THE YEAR THAT WAS

 

I’ve decided to record these few thoughts on the year that was for me and mine.  As my New Years resolution I decided to start blogging, and posted eighteen entries in 2012.  I don’t know if anyone else is enjoying them, but I am!

Our family began 2012 by spending a week together in Cancun in February.  My memories are of leisurely breakfasts followed by mornings in the pool with Samuel and Natalie, walks on the beach with Elva, and family dinners where we shared details of our lives and reminisced about good times growing up together.  The week went by too fast and soon we were back to the reality of four busy households.

 

 

I travelled to Peterborough my first week back to work.  While there, I decided this would be the last stop in my seventeen-job career.  Something about flying to Toronto, hopping a bus to Peterborough, staying in an ugly hotel, and slogging around in the snow made me realize that I should reflect on how to approach the rest of my time on this planet. 

So I asked myself two questions.  How many good years do I have left to do the things I want to do?  How much money will it take?  I know the answer to the second question.  No one knows the answer to the first.  I’m anxious about adjusting to life after a busy career, but I’m going to give it a try and follow the example of many of my friends and relatives who’ve made the transition successfully.

As I near the end of my career I look proudly on those of my children and their life partners.  Sylvie began working with the Canada Revenue Agency last spring and just completed her first Accounting course.  Ghislain is applying for a new job at NB Power’s Point Lepreau nuclear plant.  Clément now works for Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube, a Dutch-based supplier of steel pipe to petroleum refineries.  Julia began her new career as a Nurse Practioner in September.  Jacques continues to pursue his dream of a career in opera and Isabelle is taking time away from being a radio broadcaster to be a full-time Mom.

On May 26 we welcomed the newest addition to the Arsenault clan, Lucie Camille, daughter of Jacques and Isabelle.  She’s a doll.  I’ve met her a couple of times and see her on Skype regularly.

2012 was marked by minor health setbacks for me.  In May I suffered a detached retina and almost lost the vision in my right eye.  Fortunately, I was able to have the retina reattached in an operation performed by Dr. O’Brien in Halifax.  I was laid up for six weeks and prevented from riding my cherished bike for the months of May and June.  All I was allowed to do physically was walk.  I’ve recovered about 60% vision and am still hoping for some degree of improvement, possibly following cataract surgery.

To top it off, I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, the left on December 21.  I’ve been putting it off for a while, but now it’s done.  On the bright side, my blood pressure is that of a teenager, I have no signs of arthritis, and the prostate’s fine!  I’m like a used car: the body needs work but the motor’s in good shape.  So I figure I’ve got a few good years in me yet as long as I get the oil changed regularly.

Because of the eye, I wasn’t able to ride as much with the Over the Hill Gang and only cycled 2,500 kilometres in 2012, about half what I usually do.  We did have a great ride in Québec in August though.  I was able to get back in the saddle in time to train for the Gran Fondo Garneau and keep up to the boys.  It was one of the best rides we’ve ever had.  I also bought a new bike, a Specialized Tarmac, which should keep me going until I’m 65.

 

 

Last Christmas I readied myself for a busy spring of trout fishing.  But the eye problem interfered.  In early July, before the water got too warm, I was able to get in a few good days at the trout.  I re-acquainted myself with tried and true spots on Barlow’s Pond in Wellington and left many happy, well-fed mosquitoes in my wake.  Closer to home, I discovered the joys of mackerel fishing from the bottom of the Hillsborough Bridge.  Now, I can’t wait for spring!

I pursued my passion for history by putting together an illustrated lecture on Wellington entitled Remaking the Image of Quagmire.  I gave two talks, the first in Abram-Village in April and the second in Miscouche in July.  The research was a lot of fun and feedback from the lectures was very positive.  I also wrote a family history booklet for a reunion of the descendants of Aubin-Edmond Arsenault and Bertha Gallant.  Arsenault is the only Acadian to have served as premier of this province.

I shared my first two attempts at fiction with the readers of this blog: The Bamboo Drum and Growing Up with Jacky.  The feedback from you was encouraging.  I decided to submit the children’s story and an abridged version of Jacky to the Island Literary Awards and won first prize for the Drum and second prize for Jacky.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Jacky will be published in 2013 in an Island literary review.  I’ve also started work on a historical novel based on a fictional Island community called Green Valley that will remind in-the-know readers of my home community of Wellington.  I may include a few excerpts from the draft in future blogs.

I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts about things that are important to me like religion, history, travel and education.  Because of my work, I’ve been unable to comment on politics, but that will likely change after I retire.

Every week, I receive emails from travel agencies and discount cruise sellers, and I drool as I peruse the list of exotic places, many of them on my bucket list.  Elva and I plan to travel as much as we can afford to and for as long as our health will permit.  Speaking of Elva, she was jealous of my new bike and decided to get herself a new convertible, a 2012 Mazda MX-5 hardtop.  It’s in storage for the winter and we can’t wait to take her for a spin in the spring.

 

 

Happy 2013 everyone!