Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Hindsight is Always 2020 – A look Back
We started 2020 in the Pacific Northwest lamenting the rain and planning an escape to where the sun always shines. For us that was Oahu and the timing in February was perfect – a month later would be too late.
In early March we celebrated my mom’s 90th birthday with only a hint that something was brewing. The next day she was in lockdown and all of Washington State would soon follow with only essential services remaining open. For the first time I wore a mask in public – homemade – until they were available everywhere for purchase.
Webex and Zoom became our lifeline to church and family and friends. We slowly learned the technology and got (mostly) comfortable speaking to one another from our little boxes – much like Hollywood Squares I thought.
There was a new language of the pandemic – coronavirus then covid, handwashing and social distancing. We prayed and hoped and coped with walks in the woods.
As time went on and rules permitted we ventured farther out and spent a few days at Lake Quinault in Olympic National Park. Other local trips would follow but always by car.
Or truck and trailer in this case – a final camping trip to Fort Stevens (turns out we like lodges better.)
Benji and Tiger knew nothing different. They continued on in their cat ways – sleeping and playing and carousing at night – providing both joy and comic relief.
It was a year like no other and I’m thankful my family and friends made it through. My heartfelt condolences to those who weren’t as fortunate.
Now here’s to 2021. I pray we would all stay safe and healthy and at peace through stormy days still to come.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Poignant and beautifully said. Thank you for the reflection.
Thank you so much for your comment.
Peace and blessings for the New Year.
Thank you. You too. 🙂
Well said Susanne and it certainly has been a tough year. Our cats have been a really important part of getting us through and I can see that Tiger and Benji were also a great help to you and your family. Happy New Year and Best Wishes always, from the kitties and us.
Thank you so much. Happy New Year and best wishes to you too! 🙂
Yes, having animals in the house certainly helps!
A year of great photos! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Love this!
Aw thank you so much! 😊
Looking at your photos again reminds me that you didn’t let 2020 stop you doing what you love best. Well done, Susanne.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks Pete. In some ways it wasn’t so different as we were able to do a lot of local trips, both day trips and overnight. I’m happy to have so many beautiful places nearby.
It is important that we all should reflect back like you did, Susanne; so we continue to look forward to our return to what we lost. Thank you.
Thanks so much for your comment Don. The new year is always a fresh start; hopefully we will return to “normal” soon.
Looks like you were able to make the most of what was a challenging year. The Pacific Northwest is a good place for getting out and about, as is Hawaii. I feel very grateful that through the whole year I’ve been able to outdoors, walking or swimming. It’s a real blessing. Happy New Year to you.
Thank you so much for your comment. I do feel thankful to be surrounded by so much beauty and many of the places almost deserted. I wouldn’t mind being stranded on the Big Island either. I’m glad you were able to be out and about. Happy New Year! 😊
Such a great post! And the part about kitties helping us cope and handle everything is so true! Foster and Panda are about ready to do a “Year in Review” post recapping all their “social distancing” news reports of 2020. Of course they have to wait till “Mom” gets around to finishing it😂🐱🐼
Thanks so much! 🙂 I can’t wait to hear Foster and Panda’s ‘Year in Review!’
It is so great to read you got a trip to Hawaii before covid shut everything down. We took most of our longer trips in late December and January when we could both take extended time off from work. We rather enjoyed our 27-foot trailer, even in snowy Sedona two years ago! Our pets certainly make our lives interesting don’t they, Susanne? Beautiful images of a year gone by!
Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂 We were so fortunate to get away to Oahu and also to have my mom’s 90th birthday party before Covid became widespread in March. If her birthday had been even one week later we likely would have had to cancel. I’m glad we all survived 2020! What a year! 🙂
Look at all the beauty you found and shared with us. With so much ugly on the air waves and on the internet, your beautiful images were a true balm.
Thank you for your lovely comment. 🙂
Wow! Love your adventurous nature and those photos! I felt like I was right there with you, thank you for sharing your experiences, it expands my world all the more. I miss traveling the most since this pandemic started. Happy New Year Susanne, let’s pray for more adventures in 2021, C
Thanks so much for dropping by! I’m glad you enjoyed a quick trip through my year. I too miss traveling to the big places but am happy to have lots of local beauty to enjoy. Here’s to many more adventures in 2021! Happy New Year!
I agree wholeheartedly with the other posts – your photos and stories were a shining uplift every day especially toward the end of the annus horribilis. Looking forward to more beauty in 2021. Our animals help every day with the terrible uncertainty of these times – a friend just adopted a rescued Bengal cat!
Aw thanks so much! We couldn’t survive without the natural beauty around us, and of course our furry family members help too! I’m always happy to hear of a rescued cat finding a good home! 🙂
Your photography is beautiful, your cats so gorgeous. 🥰
Thank you so much! 🙂 🙂
A unique year indeed…you may look back on this post in 10 years and remember all of the things we endured and adapted to…
True. One of the reasons I wanted this reflection of 2020 out there.. a small reminder of what we made it through! Here’s hoping 2021 ends on a better note!