Christmas 2020

Unlike our December Christmas parties and Disney vacation in 2019, Christmas 2020 was quiet--eerily quiet.  For one, two prominent family members, my mother-in-law and aunt, were missing from the celebrations.  There was no-more Florence to spoil the grandkids with gifts, cookies, and yummy treats.  (I could always count on her for a care package of comfy pajamas, chocolates, and a Yankee Candle.)  There were also no more antics from my beloved Aunty Kiki; no reindeer antlers, no dancing Snoopy, no singling Christmas ball, and no last minute shopping and wrapping presents on Christmas Eve.  It was as if time stopped, and we were stuck in some sort of confused new reality.

A strange quiet rattled the house this year because we didn't have our usual house guests and slumber parties.  Both my Aunt Kiki and my Aunt Irene would travel to our house to stay overnight--sometimes for several days.  Until the wee hours of the morning, I would hear the TV blaring from my mother's side of the house with occasional talking and laughter.  While saying goodnight, I would peak my head through the door to see the same setting as the night before.  My mom would be sitting in her recliner, entranced by whatever show or movie; Aunt Kiki, the multitasker, would be watching TV with piles of papers surrounding her--sometimes mail, sometimes students' schedules (she was a guidance counselor), or sometimes bowling paperwork (she was the President of the Connecticut Women's Bowling Association for three years); Aunty Irene, the socialite, would be texting friends and family or scrolling through Facebook while occasionally glancing at the TV screen in front of her.  The "three sisters" (my mom, Aunt Irene, and Aunt Kiki) were so different from each other (kind of like Rose, Blanch, and Dorothy of the Golden Girls), and yet, they had the strongest bond any sister could ever have--they were lifelong friends and advocates for each other.

This year it was the five of us only--my mom, hubby, Little Lewie, me, and our now nine month-old puppy, Bruce.  Hubby offered to cook us an amazing Christmas dinner, which didn't disappoint, and we spent Christmas morning opening up presents, which now included treats and toys for Bruce.  The "big gift" on Lewie's list this year was the Oculus Quest, but he and Daddy were surprised by others such as a Gskyer Telescope; pool toys--a light up beach ball and pineapple float; books; and chocolates.

We also visited family members through Zoom.  After dropping off gifts to each other's houses, my sister-in-law's family and ours took turns opening up our gifts "on camera."  It was surprisingly fun to watch each other's reactions, and in many ways, it was better than the usual visit where all of us would be opening up each other's gifts at the same time.  We were deliberate in having each child take his or her turn, so we could lengthen the fun.  My sister-in-law created a board game and snack theme for us, so we could have many new games to play in the New Year (with food to accompany those games, of course).  My favorite game, which I can't wait to play, is one about visiting National Parks seen here:

Since we couldn't go to one this year, we might as well learn about them.  My sister-in-law knows me all too well!

The second Zoom session was with my cousins from DE, OR, and CT on my mom's side of the family.  It was fun, but since my family doesn't really get Zoom etiquette, we were all talking over each other.  It was a little hard to grasp what each person was saying.  Then again, that happens in real-life visits, too.

At the end of Christmas day, I crashed hard on the couch with Bruce by my side.  Even without all the physical visiting, I was plain tuckered out, which to me, is the sign of an awesome holiday.  Of course I missed seeing everyone in person and giving out real hugs, but just knowing that real visits and hugs will be a reality again in 2021 is good enough for me.  We have so much to be thankful for, which starts first with health.

Four Great Fall Bike Rides in CT (for beginners)

Fall 2020 was the year of bike riding for us.  In the past, trying out some of Connecticut's bike paths were on my bucket list, but there never seemed to be enough time between school, work, extracurricular activities, and busy weekend errands.  

