Celebrating 70 Years Around the Sun
I kicked off this milestone year by celebrating my 70th birthday in New York City, a destination that has always been on my bucket list. My sons and their wonderful partners whisked me away for a whirlwind adventure, and it was everything I had dreamed it would be! They made it the best Birthday Ever. Over the past decade, I have been pushing my boundaries and embracing fitness challenges. My journey began with my training as a competitive figure skater. At 58, I walked the Camino de Santiago, trekking from France to the End of the World. The following year, I tackled a Tri Triathlon in Courtney/Comox, repeating the feat at 65 and again at 70! My goal now is to compete every year, keeping the spirit of adventure alive. I also proudly climbed Mount Gimli, waving the community flag at the base camp, a first for someone from Gimli. While I once found my harmony with frozen water, I have now fallen in love with warm water and swimming.
Dancing is on my radar, though I currently lack a partner. Perhaps the future holds a delightful surprise, and a dance partner will emerge. For now, I’ll dance around my home and enjoy every moment.
Writing, which I am deeply passionate about, along with hiking, cycling, and swimming, keeps me energized and fit. Each day, I wake up with curiosity, eager to see what unfolds.
A significant lesson I learned this year is that the cheers for the last person to finish are just as loud as those for the first. My goal was to show up and complete the task, and I did. As I lined up for the swim, a fleeting thought of quitting crossed my mind. But I remembered my dear friend Bob, who is no longer with us, and his spirit guided me across the French Pyrenees, one step at a time. Bob, you must have been with me because I took that plunge into the water.
There are more adventures to come, and I look forward to sharing them. For now, embrace creativity, for with creativity comes courage, and with courage, you can accomplish anything. Until next
The Camino started it all
Then came the Tri – Triathalon – soon to become known as the Tri-Kathalon Lovingly renamed by my cousin Leslie 
Then my first real mountain – Mount Gimli
