X-Mas Letter 2006

Driving a 2-wheel drive car over a one-lane logging road in rain, fog and pitch black darkness was a heck of a way to wrap up 2005. Daniel and I survived our detour over China Mountain Road and made it to our Oregon coast destination where we rang in the New Year with friends, new and old. Here’s how 2006 shook down, in a nutshell. January: Left for China to visit my parents and celebrated the arrival of ‘The Year of the Dog.’ February: Gallivanted around China (Suzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Changsha, Sanya, Hong Kong, and Macau) with my parents; We got to be there when my cousin finally met her adopted Chinese son; Turned a 24-hour day into 40 on our trip back across the International Date Line. March: Daniel returned to work; I returned to my career search; I took up knitting to pass the time of unemployment; We did the Oregon Beach Cleanup with a friend. April: Daniel’s softball season began; I continued with the career search and landed several interviews, including Columbia Sportswear Co.; A week or so later, I was officially employed in the Planning Department at Columbia. May: I began my new job; We moved into a rental house in North Portland to reduce both of our commutes to work (Daniels from 30 minutes to 10; mine from 90 to 35). June: I began running again with the goal of participating in the world’s longest relay race in August; I rolled my ankle a couple weeks into my regimen and still ran an 8k race later that month anyway. July: We went on a short backpacking trip with two of our close friends; I began physical therapy for what I found to be a torn tendon from rolling my ankle. August: Along with 11 teammates, I ran the Hood To Coast Relay (197 miles!); Mom, Dad, and Daniel came out at 2am to support me during my second leg of the relay. September: We flew to Oklahoma when my grandmother passed away; We increased the size of our family (which includes our guinea pig, Pablo) to 5 when we decided to adopt my grandmother’s dogs, Cuddles (Chihuahua) and Doogie (Pappilion-Poodle mix). October: Daniel’s softball wrapped up; Our dogs finally arrived (they rode back up with my parents who were driving back from Oklahoma) and began adjusting to life with us. November: Mom, myself, and a few friends/ family embarked on a Christmas card making frenzy; Daniel and I hosted our first Thanksgiving with 9 guests (and it was a success!). December: For our 9th Christmas together, Daniel and I finally cut our first Christmas Tree (in the past, we’ve either had a potted tree, a tree with our families, or no tree at all). As 2006 comes to an end, our wish to all of you is that 2007 takes you to the places you want to be and that you find comfort and wisdom in the journey along the way. Happy Holidays Daniel & Erin