Well well. We have an
extra day, one to add to the other 365! Here we come leap year 2016.
The leap years have to
pop up every four years to keep our seasonal names attuned with astronomical
events. Otherwise, one day we’d end up with the winter solstice occurring in
what we call July.
With any New Year comes
the usual practice of listing notables from the previous 12 months. But since
this is a leap year, I decided to flash forward instead of flash back.
Keeping in mind that
nothing in 2016 is certain (except 13 new and 12 full moon phases) here’s my
list of 16 things to look forward to.
1. The
joyful feeling you get when you lend a helping hand. Humanity shines when we
grab the opportunity to pay it forward in line at the grocery store, smile back
at a baby or open the door for a laden down person.
2. The
chance to give yourself a pat on the back for learning new “stuff.” Sometimes wandering the streets of today’s
digital village can be overwhelming. This week I found an efficient way to back
up my computer and organize desktop files. Aaaah!
3. Sunny
spots, places where you can have a quiet sit and feel the kind warmth of Old
Sol. One of my favourites offers a sheltered view of the lake, even when
charging winds whip foamy tops off of the waves.
4. Adventure
stories. This is a cool thing. I still remember Katelyn and her horse, Whiskey,
meandering along the shoulders of the road. Who knows what Highway 17 North or
the waters of Lake Superior will deliver. By the way, Katelyn and Whiskey made
it to Manitoba, where Whiskey is spending this winter. Katelyn took the bus
back to B.C. where she is working until she starts her ride again in the
spring.
5. Puzzles
to solve. I found a few brain teasing, although sometimes mind numbing, challenges
in a great library book. The Codebook
by Simon Singh shows an undeciphered, 1820s code that is supposed to lead to
buried treasure. The book also lists the Morse code, which I hope to learn - just
for fun.
6. Watching
plants surface. Last fall I transplanted the rhubarb bed (for the umpteenth
time). This spring I’ll be anxious to see if the reddish tips find their way up
through the ground.
7. The
emergence of the Pink Lady’s Slippers (aka Cypripedium
acaule). The moccasin - shaped flowers appear in the same spot year after
year. No matter how freezy the winter or how warm the spring, these bulbous
beauties just keep coming back.
8. The
different ways to move over snowy ground. So far this year, close to the shore,
there has been little need of snowshoes and scant opportunity to ski. No frozen
pond skating – sigh, but a recent bootwalk over a few cms of the white stuff
was a treat. The forest floor, not yet frozen solid, felt sqooshy and soft,
almost like Caribbean sands. (No... I’m not going to cheat and include a trip
south in the list. )
9. Crisp
perspective of the cold. Snow outlines every tiny twig. Stars and planets are
diamonds scattered across black velvet. Frost flowers are a temptation to pick.
And clear, mid-day magnetic skies are a deep hypnotic blue.
10. Mosquitoes
and blackflies! That’s right! They are food and strength for the beloved spring
peepers, the melodic warblers and...the elusive trout. Besides, we’ve learned
to survive pesky bugs with screens, bugnets, deet, mosi-q and by seeking the
windy places.
11. Loons.
Each fall, once their spotted summer feathers turn to the soft grey and white
winter plumage, these plaintive voiced water birds take off for the south.
Where do they go? Will I see them again when I swim out front?
12. Photos
from friends and relatives. There will be beach gatherings, picnics and more joy
to share.
13. Books.
I like the paper kind and am lucky to be looking at two Christmas gifts - Canoe Country by Roy MacGregor and The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood. A
stormy winter day, the woodstove. Need I say more?
14. Music.
Yes, yes, always. There are new tunes to enjoy i.e.: Adele’s latest, 25. The old ones still give off their
charm too. I love to watch the lake breath in and out while listening to my
scratchy, vinyl version of Vivaldi’s Four
Seasons.
15. A
trip, maybe, to Pukaskwa National Park. Last summer we discovered a tent that
can accommodate cots. Yay - glamping!
16. And,
finally, giggles and laughter from the grandkids. Or any kids in fact. (Now
that says it all!)
So here we go gang. Let’s all jump into life and find
a Very Happy, Very New Leap Year.
