she realizes the food is actually for you and no take away box will be required. You still sleep with your lamby in your bed but you don’t cuddle him every night the way you used to. Lamby doesn’t even make the cut for roadtrips or sleeps away from home anymore. I’m not sure why but this alone makes me feel like you are growing up so quickly. You never come into our room anymore at night and you don’t enjoy sharing a bed with anyone as you are more comfortable spreading out and having your own space. You are an early riser, usually up by 6:30 even though it drives me nuts and I try to make you stay in your room until 7:00. You are a smart kid, a really smart kid. You are excellent at spelling and reading and you were already at a Grade three reading level part way through the first semester. Your favourite subjects are Math and Gym but recess still takes the cake. You don’t particularly love school and we actually even contemplated home-schooling during Covid because of how much you were dreading it. Thankfully, you are such a social boy we never had to think too hard about it as you would do almost anything you dislike if it meant you got to be with your friends.

The most difficult part of your year was facing a few health challenges. Over a dozen specialist appointments, a lot of pretty intense fear surrounding the possibilities of what may be going on inside of your body and then your first surgery. It was a lot to handle for all of us. You are healthy now, we are thankful for good doctors and fast treatment but most of all, we are just thankful for you. Time is precious, you are precious, and the two combined – you and time, is the greatest gift we have.

You love sports, and you love to compete. You are one of those naturally athletic kids who can pick up anything and in no time at all, you can do it well. You had a great hockey season playing U9 for the Eston Ramblers as well as on a carded team out of Rosetown called the Ice Bears. Last year hockey was minimal at best which was a deep disappointment for you. The upside was that every game and tournament this year felt extra special. The first half of the season was rocky with games getting canceled constantly but when Covid regulations relaxed a bit, you finally got to experience a (mostly) normal season for the first time in two years. You adored going to hockey tournaments again and being with your buddies nearly four evenings a week. Your Dad was your coach which is another hockey highlight for you. This year your Dad retired as a Senior Rambler and your little heart broke from the minute his skates hit the ice during his last game. You look up to your Dad so much, everything he touches turns to gold in your eyes. You grieved his last game out loud, the way you knew he was silently grieving himself. It was beautiful to witness but tough to see the two of you close what has been such a special chapter for each of you.

Last year baseball was canceled, the year before that you were in soccer, this year you decided to join your friends in ball for the first time. You are a great ball player, you look like a mini pro out there with your permed flow falling behind your hat, your sunglasses on, and your serious look when you head up to the plate knowing full well you are about to absolutely smoke that ball. You also started taking golf more seriously this year, entering into your first tournament and practicing hard to continue improving. Your best score so far this season is a 51 on 9 holes which is really quite incredible! This year the growth in your athletic ability was amazing to watch. You skate faster, shoot harder, know each sport better, BUT, the most enjoyable growth spurt for me to see was the way you grew into an amazing encourager of your teammates. Last year when teammates would get more goals than you, you had a hard time hiding the grimace from your face. This year you are the first to meet them on the ice to celebrate alongside them. Last year, when your teammates would mess up or get intimidated, you would be hard on them, saying things we wished you wouldn’t or making your frustrations clear through your body language. This year you are on the bench, chanting their name, encouraging them to keep trying, and clapping like crazy to let them know you are proud when they do well or try hard. I am so very proud of your growth in this area because although I love watching you excel athletically, there is nothing that makes me more proud than watching you be a good, kind, and caring friend and teammate.

Eight is such a fun age and I am really looking forward to this next year with you. Every year you grow and change so much and it is such a neat thing as a parent to watch. Like peeling back layers of an onion, each year exposes new parts about you that we get to discover as you continuously conquer life. Happy Birthday Buddy, we love you and we are proud of you.

Nicco’s Year of Dance

This year Nicco begged to be in dance again, he has loved dance since the day he began. He’s got good rhythm, loves to move, and feels the music in a way that makes him so happy. The only trouble is, this year was the first time if he registered in dance, he would have to miss one out of every two hockey practices. Hockey hadn’t begun yet so he didn’t care at all or understand the commitment he was making. Plus, most of Nicco’s best friends are girls so Nicco just wanted to be with his friends and have a good time. 

