New Year’s Eve – time to reflect on another year past, another year of growth, another year of INCREDIBLE life adventure.  Absolute no better time to say THANKS – new places/new faces, laughs shared with family & friends.

Family/2017 LIFE highlight

High in the Rockies, one exit past the Continental Divide, Ash & Tom’s Colorado wedding over Memorial Day weekend.  Team Wilpiszeski filled the arena with laughter, dance & sheer noise.  Whatta FUN family – EVERYONE left Silverthorne crushing on Jersey.

The Haga Clan?  Let’s just say this Father-Daughter brought it.  Memory I’ll never forget.  Three time zones represented, family ‘cross the USA – ALL flew in for Ash’s BIG day.  BIG LOVE, proud Papa, thanks FAMILY ❤

Travel

• New Zealand · two weeks, two islands, LIFETIME of memories.  Ran EVERY day – Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Franz Josef Village, Queenstown, Dunedin, Oamaru, marathon finish’d in Hamilton.  Palm trees, glaciers, geysers, glow worms, whole lotta sheep, Fiordland Nat’l Park, Hobbiton & penguins too!  Nothing left undone.
• Nova Scotia · two week vacation squeezed into a 4-day weekend.  Cape Split hike, toured Grand-Pré & Peggy’s Cove (Nova Scotia’s iconic lighthouse), my first Cèilidh (music/storytelling nite) PLUS a 4^th Canadian marathon.  What an adventure!  To the Cavanaughs, Gillis’ & Schofields – I am indebted.  Thanks from the bottom of my American heart ❤
• TOTALITY (Casper WY) • Great American Eclipse on my BIRTHDAY.  Like nothing I’ve EVER experienced.  Skies darkened, white light glowed around our extinguished Sun.  [Next 2 minutes] ‘diamond ring’ visible to the naked eye.  Surrounded by sunset & stars, soaked up the cityscape lights of Casper below (street-lamps triggered by the mid-day eclipse).  WOW!
• Dublin IRELAND · Marathon #100.  Ran this day side-by-side with Sis.  Cancer SURVIVOR celebration!

Marathoning

Completed 27 marathons this year (including one ultra) – upping my FULL stats from 78 to 105 finishes.  2,017 miles+ logged in 2017 (GOAL COMPLETE).  Haven’t missed a month marathoning since December 2013, that’s 49 consecutive months.  Next BIG thing – marathon on EVERY continent (including Antarctica) by May 2020.

Easy to get caught up with an ‘out with the old, in with the new’ attitude.

So while I’m super eager/anticipating what lies ahead in 2018 – I am grateful for a life well lived.  I am grateful for the past 365 days – laughs shared, high-altitude hikes, new places/new faces AND of course, my best pup Ro.  Nothing left undone 🙂

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

Father-Daughter Dance