Wow. To say my year went out with a bang is an understatement. I left the ranch on Sunday the 28th and didn't stop hurtling until last night when I returned to the ranch. Let's just say Zoomers live up to their generational moniker!
I arrived to my farm in Idaho with my little Jeep Liberty packed to the brim with Christmas presents, goodies, and a more than respectable amount of homemade lasagna. I wasn't outta the car ten seconds before I was enveloped in a Navy sailor hug, hugs galore in fact, and then the party got started.
My other child, who's basically been adopted as fam, was also home on leave from the Marines, and let's just say he is entertaining. He was before he joined the service, he is even more so now. Him getting Roman candles shot at his evading form was very entertaining, the kids doing donuts in the Tacoma in my field was entertaining, them lighting the inside of the barn on fire while trying to shoot Roman candles at my marine child was, entertaining.
The most entertaining thing though, was the several hours of inebriated Marine karaoke. I have some very cherished videos, and the entire house joining together to sing Party In The USA has become a treasured memory.
We spent the next few days visiting family and friends, including going to the hospital to visit my uncle who decided he needed a quadruple by-pass for Christmas. He too is a Marine, you can't get him down for long, he's doing great! We watched Anaconda in the theater (stupidly hilarious flick), tried out the new ramen place in a neighboring town, played D&D, and had yet another party at the farm on New Year's.
Let's just say, I am kaput. I slept 14 hours last night in an attempt to recover.
But I am not sad, in fact, time spent with my family was the greatest balm for my soul ever, especially after the meat grinder of a year that 2025 was.
My boy ships back to Naval Station Great Lakes tomorrow, my marine son is already back at Camp Lejeune. I probably won't be seeing either of them for a long time, possibly til next Christmas. Life definitely moves forward, whether you want it to or not.
As I sit here on the second day of this year reflecting over the past few days, I have to say I am pretty dang excited about what this year holds. I only have three semesters of school left, I am going on a few adventures this year, and I am blessed to live in a beautiful paradise and try to be a good steward of its gloriousness.
Positive waves, Moriarty, positive waves.
Happy New Year to you all!!
And as most of the time, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's very well traveled once again iPhone.