Dance started and after about a month, Nicco was not feeling it. I’m not sure why, he just didn’t enjoy it like he did last year, likely because it was a lot less tumbling and playtime, and more focus on learning form and actual dance numbers. Then hockey started and every Tuesday Nicco would beg to miss dance so he could go to hockey practice. Every week we told him no, every week he argued and whined, but he made a choice and his choice was dance. We would remind him it’s fine if he changes his mind next year, but this year he is following through with his commitment. The season was long, the griping was endless, BUT each time we picked him up from dance he had a big smile and was glad he went.  

Last year with Covid there was no dance recital, this year there would be, plus two competitions and because he is a year older, his age group would be doing three dance numbers. The last month before competitions began, rehearsals were more intense and Nicco was needing to practice a lot more at home. We danced one on one with some friends just to nail down the dances as much as we could. Suddenly, Nicco’s attitude began to change. Now he was competing – he wanted to hichie-coo the cleanest, smile the biggest, and dance the hardest. He practiced, practiced, and practiced some more. 

At the recital, I was scared Nicco would be nervous on stage, forget his moves, or become insecure being the only boy in their group. The opposite happened. He soaked up every second on stage, he loved the accolades that came with being the only boy, and he worked even harder as his competitions approached. At competitions he shined, he couldn’t have had more fun if he tried. He loved all of it, getting ready with his friends, practicing backstage, the adrenaline of nerves – it was as if he was made for this. 

As the dance season ended Nicco told us that was some of the most fun he has ever had. He said he didn’t realize how amazing competitions would be and he would absolutely sacrifice hockey again if it meant he could do this all over again next year. We will give him till fall to see what he officially decides but this year it seems Nicco caught the dance bug even more and I definitely foresee a lot of dance in his future. 

Our Little Dancer

This year Charlie loved every minute of dance! Last year dance was canceled so often, it was essentially non-existent. But just like a farmer treasures the rain after a drought, Charlie was extra excited to be in dance after experiencing a year like last. Because of dance, Charlie was trying to learn the days of the week so she could count down until her next dance lesson. One of her first questions each morning was “is today Monday?” and when Monday finally came, she would run into the studio with a smile, leaving with a smile just as big. 

In Eston, we are exceptionally lucky to have Miss Lindsay as our dance instructor. Lindsay is amazing with the kids, in fact I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone better with kids than she is. She loves all of our children like her own. She greets them with giant smiles, hugs them, encourages them and makes them feel like the minute she saw them was the very best part of her whole entire day. Miss Lindsay has been an incredible blessing to each one of our kids and Charlie is absolutely enamoured with her.  

This year Charlie performed in her very first dance recital. I was giddy to see her on stage, all dolled up and trying her best. She loved performing in front of everyone, she didn’t panic in front of a crowd and although the day was very long, she wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. 

The first song Charlie’s group performed was “Achy Breaky Heart” and I couldn’t have loved it more as it felt like a full circle moment for me. I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my life, dozens and dozens actually but Billy Ray Cyrus was by far my favourite concert. At the time I went, Billy Ray was my favourite musician, every day after school I would come home, put in my “Some Gave All” tape and blast it in my gettoblaster. My parents surprised me for my twelfth birthday with tickets for the whole family to go to his concert – this is still one of my favourite surprises to this day. I adored Billy Ray and swooned over his suave mullet. His wrangler butt drove me nuts and I am fairly certain he was my first celebrity crush. I can still remember being almost front row on the floor, propped up on top of my Dad’s shoulders so I didn’t miss a thing. Right before Achy Breaky Heart started, Billy Ray Cyrus looked out into the crowd and pointed directly at me and said “this ones for you” and I…lost…my…mind. I screamed so hard on my Dad’s shoulders he almost dropped me. I bawled as my sisters pawned at my legs screaming up to me “HE SAID THAT TO YOUUU”. I was a preteen girl, on top of the world as my favourite song blasted in my eardrums, a moment so intense it etched itself into my memory as a gift for me to keep forever. 

