“Gratitude is alchemy,” they say: it’s a transformative practice which, much like traditional alchemy sought to turn lead into gold, helps us see the extraordinary in the everyday.
Pulling together a year-end photo gallery for Margot to use when selecting Christmas card pics, I was struck by just how many cool (literally & figuratively) experiences we’ve gotten to share with our dudes this year. Among them:
- Testing our skills in father-son “Bell Wars” at Bellarmine
- Exploring snowy Shasta with Hen
- Finn staying cool with his Ski Amigos in Tahoe
- Going green at SF’s St. Paddy’s Parade
- Finn attending prom with Brianna
- Rocking out to Camper Van Beethoven in SF
- The hockey team honoring Finn as “Most Inspirational”
- Finn leading at Changemakers & a Bellarmine retreat
- Hen winning a prize for his Butch & Sundance diorama
- Visiting Mom’s alma mater in Boulder
- Celebrating Hen’s B-day & Leadville’s Fourth of July parade
- Hiking on my 50th (!) and at the Donner Pass tunnels
- Making new friends planespotting at SFO
- Visiting Notre Dame with Grandma & Grandpa Nack
- Cruising around the Pacific Bus Museum
- Exploring Gold Country with Finn
- Cruising the SF Bay on the SS Jeremiah O’Brien
- Exploring & photographing the USS Hornet
- Chilling (literally) at the ND-Stanford game
…and that’s just the experiences for which we have pics! 😀
Man, we couldn’t be happier with the chaps or more grateful for the times we’ve gotten to spend together. Here’s to more adventures in 2026 and beyond.