I feel like October has been a whirlwind, and I am realizing it’s probably because I have had more social activities this month than the past year put together.

As an introvert, I am perfectly comfortable in isolation, in fact, Covid was no big deal in that way. Happy to simply be at home around my family.

This October, I took my older son to a campfire dinner at my parent’s place while Jay was with our younger son in Vancouver for hockey.

We celebrated my husband’s grandma’s 87th birthday the same day we had our Canadian Thanksgiving. I went to a volunteer afternoon at our local Legion, as work friends and I helped with their Poppy fundraiser. The group had 7000 envelopes to stuff with the poppy’s for Remembrance Day coming up. We have gone to this event for at least the last 5 years, and after the workplace changes that happened a year ago, most of us don’t work together anymore. So it was a very welcome social activity with this group.

The same day, I had dinner downtown Victoria with my friend at the Tapas Bar. It was a delicious meal, with amazing company.

I wrote and passed my exam for the course I have been studying for 10.5 months! The Canadian Securities Course. Two exams, of which I wrote the first one in June, and now I am completely done the course! That evening I celebrated with a glass of wine with the same friend from the Tapas evening.

There has also been a hockey tournament for our 15 year old, and life seemed almost back to normal. We had to wear masks and show vaccine confirmation, but there were crowds in the stands, there were raffle baskets, 50/50… the usual tournament stuff.

My cousin from Edmonton was visiting her parents, and they made time in one of their days to meet me for a coffee break from work. I don’t remember the last time I even saw my aunt and uncle.

It feels like it has been a jam-packed month. I always enjoy solitude, but I am so thankful to have had these social interactions. I feel so fortunate to have the friends and family that I do. These are memories that will mean a lot to me and fill me up for months to come. Another reason that it feels satisfying is that I saw and spent time with various people or groups of people I don’t see often enough. The volunteer activity with work ladies and the coffee date with my aunt, uncle and cousin, and catching up with friends at the hockey tournament. Mix these interactions with gatherings of some of the others I care about most and it gives the entire month the feeling of warmth and time well spent.

I look back at October with affection and even though it was a whirlwind, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Sending Love,

Devon