Wrapping up 2022

 We painted the town on New Year's Eve with a visit to the zoo followed by dinner with Mary.


It was a fairly warm evening by Colorado Spring standards so glove, hat and a zipped jacket weren't even necessary.


My all time favorite zoo lights are at the Phoenix Zoo, but unfortunately we didn't have time to visit during our recent trip there.


It was nice going after Christmas because it wasn't nearly so crowded and was mostly an older crowd.  We even ran into some long time friends that we hadn't seen in a very long time.


One thing our zoo needs to add is some music.  The Phoenix Zoo has music everywhere and even exhibits where the lights and the music are timed together.


You can't go to the zoo without taking the long walkway to the elephant barn.  It's a great place to warm up also.


The wallabies were all tucked in for the night in their enclosure.  Normally you can walk right through them because they roam freely in the Australia exhibit.



Not a lot of animals were visible, but I think this big guy was loving the cold and snow.


Beautiful!


Every year the zoo seems to add something new and this year it was all the big blow up animals like the sloth above or the giraffes in my first shot.  I like it!



I really enjoy the warming stations they set up throughout the zoo.

Now a quick recap of 2022.

  • Snowbirded in Arizona for January, February and March
  • Visited eight countries in Europe on two different cruises
  • Made our first stained glass
  • Learned how to play shuffleboard
  • Gave blood for the first time since being declared Mad Cow Disease free
  • Went on a camping trip with Georgie
  • Visited Santa Fe to lay Irv's mom to rest
  • Made not one, but two trips to Columbus, GA to celebrate Shiloh's accomplishments.  On the second trip we drove cross country through eight or so states and a couple thousand miles.
  • Got to go up the St. Louis Arch
  • Visited Asheville, the Biltmore Estate, and Dollywood
  • Toured the Ryman and Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville
  • Hiked a small section of the Appalachian Trail
  • Lost Naomi Judd on April 30th
  • Made one list trip to see the Judd's Reunion Concert in Sioux Falls
  • Visited Tulsa to see my brothers, sister-in-law, and nephew
  • Got Covid not once, but twice
  • Starting using the public library again after a long hiatus
  • Watched my grandson spread his wings and become an independent man who voluntarily is serving his country and is deployed overseas
  • Spent Christmas in Chandler
  • Got caught in the Southwest Airlines meltdown

I'm sure I've forgotten something, but this should be a fairly good list of the highlights.


The year ended on a low note though when my eldest brother contracted Covid for the third time.  He's still struggling and is in a hospital recovering.  I have faith that he will return to his pre-covid state, but any and all prayers are appreciated.  My brother and sister-in-law have done an outstanding job of caring for him and I can never be thankful enough for them.

Ready for 2023!


Comments

polcat24 said…
It's amazing how much we can do when we're both retired.
January 15, 2023 at 9:16 AM
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