In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens described the Harris family’s 2008 to a tee. He wrote, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times… it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…” Maybe in retrospect that describes every year, for everyone, but it seemed especially true this year for us.
So that we can end on a happy note, we’ll start with the worst of times. Jim’s dad died at the age of 78 on April 1st after having been diagnosed with lung cancer in January and suffering a collapsed lung three days before Carolyn and the kids went away for a “little trip,” (more on this later), from which he never really recovered. All of his children got a chance to see him to say goodbye before he died, and that has helped Jim to plod through this grieving time. Enough about that…
The best of times was truly that….an amazing and life altering trip to New Zealand. Jim was awarded a sabbatical after ten years of working at the Peddie School; not wanting to fritter away this rare time off, we packed up the kids and moved to the most beautiful country in the world for four wonderful, relaxing, reinvigorating months. Our dear generous friends, the Garvey Bergers, welcomed us with open arms, helping Jim to secure office space at the New Zealand Center for Educational Research, helping the kids get settled into the small Paekakariki School, providing us a place to live, and most importantly, providing all of us with unconditional friendship and a lifetime of memories. Jim learned a bit about experiential education in NZ, but truthfully, what he really learned about was BIRDS! He took over 6000 pictures and identified over 300 birds, culminating in a professional quality slide show that he’s shown to friends and loved ones alike! The kids learned that kids in NZ are a lot like kids in the U.S., enjoyed going to a small school where playing on dangerous playground equipment is required, homework comes in sane quantities, and shoes are optional at best. Carolyn learned how to relax and to live without cell phone or blackberry. While the kids were at school, Jim and Carolyn spent long leisurely days together, bike riding, walking, and just hanging out. As a family, we went on several very cool trips, did lots of biking and hiking, lived in the outdoors, and generally got reacquainted with what it is like to live a life that’s not filled with hectic schedules and consumerism. In short, it was pure bliss. If you have the time and the wherewithal, feel free to read on in this blog for more details of our NZ adventure.
And then there’s the not best and not worst of times….just life as it is. Some highlights follow….
It has been amazing watching the kids grow. Abby, the consummate entertainer, now in 5th grade, is really becoming a young woman, rather than a girl. Becky in 2nd grade, the ever observant one, has gained a lot of confidence in herself and is constantly analyzing the world around her. David, also in 2nd grade, is our passionate and intense child; he has discovered that he can run really fast and that is all he wants to do. Fortunately, Jim has convinced him not to expect his father to run with him all the time! All of the kids read voraciously, all of them love to sing, all of them love to be outside, and all of them live and love life to the fullest. Needless to say, all of us sleep really well, too. What we really see in them is three great kids whom we love dearly. The independence we have been teaching them sometimes comes back to bite us, but they so want to do things on their own, and often do those things well that we can’t help but encourage them.
Speaking of running, this year saw a very particular “best and worst time” for Jim. With the support of Carolyn and his two best friends at school, and fresh off of many months of more than usual physical activity, he ran a sprint triathlon in September. It was a ¼ mile swim (in Peddie Lake, yowza!), a ten mile bike ride, and a 5K run. The swim felt like the most difficult part, though it shouldn’t have been. He got kicked early, tightened up, and never gained on anyone. The bike ride was fine, but the roads were slick from the rain. The run was killer, with his right calf cramping up about halfway in. In the standings he didn’t fair very well, but the victory was in the finishing!!!
The last exciting thing (we hope) to happen this year was the addition of the adorable Pango (pronounced Pon-gu…it means “black” in the Maori language of NZ), a 3 month old Golden Doodle puppy, to our family on Election Day 2008.
Returning to normal, American, high stress life has been challenging for all of us, although Carolyn has had the hardest time readjusting. Must be her Wyoming roots!! Mostly, though, we’re grateful for the chance to have done something incredible as a family and to have created lifelong memories. We are truly blessed.
We wish huge blessings for each of you, as well, this Holiday Season.
