Merry Christmas………………………………………..

We missed the annual letter last year but my lovely wife wrote one this year.  It doesn’t have as many nice pictures as two years ago but I thought it worth sharing.  From my wife Kathy:

The year has flown by so quickly that it is hard to believe that Christmas is so near. We won’t be having a “White Christmas” as the weatherman is calling for showers and a temperature in the mid forties. I guess holiday music, cookies, and good friends will have to make our season bright. We have been blessed with good health, with only the minor pains of growing older.

This year Dan and I managed a little traveling, both together and separately. In February Dan trailered his motorcycle as far as Georgia, met up with Jim Hoffman, and then both of them motorcycled to Florida to stay with Stan Mccaulley. They toured the area via motorcycles and just enjoyed the warm weather. Maryland was our destination in June. We stayed with Jim and Joyce in their camper at Assateague Island/ state park where they were campground hosts. We dipped our toes in the Atlantic Ocean and watched the wild ponies roam the camping area. The ponies had learned how to maneuver the water spigots to turn the water on! In September I drove to Danville, PA for my 50^th year reunion from GMC nursing school. What a great time of visiting and reminiscing with my classmates (we didn’t seem to change a bit!!!). Since I was not too far from New York I decided to visit with Todd. We had a few days together. I also squeezed in a visit to Carmel and had a few meals with old friends from Putnam Hospital, Molly, Barbara, and Margaret. The first week in October found us driving to Lake Jackson, Texas to visit Lynn Karaim. While there, we visited the Alamo in San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston. We saw cotton being harvested and baled. My wonderful husband even stopped alongside the interstate so I could gather some cotton to bring home for the grandchildren.

Julie and Mike are both still employed by the VA hospital. Mike is busy remodeling their house while Julie is busy with the kids and a dog. Carter and Chloe are in the fifth grade, and Shelby is in second. Julie has limited their afterschool activities to one or two choices: Carter chose Boy Scouts and karate, Chloe chose dance class, and Shelby chose horseback riding. They all are still taking piano lessons and enjoy all types of music.

Todd is still with the NYC EMS as a paramedic. He presented us with a new grandson in March. Nate was one in November. An unexpected but wonderful surprise!

Dan is still enjoying his HAM radios. He participates in some contests trying to reach specific areas or states. He sometimes helps with license testing. He has been able to talk with people all around the world. He enjoys riding his motorcycle around the back roads here but has to adjust his timing due to the temperatures.

I still play handbells with the church but our “Dare to Care” feeding site was closed. Dan and I now help at the Spencer County “Dare to Care” site by filling boxes with dry goods and frozen foods, checking the people in, and assist carrying the boxes to their cars.

We hope that this letter finds you in good spirits and good health. May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.