PJ's Run: Exit 2020

Which way will the wind blow?

What a year, eh? Way too much alone time and too few gatherings with family and friends, way too much digital communication and too little face-to-face time, way too many hours/days/weeks/months hanging around the house and too meager a number of miles exploring.

But all that said, Kendall and I still have our health and each other - and - our amazing cattle dog Taz so there is much to be thankful for. It has been over a year since we saw our eldest who lives in Portland yet we are able to see our youngest when we walk dogs together - but it has been close to a year since we've been able to give our children a hug. From a running perspective, I have been slowly getting back on track after a meager year of running in 2019 ("slow" being the operative word). Since spring, most runs have been solo though running buddy Connie and I do try to meet up almost once per week for a run - and since I'm at the slow end of the scale and she's very speedy these days, the social distancing factor takes care of itself quite nicely.

One outcome of the pandemic is that I became equipped with a smart phone - first through work so everyone could reach me by phone, text, and email and I could actually deal with work issues without being at my computer while all of us work remotely. Then my flip phone well, sort of flipped out, so I got my own smart phone identical to my work smart phone since I had figured out how to use it. And oh-my-goodness, what an excellent camera it has! So! Here's my 2020 in photos:

January, 2020

Wolf moon set

Chautauqua sculpture

February, 2020 (pre pandemic - a snowy month)

Connie, Anita, and Taz - ahead of the incoming snow

...and just before pandemic restrictions went into effect, we were treated to a visit from Kendall's sister Cheryl. What a wonderful visit it was!

One of the many outstanding murals in Denver's RiNo district

Miller gang & spouses (front: Andy, Steve, Kitty; back: me, Kendall, Cheryl)

March, 2020

Pi Day!

First day of spring snowfall

Sunrise 15k on Davidson Mesa - Taz checks things out before I start

April, 2020 - Pandemic protocols in full swing:


Pre-dawn runs to avoid crowds (as if there were any...)

The masked dog walks commence - now a daily habit

K's first mask

Broadway (Boulder's main street) at rush hour
- me in the middle of the street to take this photo

Empty University of Colorado campus (Macky Auditorium)

Kendall figures out how to keep me happy
during pandemic. Driveway basketball!!!!

1st photo with new phone - Taz of course!

May, 2020 - we get creative...

A dawn visit to the tulips of Pearl Street

Spring wild flowers along the Bluestem trail

A back porch zooming 70th birthday party for my brother, David

Cheering section (Paul & Kendall at Paul's house) for my virtual BolderBoulder 10k
(my route took me past Paul's house 3 times)

June, 2020 - settling in to new ways of life

Gardening like we've never gardened before:

Front yard columbine

Peas!

Mulch and more mulch at Paul's house

Kendall's birthday

Chili mask from Sasha

Birthday walk

Unexpected company on a very early morning run through campus - the fox followed us through much of our campus run. Magical! (It's in the background past Taz in the buffalo photo.)

Miller "Great Baking Show" zoom call - no tasting so all visual!
Photos: the gang on zoom, Kendall's oreo robot, Paul's cherry volcano, my Michigan/Great lakes, Steve's rocket moon, and Tara's party cake. An excellent evening's entertainment!

July, 2020 - summer in full swing, pandemic style

Gardening continues - with the first of our tomatoes!

We have our traditional Cherry Pie On The Fourth Of July!

Kendall gets desperate for a haircut. My former mom-cuts-the-kids'-hair skills are reawakened!

We do the virtual Buffs Helping Buffs 5k on Davidson Mesa - me and Connie running, Kendall walking and meeting up with a Very Large bull snake

And when I just had to get out of Boulder, Kendall humored me and we drove out to the country roads of Weld County.

August, 2020 - virtually running along

Opportunities for virtual races and runs abounded across the internet. I signed up for two during the summer: a run from the southern border of Michigan to the northern shore of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a run from the northern to southern borders of Colorado (Wyoming to New Mexico via I25). Just to make the Colorado run more "real", I decided at least some of the miles had to be along (or close to) the virtual route - so Kendall and I went to the Wyoming border and I ran several miles south from there along an I25 frontage road. A very nice change of pace!

Taz is ready to run - with buffalo statue looking down on us

Where the antelope roam

...and the buffalo

September, 2020 - out and about

Two big events: Kendall and I did a day trip to Pawnee Buttes (worth a post-pandemic return trip when museums and little shops are open) - and we had a socially distanced birthday run and party for Connie.

Pawnee Buttes!

Connie birthday!

October, 2020 - An intermingling of celebrations and angst

The morning of our 45th wedding anniversary - still smilin'

We treat ourselves to a fall colors trip to Rollins Pass

Smoke cloud from horrific fires
west of Boulder

Election angst everywhere

Barley birthday walk & homemade (pumpkin/peanut butter) dog treats!

A favorite Halloween house

Taz greets the snow

November, 2020 - beyond election and on to joys and blessings of the season

Decor of the season

I seem to have grown a lot of hair
since my February haircut

Autumn - a superb season for running

And wrapping up the month with Thanksgiving preparations, back porch feasting, and a Thanksgiving zoom call with all of my cousins (and offspring) on my dad's side of the family.