Winter 2025
Posted on February 19, 2025 by Ching under Life.
I’ve never been a huge fan of winter and that’s even more true this year. This is probably one of the more eventful winters we’ve had. Eventful in all ways — good and bad. Brian was diagnosed with cancer in fall and so he was in cancer treatment most of the winter. It’s not fun any other time and when the roads aren’t great, that makes it worse.
Christmas was pretty subdued this year. I didn’t even bother decorating. Brian was very weak and bringing the Christmas tree up from the basement (and decorating it) is a two-person job. I didn’t want to ask Brian to help me because of his physical condition, and I had no desire to do everything by myself, so we just went without our tree and Christmas decorations. It’s not the first time we’ve have not put up a Christmas tree (because it’s so much work) but it is the first time that we’ve gone completely without Christmas decorations. In other years, we will usually put all of wreaths and Christmas lights up and display all of our Christmas knickknacks even though we’re not putting up a Christmas tree.
Not having any decorations at all made for a less festive holiday but it was fine. Brian’s parents came up from Oklahoma and we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together. It was fine. All you really need is family. And, for me, as long as Brian and I are together, all is right in the world.
Brian and I were pretty much cooped up at home for most of the winter season. I went to work like normal but I also went with Brian to as many of his appointments as I could. I had cut back on a lot of extracurricular activities so I was home with him every night except on Wednesdays when I teach my Zumba class. Brian really likes it when we sit in front of the fire and I rub his feet and legs.
Anyway, my friend Cindy Egan invited me to play pickleball one night after work. After being cooped up at home for many weeks, Brian encouraged me to go. Honestly, it was a nice break from what had become our normal evening routine. We were only forecasted to get 1-3 inches of snow that night but it was actually much worse than expected. I ended up driving my car into a ditch on K96 on my way home. I had promised Brian I would only be gone for about two hours and I ended up being gone for much longer because I had to wait for a tow truck. You can watch the video I made of that little adventure here.
The 20-minute drive home turned out to be three hours that night but I was grateful that (a) I was able to get a tow truck to come, and (b) I eventually made it home safely. On the bright side, I took home food from Cindy that night and her mashed potatoes and meatballs were amazing. Brian couldn’t eat so I pretty much ate all of it. Our friends have been so wonderful throughout this journey. I had to ask them to stop giving us food because Brian couldn’t eat anyway and there was always way more food than I could eat by myself. But I am ever so grateful — for the food, the donations, the hugs, the thoughts, the prayers, everything.
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