Now here I am, twenty five years later. I am a Mom sitting in a crowd, looking up to a stage with “Achy Breaky Heart” playing in my ears all over again yet it feels like a whole new world. Once more my eyes are filled with tears, my heart is pounding in my chest, I have a smile plastered on my face, only this time, the only person catching my eye on stage is my beautiful daughter and she is stealing my heart far more than a country music star ever has. 

Charlie performed her heart out, she loved it all. When dance officially ended, she cried as she wasn’t ready for the fun to stop. Charlie still performs her dances for a few specially selected people and if you are lucky enough to be her Mom, you get to watch those dances so often you could do them yourself with your eyes closed (only you would never dare to close your eyes because if you miss a single millisecond of her performances, the dance has to start from the veryyyy beginning).  

In a list of what Charlie loves most in life, right next to Kitty would be dance. Try as I may to plant the seed that hockey is better (purely out of fear I may not be cut-out as a dance Mom), this girl has dance running through her veins and the next dance season can’t come fast enough for her.

Like Father, Like Son

2022, the first and last year all three McLean boys played for the Eston Ramblers

“My Father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: He believed in me.” ~Jim Valvano

Acting a Fool

Yesterday Nicco’s hockey team had a parent vs kids game. I did not want to participate. I lied and forewarned Nicco in the morning that I wasn’t feeling well and likely wouldn’t be up for playing in the game later on.

I did this years ago with Halen’s team and learnt quickly how terrible I was at skating, particularly in comparison to literally every other Mom or Dad out there who had played hockey at some point in their lives.

Nicco came rushing through the door after school, barely had his boots off before he was hollering after me “How do you feel Mom? Are you feeling any better??” Darnit. I am indeed “better”. I will swallow my pride and go act a fool. 

The game starts, I hit the ice, barely able to skate, definitely unable to stop. I’m smiling and attempting what some would call “fun” but feeling oh so embarrassed. I am playing a game with people ranging from 5 to 40 years old and I am unequivocally the worst skater out there. Playing this game was like being back in Grade Three where the teacher asks the class a tough question and you will yourself, with all your mushroom-cut might, to just disappear before she calls on you to answer. All I could think was PLEASE GOD don’t let anyone pass me the puck, just let me flail around out here AND be invisible. Is that so much to ask?!

But then my next shift starts, I’m wobbly legged from my out-turned ankles, desperately looking for an excuse to quit mid-game, when Nicco taps me on the butt with his stick, smiling as big as the ocean. It is amazing how brave Mothers can be when given the choice of self fear or their child’s joy.

As I untied Nicco’s skates after the game I asked him how I did. “Um, well, it was kinda like watching an adult baby learning to skate” he says “but I loved it so much, it felt like I wanted to cry the whole game”. And Bam, Mama (aka adult baby) didn’t feel like such a fool any more. Being brave is horrible and magical all at once. Thankfully I survived the game with no broken bones, now I will need three days of self inflicted anxiety as I replay every awkward moment before I mentally allow myself to recover. Two parent/player games down, only one left to go. I can do hard things. 

Happy Birthday Kitty

On December 6th, 2008 my niece Kiya Jade Tekeste was born. She was the tinniest girl with the brightest light and I adored watching my sister become a Mom. Our perfect little Eritrean princess battled many health issues and passed away at 24 days old.

On the day Kiya was born, a friend of mines older sister Lisa gave birth in the same hospital to a little baby girl named Edee. Edee and Kiya not only shared the same birthday but also their first few days of life together in the NICU. My sister was at the hospital 24/7 and it was comforting to know Lisa was always there if Tiffany needed anything.

Nine years ago today, Quinn and I completed our training and were given the green light to begin our fostering journey. We didn’t have children of our own so we put a call out to friends looking for toys and clothes to add to our home. Lisa talked to Edee about what we were doing and her big-hearted five year old was eager to give up some of her own toys to share with our future foster kids. I went to their home and watched Edee go through her room gathering bags upon bags of everything she thought another child may enjoy, even some of her very favourite toys.

Little did I know as I unpacked that bag, Edee’s stuffed white kitty would become the most adored toy our house has seen in nine whole years. Our very first foster boy was twelve years old. One of his first evenings in our home, I found him curled in bed sound asleep snuggling this stuffy. When kids would leave our home, we would let them take a few toys along with them. From day one though, that kitty seemed so special, we wanted to keep her for all of the future kids to enjoy as well.

