I heard someone remark the other day that 2025 seemed to be the fastest year ever, it just flew by. Honestly, I would tend to agree but then every passing year seems to go by faster than the last.
Taking part of New Year’s Eve and all of New Year’s Day off, it was a time to recharge, catch my breath and just enjoy being out of the office for a bit.
Well, ‘catch my breath’ might not be quite right, as longtime friend Jonyce and I attended the New Year’s Eve afternoon hockey game featuring the San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild. The Sharks had a 3-1 lead in the third period, which then became a 3-2 lead and then was nullified as the Wild forged a 3-3 tie. We got bonus hockey, first the overtime 3-on-3 session for five minutes and, when that didn’t settle it, we got to see the shootout. Jonyce had never seen a shootout before so I tried explaining it but then decided it was just better to watch and let it explain itself. All us Sharks fans in the arena erupted when they won it in the shootout and, after several minutes of cheering and clapping, that’s when I finally started to breathe again.
New Year’s Day included a trip to a few beaches, with two out of the three featuring decent weather, even though the forecast called for rain. Jonyce and I lucked out in Santa Cruz and Capitola, watched the waves, strolled through the shops, even enjoyed a huge slice of Pizza My Heart for lunch while battling the seagulls that also wanted a taste.
Our last stop of the day was at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse about 15 miles south of Half Moon Bay where, according to the weather forecast, it wasn’t supposed to rain until 6 p.m. or so.
Considering we were planning to be there while we still had some light so I could hunt for seashells for my granddaughter Lorelei (who has quite the collection for an almost four-year-old) we figured it would be just fine.
Well, the rain swept through early and we were greeted by fierce winds and driving rain when we arrived. But, what the heck, it was the last stop of the day and I really wanted to find a couple of pretty shells. Jonyce said there were tons the last time she was there, a month or so ago with her daughter and two granddaughters, so we were quite hopeful.
Alas, just like the weather, the shells didn’t feel like cooperating.
There is a rock stairway down to the cove where you can hunt for – and typically find – shells and we headed that way, not really sure if it was a good idea or not.
We were outfitted with heavy overcoats and hoods, though, so we decided to just go for it.
Once down in the cove, we only found a few shells worthy of taking home and it was getting darker and colder by the moment. We looked for a few minutes and then figured we had better get out before the waves crashed in on us. Well, the wind was so strong, neither one of us actually had to walk back up the stone steps, we just got pushed. It almost felt like you could just stretch out your arms and fly for a few feet.
It was definitely an adventure; from the shootout to the washout. It was also a very memorable way to send off 2025 and welcome in 2026; I look forward to new adventures in the year ahead.
Marg Jackson is editor of The Oakdale Leader, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News. She may be reached at mjackson@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.
