Saturday 31st December 2022
Dear 2022
After a quiet start at the same house that I'm at right now, you certainly sped up. And I'm not only referring to the turbo, 6 gear, blue beauty that made speed feel easy under my foot. The call that halted my road trip plans with Dad's last few hours, put my life and family into an emotional spin that is still holding scars. I drove away before the scattering of the ashes and headed Southwards.
My goodbyes done, the road of the Free State welcomed me on my big, scary but exciting, adventure. Small towns, usually driven through became stopovers for the night and I began to relax into the moments of now. Planning only 2 nights in advance, my trust of there being enough of hotels, fuel and funds began to climb. I was in time for my only planned tour of Matjiesfontein by historian, Dean Allen and I loved it.
All of it.
Stars in Sutherland, graveyards in Prince Albert, milkshakes in Laingsburg, breakfast in Bethulie, ghosts in Mossel Bay - boat rides too, sunsets in Oudsthoorn, early morning runs in Graaf Reniet, jaw dropping at the Valley of Desolation and new friends in Nieu Bethesda. The list goes on in an unbelievable way and that's only in the first two months!
You manoeuvred my presence to the UK where after facing some of my darkest nights of my soul with my tooth and jaw pain, life opened up literally for me. The Open Golf metaphorically welcoming me to step into myself. Visiting museums and airplanes, graveyards and churches, friends old and new, I was offered the full buffet of life. My life puzzle found pieces that I didn't know were missing. Living with family made me feel grateful for being a part of such a big family and meeting up with cousins and Aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews just added even more. Train trips, buses, tours, ferries, and water taxis, with a tiny bite of Italy, all shone a light on my love for travel even more. Every day was filled with a magic that sometimes felt overwhelming.
You treated me like I was some kind of star, while other people had a year from hell. Yes, there were hard moments when I had my financial fear, and sometimes I still can't get my head around how it all happened. But then I remember
'I won a car!!!'
You showed up every day with light and support. Some from people I know and love and some from complete strangers. New possibilities of tour guiding push my ideas onto overdrive and I look forward to stepping into the newness of every day. I love the sense of wonder, excitement and curiosity that each new day brings.
Thank you 2022. You have been one of my best!
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