Today, Boxing Day, would have been Maisie’s 13th birthday. To commemorate the event, I planned a tour of some of the destinations that Maisie and I most frequented. One place in particular, the upper Wharfe valley between Hubberholme and Hawes, was a favourite haunt and I have hundreds of photos and videos of Maisie playing in the river there. Accordingly, I made Deepdale the primary destination.
![](https://hopkinson.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/8001643-NEF_DxO_DeepPRIME_WP_ACR-1024x684.jpg)
Obviously I would have given anything today to have been able to throw a ball for Maisie to fetch today, but I resolved to sit for a while and quietly remember those times instead. Instead of throwing a ball, today I took photos just as I would also have done when Maisie was with me. It was quite an emotional day, all said, but it was cathartic and it was well worth it.
![](https://hopkinson.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/8001659-NEF_DxO_DeepPRIME_WP_ACR-1024x684.jpg)
The photos that I came away with today were not really much to write home about. Today was a mix of introspection and retrospection. Though the weather could have been kinder, it didn’t matter so much. It really was about memories past rather than making new memories, today.
![](https://hopkinson.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ribblesdale-1024x512.jpg)
Happy Birthday Maisie. I really do miss you, my beautiful girl.