This year, we found the time!  Of course, when I finally made the commitment to begin scanning stores to buy Little Lewie a new bike, most stores were sold out.  (Unsurprisingly, bicycle riding had become a phenomenon in the age of COVID, especially during those early months when there were less cars on the road, and bike riding became the perfect  solution for social distancing.)  Since we weren't prepared to pay $500+ for a bike, we repurposed our old ones.  My rusty old bike got some WD-40, and my mom's bike, with the exception of having flat tires, was almost in perfect condition.  Thankfully, Little Lewie didn't care about using a "girl's bike," and he was actually quite happy with my mom's padded bike seat!

Since we are beginners when it comes to bike riding at best, we chose four great bike paths, each known for being relatively flat, paved, and scenic.  Since Lewie hadn't been on a bike in about a year (the last time was during our Yellowstone trip), he told me that he had forgotton about how much fun bike riding could be!! For me, I enjoyed the time spent with my son and the beautiful scenery around us.  Connecticut is such a beautiful state with so much variety.

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Experience Connecticut's Coast

Being "Connecticut's largest shoreline park," Hammonasset Beach State Park boats over two miles of beach with a well-paved path for walking/biking.   The path follows the beach, some marsh areas, and goes right into the campground.  Since we're beginners and like to bike at a slow, relaxed pace, the ride took us about 45 minutes to go from one side to the other and then back.  Of course, the best part of this trip is being able to enjoy the beach afterwards.  Since we went off-season, the snack bars were closed, and it was too cold for swimming, but we still had a chance to walk on the sand and take in the sights and smells of the ocean.

West Hartford Reservoir - Experience Forest and Lakes

The well-paved trail around West Hartford Reservoir was easy to follow, and we loved that it had separate lanes for walkers and bikers.  Every once in a while we'd have a stray walker veer into our territory, but a quick "Excuse us" would help us get by.  Since we're beginners, this trail was the hardest because it was slightly hilly.  A few times, I had to gasp get off my bike and walk it uphill (red face and all), but going downhill made it so worth the embarrassment!  My favorite part of this ride is when we we followed the edge of the lake before we made another exhilerating downhill turn.  The rush of the wind against our faces was fun!

Farmington River Trail: Canton to Collinsville - Experience a Small New England Mill Town

The Farmington River Trail is one of my favorites.  I've gone on many walks here, but we've never taken our bikes.  The trail is fun because it follows the beautiful Farmington River and then climbs over a cool bridge, which dumps us right into the heart of Collinsville's Historic District.  Having been a mill town since the start of the Collins Company, an axe and tool factory established in 1826, its one of the few nineteenth century manufacturing villages (out of 200+ in the State of Connecticut) that still survives and "has retained [its] historic and architectural integrity of both individual structures and their setting." (Collinsville Historic District)  The best part of this trail is that it can be combined with a fun day of learning.  Bike racks make it possible, so you can stop in Collinsville to eat and to visit the Collinsville Historical Museum, which is located right across the street. (They have a great collection of artifacts and some wonderful docents that help explain the rich history of life in New England back in the 1700's, 1800's,  and 1900's.)

While I've been to the museum before, on this particular bike trip, the museum was closed due to COVID.  However, Lewie and I were able to enjoy a delicious outside breakfast from Lasalle's Market and Deli.  Oh, and they serve ice cream any time of the day, so I may have gotten a chocolate milkshake for breakfast while Lewie feasted on some French toast and chocolate ice cream for dessert. (I can't imagine what could make a bike ride more fun!)

Farmington Canal Heritage Trail: Cheshire to Hamden - Experience an Historical Canal and Railroad Route

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is an 80+ mile greenway in New England.  In Connecticut, it spans 54 miles through 11 towns, running from New Haven to Suffield.  The canal heritage trail has an interesting history, especially from 1825-1848 when an actual canal was constructed as a means of water/boat transportation to bring cargo between New Haven, Connecticut and Northampton, Massachusetts. (The decision to create this canal came from the fame and success of the 363-mile Erie Canal.)  It is said, "On average the Farmington Canal was 36 feet wide and four feet deep with a 10 foot wide towpath.  The canal boats themselves were 85 feet long and were pulled along by horses or mules."  Unfortunately, the canal was poorly constructed, which meant it had leaks, and at some points, the banks collapsed.  It was never able to turn a profit, and for this reason, "the shareholders of the Farmington Canal Co. petitioned the legislature for authority to build a railroad," which would replace the commercial operations of the Canal. (History FCHT)