Soon Quinn and I started our family, Halen played with this kitty but was never particularly attached, Nicco however adored it. That kitty went with him everywhere. When Charlie was born, Nicco was so enamoured with love for his baby sister, he gave her the best gift he had to offer, his kitty. Charlie would be lost without Kitty by her side; not a single sleep, road trip or emotional meltdown would be doable without the comfort and companionship of Kitty.

As much as Charlie loves Kitty, I do too. I love knowing where Kitty came from, and how many kids have found comfort in her. I love that Kitty was gifted from the only girlfriend my niece got to have. When I see Kitty, I think of Edee and the power of little girls with big love. It is a forever heartache my children don’t get the privilege of life alongside their big cousin but in some small way, this kitty feels like a piece of Kiya – a daily reminder of my perfect niece.

For a few days now Charlie has begged to throw a birthday party for Kitty since she’s never had one before (which as it turns out is life’s biggest travesty in Charlie’s world). We decided to do the party today and when I looked back on my Facebook memories I saw that nine years ago to the day Kitty came into our family, I couldn’t help but smile at the coincidence. Life is painful and beautiful all at once. Today took me off guard at how special it was to celebrate Kitty, but as it turns out, this Kitty was definitely worth the celebration!

Officially Retired

The other night Quinn played his final game as an Eston Rambler. Playing for The Ramblers has been a seventeen year chapter for Quinn. Endless seasons of playing his heart out with a team he couldn’t have been more proud to be a part of. The Ramblers are a family of their own. This group of men have such a unique bond. They depend on one another – to show up, to put their best foot forward, to challenge one another to be better (not just on the ice, but off the ice too). Being a part of a team like this gives you the privilege of years upon years of memories; shared laughter, long road trips, endless card games, gutting losses and triumphant wins. And above the game, these guys have lived through real life together too, getting married, having children, death, sobriety, divorce, a lot happens with a group of people after this many years together.

It has been really incredible to watch Quinn be a part of this team. I may be able to count a night or two (or twenty) where I nearly lost my mind over Rambler shenanigans but I was never ready for Quinn to throw in the towel. These hockey days have been a gift to our family. Our boys have spent the last seven years thinking their Dad is practically an NHL star, their very own hockey hero. They have adored watching him play and I have too.

There were times this season when I saw Quinn still skating like the wind and I would think “maybe he’s got oneee more year left” but the truth is, Quinn’s got many more years left, it will just be in another roll. Between coaching the kids, and him dealing with their hockey lives now, his life will still be plentiful at the rink and his role will be just as important.

You had a good run babe and we’re proud of you! #21 will have some big skates to fill next season. Thanks for sharing your love of the game with us. This may be the end of one chapter, but it’s the beginning of another great one!

The Power of Apologies

The other day Nicco and I went to Tim’s for lunch before we hit the road. It was a double lane drive-through and I wasn’t sure if the car beside me was still ordering or needed to go ahead of me. I inched forward to look at him, laughing and pointing as if it say “is it your turn or mine”. Before he could read my expression, he thought I was moving forward to cut in front of him. He started yelling, flailing his hands, and gunned the gas to get ahead of me.

I laughed at how silly he must of felt when he realized I was just trying to be friendly and I felt relief to not be going through my day as wound up as he was. As I drove ahead to the window, the cashier told me our lunch had been paid for. I turned to wave and say thank you to this same man who then pulled over for long enough to catch my attention and mouth “sorry” before he drove away.

Apologies are such a gift! In this situation that man could have easily drove away and never thought twice about our exchange, but instead, even from afar he wanted to make it right. Coming from someone you know or a stranger, “sorry” is an important word to hear and this particular apology really made my day.

2022 Covid Update

It has been nearly nineteen months since my last CoronaVirus related blog. It is wild to think we are still in the thick of this mess, back then we were hopeful by this point Covid would be long gone. Our “two week” national shutdown has extended nearly two years and by this point, many people are fairly drained. Endless businesses have had to walk away from their hard earned dreams and shut their doors. Addiction, overdoses, and suicide rates have skyrocketed. Relationships have divided and crumbled in heartbreaking ways. It is devastating to see the destruction that has been left behind in the wake of Covid.