Jim, Carolyn, Abby, David, Becky, and Pango
Pictures are of the family near Milford Sound in NZ and of David, Becky, and Abby with Pango at the Lake
So that we can end on a happy note, we’ll start with the worst of times. Jim’s dad died at the age of 78 on April 1st after having been diagnosed with lung cancer in January and suffering a collapsed lung three days before Carolyn and the kids went away for a “little trip,” (more on this later), from which he never really recovered. All of his children got a chance to see him to say goodbye before he died, and that has helped Jim to plod through this grieving time. Enough about that…
The best of times was truly that….an amazing and life altering trip to New Zealand. Jim was awarded a sabbatical after ten years of working at the Peddie School; not wanting to fritter away this rare time off, we packed up the kids and moved to the most beautiful country in the world for four wonderful, relaxing, reinvigorating months. Our dear generous friends, the Garvey Bergers, welcomed us with open arms, helping Jim to secure office space at the New Zealand Center for Educational Research, helping the kids get settled into the small Paekakariki School, providing us a place to live, and most importantly, providing all of us with unconditional friendship and a lifetime of memories. Jim learned a bit about experiential education in NZ, but truthfully, what he really learned about was BIRDS! He took over 6000 pictures and identified over 300 birds, culminating in a professional quality slide show that he’s shown to friends and loved ones alike! The kids learned that kids in NZ are a lot like kids in the U.S., enjoyed going to a small school where playing on dangerous playground equipment is required, homework comes in sane quantities, and shoes are optional at best. Carolyn learned how to relax and to live without cell phone or blackberry. While the kids were at school, Jim and Carolyn spent long leisurely days together, bike riding, walking, and just hanging out. As a family, we went on several very cool trips, did lots of biking and hiking, lived in the outdoors, and generally got reacquainted with what it is like to live a life that’s not filled with hectic schedules and consumerism. In short, it was pure bliss. If you have the time and the wherewithal, feel free to read on in this blog for more details of our NZ adventure.
And then there’s the not best and not worst of times….just life as it is. Some highlights follow….
It has been amazing watching the kids grow. Abby, the consummate entertainer, now in 5th grade, is really becoming a young woman, rather than a girl. Becky in 2nd grade, the ever observant one, has gained a lot of confidence in herself and is constantly analyzing the world around her. David, also in 2nd grade, is our passionate and intense child; he has discovered that he can run really fast and that is all he wants to do. Fortunately, Jim has convinced him not to expect his father to run with him all the time! All of the kids read voraciously, all of them love to sing, all of them love to be outside, and all of them live and love life to the fullest. Needless to say, all of us sleep really well, too. What we really see in them is three great kids whom we love dearly. The independence we have been teaching them sometimes comes back to bite us, but they so want to do things on their own, and often do those things well that we can’t help but encourage them.
Speaking of running, this year saw a very particular “best and worst time” for Jim. With the support of Carolyn and his two best friends at school, and fresh off of many months of more than usual physical activity, he ran a sprint triathlon in September. It was a ¼ mile swim (in Peddie Lake, yowza!), a ten mile bike ride, and a 5K run. The swim felt like the most difficult part, though it shouldn’t have been. He got kicked early, tightened up, and never gained on anyone. The bike ride was fine, but the roads were slick from the rain. The run was killer, with his right calf cramping up about halfway in. In the standings he didn’t fair very well, but the victory was in the finishing!!!
The last exciting thing (we hope) to happen this year was the addition of the adorable Pango (pronounced Pon-gu…it means “black” in the Maori language of NZ), a 3 month old Golden Doodle puppy, to our family on Election Day 2008.
Returning to normal, American, high stress life has been challenging for all of us, although Carolyn has had the hardest time readjusting. Must be her Wyoming roots!! Mostly, though, we’re grateful for the chance to have done something incredible as a family and to have created lifelong memories. We are truly blessed.
We wish huge blessings for each of you, as well, this Holiday Season.
Jim, Carolyn, Abby, David, Becky, and Pango
Pictures are of the family near Milford Sound in NZ and of David, Becky, and Abby with Pango at the Lake