Admittedly, Lewie and I only had a chance to explore about four miles of this route from Cheshire to Hamden.  In this area, "the canal route" is dissected by many side roads where our riding must stop to avoid oncoming traffic.  (In some cases, no cars are coming, and we can cross without stopping.)  We usually begin our trip at Lock 12 Historical Park, which is one of the last existing places where remnants of the canal can be seen.  (A lock is a device used for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on a canal waterway). Then we proceed into Hamden before turning around to come back.  I didn't take pictures from this year's journey on the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, but here are some fun pictures from the first time we did it in 2017.  (Lewie was nine.)

There are still more bike routes to explore here in Connecticut, but so far, these are our favorites.  I hope in 2021, we'll be able to find the same time again to enjoy them like we did in 2020.

Where Did the Time Go?

This fall, our beloved Aunty Kiki passed away.  The entire month of October was spent commuting back and forth to the hospital--being hopeful, praying, and wishing for an answer.  By the end of the month, we received the answer; it was her time to join "the pearly gates of heaven."  I use this phrase because as a practicing Catholic, she believed this would one day be her fate, and she believed her parents (my grandparents) and many of our deceased relatives would be waiting there for her, too.

On November 1, 2020, All Saints' Day, we had Aunty Kiki's funeral service; it was fitting for someone that we thought of as a modern day saint--one that put her family, the students she taught, and so many other people before herself.  She spread cheer and laughter wherever she went, and she also prayed for peace--whether it was to end wars or to end family divisiveness due to politics or internal feuds.  In her mind, peace needed to come before "being right."

While we took those fateful trips back and forth to the hospital, however, life pushed forward.  On the days when I couldn't be with her (COVID restrictions allowed only one patient per day), Little Lewie and I took walks, rode bicycles, picked pumpkins, and watched our little pup, Bruce, grow up right before our eyes.  Along with tears of sadness, there were also smiles, silliness, and beauty.  (My poor husband is absent from these photos because he has a knee injury that may take up to six months to heal!)

My favorite photos of the fall came from a random day in October.  I promised I would drive my mom up to the hospital to see Aunty Kiki while Little Lewie, Bruce, and I would explore Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven.  Admittedly, I had only been to the park once or twice before, so I didn't remember too much including how to drive there.  I set my GPS, and I followed signs to a parking lot right next to their indoor carousel.  The last time I visited (more than 10 years ago), the indoor area with the carousel was transformed into a whimsical fairyland for a wedding reception.  Now it was locked and barren, probably closed indefinitely for COVID.  Lewie and I peeked through the windows, and he agreed it would make an awesome place for a wedding.

The grounds were beautiful--sandy beaches, lush marshes, rocky coastlines, looping trails, and, of course, a beautiful lighthouse made of sandstone in 1847--the original structure before this was made of wood.  The park is a respite to many migratory birds, and we saw deer come out of the brush as we  were leaving the park.

Bruce liked it for other reasons.  First, it was his first time seeing and tasting the ocean.  He wasn't too keen on the salty taste, but he loved exploring the sand, the rocks, and the open fields.  Even more, he loved the action--there were families, couples, children, photographers, fishermen, and other dogs!  I took just as many photos of him as I did Little Lewie.

I didn't know it back then, but our visit to Lighthouse Point Park became symbolic.  You see, my aunt LOVED lighthouses (which is a reason why she loved traveling to Maine so much).  Combining this awesome structure with the backdrop of a glorious, colorful sunset epitomized the end of her earthly life, for she brought so much color to the lives of everyone she met.  In awe, Little Lewie and I both watched the fading glow of this radiant light until it was no more.  The light had been extinguished.  But just as a lighthouse is a sign of welcome, safety, and comfort (freedom from fear), Aunty Kiki will forever live in our hearts as a beacon of peace, promise, and hope.  

She is with us.  We know it.