LBJ, MLK

 

We've had some nice January weather lately--and a three-day weekend to boot for MLK day without any work! It was time for me to drag everyone away from the screen (full of NFL football- and Australian Open tennis-watching!) for some winter hiking.

We drove about 45 minutes north of us (passing the trusty elk herd) and tried to visit the Lost Man Creek Trail just outside of Orick (which had been closed for a bit and was new for us); however, when we got to the trail start, a government worker closed the gates, stating that the trail wasn't safe due to a bridge issue.  We pivoted to the nearby Lady Bird Johnson Grove, which was dedicated to the former first lady Lady Bird, an environmental activist and lover of these redwoods, by Richard Nixon in 1969.  We also walked a short way on the Redwood Creek Trail, which Kelvin and I did ourselves back in 2020.

Snack time!

One kid (like me) likes to be cozy...

 

... while the other is comfortable hiking in 37-degree weather wearing shorts, and throwing a football around!

We watched NONE of the inauguration, and I personally am going to try to stick my head in the sand, staying away from reading painful news or much social media, for the next four years. Time outside in nature is, of course, the best for this!

Junior Journalist?

 

Niall gets bored at church and apparently this is what he "does," copying the local journal (North Coast Journal."

He chronicled the December earthquake and tsunami alert...

..., and more recently the LA wildfires, which have us thinking of Kelvin's family.

(Everyone is safe in OC and Katherine/August in LA county are not under evacuation alert).

Journalism, prayers and rain are good! 

#LadiesOfNPS say good-bye

 “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

        -AA Milne, The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh

If you received/read our family's Christmas letter, you know that 2024 was a rough year!  We pivoted on vacation spots due to the middle east conflict, fled a devastating wildfire on vacation in Canada, lost our beloved 14-year-old pup, Pepper, to heart failure, faced the closure of our local birth center in October, and then endured more terrible election results where he-who-shall-not-be-named prevailed against the better-qualified candidate and superior human being.  The grief and change has been almost too much to process and bear, although we just continue to put one foot in front of the other, and continue to work through it all...

Today, I worked my last day (morning) and saw my very last patient ever at NPS, the delightful and homey prenatal clinic at which, alongside the most amazing team of staff one could imagine, I've served patients and families for over thirteen years (and at which I had my own prenatal visits). After the Mad River Birth center closed, we weren't sure what the future held for our prenatal site. Due to resources, space, and other organizational reasons, Open Door decided that it made the most sense to consolidate prenatal programs under one roof in Eureka. Unfortunately, we were given about one month's notice to swallow the news (although we negotiated for two, having a hard time coming to terms with the abrupt changes and knowing our patients would struggle additionally with little time to adjust to more whiplash).  The prenatal sites are both closed tomorrow (MOVE DAY), so that beds, equipment, supplies, papers, and more can be transferred from town to town to the other prenatal building, RCHC.  

(Now closed for more than lunch)

I was extremely sad when we learned about this (latest) change, grieving another huge community loss. NPS has had a small group prenatal practice with high continuity and satisfaction for patients, families, staff, and providers alike. The COVID pandemic challenged us all (and led to quite a bit of burnout), and, while several incredible prenatal nurses that are dear friends have moved away to other local positions, and providers have also left (or retired from birth work) over the years, we still maintained an extremely high quality of patient care, something uniquely special and unlike anything I have experienced anywhere or any other time in my career. I've delivered multiple children of multiple families, which is incredibly special to me and gets us treasured handwritten notes, cards, and baby photos!

I also have loved commuting 10 minutes to and from work and being able to drop off my kids at school and pick them up (now, likely, and sadly, a thing of the past).  And, although we will be continuing prenatal services at RPS/RCHC in Eureka and, with hope, will continue to offer high-quality and personalized care, I know there will be some kinks that need to be worked out and a tough adjustment period for staff and patients alike.  It's so hard when things that have been working so well for so long come to an end (for reasons out of one's control), and change. is. so. hard (especially for "dinosaurs" like me).

Christmas party photobooth photos from years past...

From a White Elephant Christmas Party- IYKYK

(#LadiesOfNPS, including Aileen, Molly, Dani, and Kayla)

One of the very last sessions at this workstation, my second home

I'm genuinely trying to find the silver linings in the clinic merge (additional exceptional colleagues and less care fragmentation are a plus!), despite the upheaval of everything we've been through in recent months. I've accepted the changes (even logging of EPIC today and walking off campus without tears), am looking ahead to effecting positive change at my "new" job location. Nevertheless, today, I reflect and hold space for grief and feelings, grateful for the wonderful years and laughs I've had and all the friends and memories I will keep despite this conclusion. It's been a huge blessing and privilege to work with the best humans and at the best prenatal clinic around... 

 

Colombia, El Final: Cartagena y Las Islas del Rosario

We ended our trip in the city of Cartagena de Indias, a lovely vibrant city on the northern Caribbean coast, founded in 1533 by the Spaniard Pedro de Heredia.

The city, Colombia's fifth biggest, is known for culture and gastronomy, and we had some delicious seafood in town.

I eat ceviche (possibly my favorite food, but not Niall's!), almost every time I see it on the menu.

Kelvin loved his pescado frito, and we even got Niall to eat a bit, as it was nugget-adjacent.

Tropical street frutas

Our guía Gabo took us on a walking tour of the old, walled city and nearby Getsemani, filled with colonial buildings, street art, and colorful banderas.

Plaza de Bolivar

Palacio de la Inquisición

Cannons on the fort walls

Coral embedded in the city walls

In Parque Centenario, we observed several birds, monkeys, iguanas, and even three-toed sloths (osos perezosos).

I'd never seen a sloth up close!

On our last full day, we took a day trip by boat to Islabela, one of the Islas del Rosario (Rosario Islands) just off the coast of Cartagena.

Harbor views

We were greeted with a welcome juice and had our own chaise longues on which to lounge, read, nap, and relax with beautiful ocean views. 

The water was even warm enough for Niall and me, the too-cold ones, to get in and swim...

... even though he loved getting warm on the sand.

Kelvin tried a drink from the unique "kayak floating bar."

We had a seaside lunch (more delicious pescado frito for los adultos)  and, just as we returned to the Cartagena harbor, we hit a downpour!

Iver and I braved the flooded streets for some dinner (we really lucked out with weather on the rest of our trip!), but Kelvin and Niall said, "no way."

Proud of his Cartagena bag.

We had a lovely ~eight days in a beautiful country!  Our travel pace was good-- plenty of exploring, but lots of time to relax and sleep as well.  The kids say enthusiastically that this has been their favorite family vacation ever and they don't want to return to reality! However, we have to return to work to pay for our vacations!