The Hazard Chronicles

I think September will always feel like the beginning of a new year for me. It's like, overnight, it is fall. The air is cooler- the leaves a little bit more colorful- the sunsets a little sooner. And school. Yep- today was the first day for everyone. It's been a great summer.

As a family we had a BBQ last night, and talked long after the sun had gone down about highlights and expectations. We relived great memories of backpacking and family reunions and days on the lake. We talked about academic schedules and extracurricular activities. Everyone seems excited for the start of the year. It's gonna be a good one!

Lindsey (5th- last year of elementary school for our family). Jack (9th- high school!). Maren (7th- and totally coming into her own right now). Addy (9th- high school!). Evelyn (11th- A junior?! Already?!)

As the kids got ready to go back to school I felt a little bit like I was starting something new at work as well. I have been in Seattle this whole last week at Kois, which is possibly the best training center in the world for advanced dentistry. It was enlightening and motivational and gave me a newfound enthusiasm for what I do every day. I don't think I'd use the word "transformational." That would be a stretch. A lot of what I learned was actually just nice confirmation that I am already doing things at a pretty high level. Since returning I have just been trying to digest everything, but I think that when I look back in a few years I will be able to identify this time as a turning point regarding the way I approach some aspects of treatment planning. It's kind of cool.

Also while in Seattle I got some good time in at Vertical World- one of my favorite climbing gyms. I had some free time to explore the city, and in the process discovered an entire community of "van-lifers" that tend to congregate in the suburb of Ballard.  I especially relished my daily early-morning drives into the downtown area, as I watched the city slowly come to life along the way. A specific moment that will stay with me was while I was reading my book at a park down by the water and suddenly just realized how much was going on around me. All sorts of people were enjoying this area, some playing sports, or hanging out around campfires, or dancing, or playing music, or swimming, or walking their dogs, or studying for their classes. I could hear at least four languages being spoken, as well as a jazz saxophone echoing from under the bridge, and in the near distance I could see sailboats returning back as the sun started to set. It was special, and for me, the landscape of people that night was as beautiful as anything I have ever seen. Cities are cool.

This weekend, the kids mostly just relaxed the summer away, relishing the freedom of doing nothing. Some of them went to the beach with friends. Ev was in CDA all day. Rach and I escaped to an evening of dancing and music at Arbor Crest, and on Monday we got some work done on our Wallace attic project. It's been a good week.

The walls are still coming along- slowly but surely

Still dancing the night away

Let the new year begin!