Christmas Newsletter 2012

I haven’t posted about any travels or journeys lately, but here is my Christmas newsletter (Compass Rose Queen style) from this year. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Where has the year gone? 2012 was a busy year of learning the ropes at DHS, making new friends at my new church, experiencing life in Southern Oregon, and exploring new skills.

This year I learned how to run the sound board at OBCC, memorized an entire song in ASL for a Christmas play, and attempted to write a second novel for National Novel Writing Month. I also joined the Diversity Committee for our district of DHS, and have put together two newsletters for it so far. I miss teaching and am still applying for teaching positions, but I am enjoying tackling other skills and responsibilities in the meantime!

For traveling, I mostly stuck around Southern Oregon. My friends Jesie and Shawna showed me and their kids around  the quaint historic town of Jacksonville. They also introduced me to local farms for berry picking and pumpkin patches. I attended local festivals like Riddle’s Sawdust Jubilee, Myrtle Creek’s Summerfest, Canyonville’s Pumpkin Festival, and the free Celtic music concert at Winston’s Highland Games. Very fun!

The biggest trip of the year was when my longtime friend Jas and I drove overnight to Bakersfield. We enjoyed driving through the Siskiyous   and the Cascades, especially seeing Mt. Shasta at sunset. My friend Rainie and I enjoyed a day at the Oregon Coast in Florence. For my birthday weekend, Mom and I drove south. We visited the historic Wolf Creek Inn and explored the Elizabethan Theatre in Ashland. My cousin Josh and I took his girls to the Renaissance Faire in Kings Valley, adding to the old-time fun.

I also got to host a “foreign exchange kitty” when my China teaching friend Laura moved from LA to Shanghai. Widget kept me good company this summer and fall. When Laura brought Widget to Oregon, we got together with our friend Elise, and then Laura and I drove to Crater Lake. Later, my friend Misty and her family also went to Crater Lake with me. So beautiful! Merry Christmas from Southern Oregon!

Love, Jessica Johnson

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