2025 has been quite the year in the life of Roger Lynn. As you may remember from last year’s letter, I moved back to Spokane in October 2024, & spent the first three months wonderfully sheltered in the basement apartment of my friends’ beautiful log home out in Valleyford (about 30 minutes from Spokane) while I looked for a house to buy. (Thank you Wayne & Charlie) It turned out that what I could afford was not in sync with what I wanted to find. So in January of this year I switched gears & began looking for a place to rent. Very quickly I found what turned out to be the house I‘d been looking for the whole time. It is a lovely home that feels like a “my place.” Since then I have had friends over for dinner, hosted a few family & friends overnight, & met a few of the neighbors. I even hosted seven friends the night before the Dances of Universal Peace Camp which I help to organize in the area. It was a so much fun to have all that lovely energy blessing my home. 

The year has been full of travel & other joyful activities. I am doing A LOT of dancing – contra dances at least three times a month (so much fun) & Dances of Universal Peace (DUP) dances twice a month! The Spokane DUP circle is one of the reasons I decided to move back here. It is full of good friends, & the Dances light me up in a way that not much else does. It is good to be back. In addition to the local circle, I also participated in four DUP camps or retreats this year – two in Idaho & two in Colorado. What a delight! The camp in SW Colorado in August became the launching point for a three week road trip that took me to Chaco Canyon, Santa Fe, Taos, Boulder, & Helena – connecting with nature, family, & friends. I also spent time visiting daughters in Bellingham. Then in October I flew to Michigan to participate in another daughter’s wedding. I am truly blessed beyond all measure with the family & friends who love me, & whom I love so very much.

My “everyday time” includes lots of walking (both in the neighborhood as well on the various trails in the area). And that, of course, provides the backdrop for two of my favorite activities – photography & composing haikus. I frequently combine those two hobbies in the form of a morning haiku which is accompanied by a photo. I also write an occasional blog post with random reflections & ponderings. You can read those posts at www.rogerlynn.com.

And finally, a “looking back” experience & a “looking ahead” experience, both of which took me a bit by surprise. First, in March I realized that it had been 15 years since Veronica’s death. So much has happened since then, & yet she continues to be so very present in my life. And then six months from now I will be celebrating my 70th birthday. How in the world is that possible? A celebration of some sort will be happening.

If you are reading this letter it is because you are an important part of my life. Thank you! I hope that this past year has been a good one, and even more, I hope that the coming year will be the best one yet. 

Merry Christmas!
Roger