And now for the rest of the story, or at least the rest of 2021’s adventures. If you haven’t read Parts I and II yet, go back and read/skim those first, so you know what this one is about. I know I usually don’t make my end-of-year-review posts this long and drawn out, but for some reason I want to post about last year’s highlights in more depth than usual. Maybe it’s because many people considered 2020 and 2021 to be “throwaway years”, and I just don’t want to remember them like that. Because yes, there were hard times. But there were also good times. So anyway, here’s the rest of the year after my big Texas road trip, at least what I can remember from seeing photos.
Fall fun! My church was doing hikes on Wednesday evenings, and we enjoyed the sunset from Swing Hill on Mt. Pisgah. My friends Chelsey and Rachel and I went to Johnson Farm for the pumpkin patch, and enjoyed hot cider and homemade doughnuts. And I went to the Oregon Ducks vs. OSU Beavers women’s soccer game on Halloween with friend Brit and her kiddos. Also in the fall, I attended friend Mollie’s beautiful outdoor wedding, hiked with friend Paola, played at a park with my cousin Josh and his family, went to backyard firepit evenings at friends’ houses, took Chris’s kids to parks, and lots of other things that I might post pics of on Facebook. And around Halloween, I hosted my first ever “Black Forest Party” with Black Forest foods and drinks. Friends and family came, and we watched Into the Woods. Very fun!
Fall foliage! I hiked up Angels Rest on the Columbia Gorge with friend Alex and her husband and pooch. And got this surprise sight on the back side of the Hult Center in Eugene when I was there to get weekly Covid tests for work. It’s a Japanese Garden dedicated to the Japanese-Americans who were sent to internment camps during WWII.
Then for Fall Break over Thanksgiving week, I flew to Arizona to spend it with friend Jas and her roommate and family. Can you tell that I really needed out of Oregon in 2021 after 2020 being stuck close to home? Jas and I hiked to the vortex at the top of Cathedral Rocks, to an old mine and petroglyphs on the Dixie Mine trail, and with her family and friends we hiked around Watson Lake in Prescott. On Thanksgiving Day, we took a walk near her and her roommate’s house through saguaro and lots of other cactus and interesting plants. Arizona is beautiful in autumn!
Last, we come to Christmas. I did all the normal things with family, of course. My coworker Tammy and her kids and I got drenched getting Christmas trees from a local farm. Jas came to Oregon to visit, and we went to see White Christmas at the Elsinore Theater in Salem. And Chris and his kids spoiled my cat Arwen with her own Christmas tree.
That pretty much wraps up 2021! I’m sure I missed some important things, but hopefully I got most of the highlights. There were hard times, too, of course. And hard work at the school. We got to go back to school in person in summer and full time in fall, and it was great to see my students and colleagues in the flesh. I’ll try to do a better job of posting more often this year instead of waiting till the end of the year (or four months after it!). With that, spring is in swing and summer is coming, so let’s enjoy 2022!
The Compass Rose Queen 
Hi Jessica! I really enjoyed this series, especially because it is the height of allergy season, and I am trapped indoors. I especially loved all the wonderful pictures of natural sites. God bless you and happy new year!
Sorry you’re stuck indoors this time of year. I probably should be too, but I’m able to survive thanks to a lot of antihistamines. Hoping you can get outdoors soon. I’m so glad you enjoyed my series! I was blessed with seeing some amazing sights last year. Hoping we both get to see some great places this year!