Christmas 2016
"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." So says Dickens at the opening of A Tale of Two Cities. So appears 2016 in retrospect.
Incredible things have happened for me. In March I completed the Two Oceans Ultramarathon in Cape Town from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and back again, with my son and two great friends. It was very exciting witnessing my son turn into an endurance athlete! How strong he has become! In May, I attended the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation in Ireland. It was such a strange but wonderful feeling meeting so many people after 50 years. Time changes us. I would have walked past all of them on the street without recognizing them! I also had exciting travels in South Africa, Mozambique, Ireland, France and Spain.
Unhappily, dreadful things have happened for me too. Cancer reared its ugly head again and I have had to struggle once more to stay ahead of it. Much more painful, if you can imagine, was my wife's decision to leave our 44 year relationship. I had sensed for some time a growing disrespect and it turned into something that looked and felt like scorn and derision in the fall. We have now been separated for a few months.
While this separation made me very ill at first, in many dangerous ways, I am recovering quickly and now I believe I will be a much happier person than before. I believe in myself. I have so many fabulous and loyal friends. Life is filled with potential. By this time next year my metamorphosis will have taken shape.
Here's wishing all those who visit this blog a very happy Christmas and may 2017 be full of love and peace for you.