Worldwide, there have been 293 million Covid cases recorded. 5.45 million people have died from the CoronaVirus, arguably that number would be staggeringly higher however so many people/countries do not have the resources to learn the cause of death for each person. In Canada, 2.36 million cases have been confirmed, 35k have lost their lives to the virus. Of those who have contracted the virus but survived, the main effects have been: Fatigue, difficulty breathing, habitual cough, joint and chest pain, memory loss, loss of smell and taste for prolonged periods, depression and constant state of dizziness. Since my last post, there have been a handful of vaccines approved to help stop the spread, or at the very least, to help protect us individually from getting acutely ill. They are currently allowing children 5-11 to get the vaccine and are working on lowering that age limit. There is massive controversy over the vaccine as some people believe it is being used too soon without knowing proper long term effects and others believe it is selfish to not get the vaccine in order to work together as a whole to keep one another safe. Currently, people who are not vaccinated are not allowed to enter many buildings such as all restaurants and bars, most arenas or sports venues, theatres, as well as many other businesses if they decide to implement that rule. For those of us who are vaccinated, we carry vaccine passports on our phone as proof when needed. There is current talk of taxing unvaccinated people as our medical system is grossly past capacity due to unvaccinated patients. All of this is causing a great divide. We are now in our fourth wave of the virus and thankful the latest mutation, Omicron is not appearing to be nearly as dangerous as the previous strains however this one seems to be the most contagious and we are now seeing a huge employment strain as so many people are sick or isolated.

For two years now, we have been unable to go anywhere in public without masks. Once, an older lady made a comment to Charlie saying something along the lines of “I’m sorry, I wish I could pull this down so you could see me smile. This must make children feel so afraid”. The sad part was, it doesn’t make her afraid at all because it is all she remembers. Charlie was just over two years old when this began. Out of all of us, she is likely the one most adjusted to masks as she has grown up with it. We are not allowed to leave our house if we have a runny nose or cough. For the majority of the past two years, our numbers for gatherings have been limited, even within our own home. Currently there is no limit, however most people are fairly nervous to gather in crowds without appropriate distancing or rapid testing. Our children have gone through periods of in-school learning and online learning, sometimes mandated and sometimes at the discretion of our family. This year, our boys were in school for one week before learning they were close contacts and needed to be isolated for two weeks. After just coming off of the Christmas break they all hit isolation a second time and with the number of cases rising so quickly, we expect it won’t be long until it happens again.

In our family, aside from one road trip to BC, we haven’t been on a vacation since Bali. Travel is limited, flights are expensive, and insurance isn’t covering Covid related costs which is persuading most people to put a halt on travel plans. You have to be vaccinated if you are 12 years and older in order to travel and for anyone younger than 12, you have to be isolated for two weeks upon your arrival home. Which essentially makes a two week vacation, a month long commitment. Most people have been home, literally stuck in their home for two years now which is causing all sorts of issues ranging from financial strains, to mental health problems, even the divorce rates are skyrocketing.

We know dozens of people who have had Covid, some of them have had fairly mild symptoms, some have absolutely fought for their lives. Currently we have a family friend, maybe thirty six years old, on life support and fighting for her life. We are lucky to not know anyone personally who has died due to Covid however I did lose two grandparents during this time while their senior homes were in lock down and it was devastating to know how alone and isolated they were for years before they passed. No Great Grandkids crawling on their laps, no coffee dates with Granddaughters, no help with groceries or cleaning from their children – just completely alone in a senior centre, confused with what was going on in the world, with depression that is hard to explain.

This Covid road has been long and difficult to travel. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful country where it is safe and clean to go outside whenever we want. We are lucky to live in a beautiful home with heat and air conditioning and space for us to not be stacked on top of one another. We are lucky to still have many of the freedoms we do. Above all, we are very lucky to have good health. And so, we are hopeful this will not last much longer, and we are eagerly anticipating a new chapter in life.