12/10/19
Greetings.
As for the wrap-up of the year,
here's what I imagine holiday letters should be like: succinct. As you know, "succinct" is an alien
term for me. I've written about most of
this earlier in the year; here's the condensed version.
Elliott's
life is both good and not so good. He
has a delightful girlfriend and the relationship seems secure and happy. His U of M job taking care of rodents is not
so great and he's looking to find another one—and a career. Because he lives in an apartment, oil painting
has been in abeyance (because of the smell and the need to use paint thinner
and varnish), which is bad. Spencer had
spinal fusion surgery on November 1 and is slowly recovering. It's a long process, but we're optimistic
he'll get back to a job and a regular life in the near future. We celebrated Krystin's birthday, two years
plus 13 days after she died; she would have liked the small party—and would be
peeved that she missed it.
We lost our
most loved cat, Bela, in what seemed to us a mysterious fashion. He just stopped eating and died ~10 days
later.
We have
enjoyed the frequent company of friends, old and new, and expect to continue to
do so in 2020. We especially enjoyed
hosting our Scottish friends Rod & Morag for several days in October. We were returning a favor they've bestown on
us on several occasions. We had fun visiting cousins on my side of the
family when we traveled to LA and San Diego last winter. I think some of the places we saw are now
burned. We also enjoyed a journey to
Door County in Wisconsin and a visit with long-time friends temporarily living
in Wauwatosa. It was a year of mostly
fun domestic travel. "Mostly"
because inclement weather followed us everywhere.
Kathy's job
continues to be demanding. She looks
forward to the day when life is less hectic.
My retirement is not demanding but I'm enjoying myself immensely—even though
I very much enjoyed my work. I was just
saying to some friends (also retired) that after 3+ years, I cannot imagine
ever going back to full time employment.
Now that the time sink of Krystin's book and our 50-year high school
class reunion is past, I'll find other projects to engage me. When I get around to it. In and among boxing up all kinds of things
for Elliott to inherit someday and making a modest attempt to improve my bridge
game (which may be an exercise in futility, a type of activity with which I am
quite familiar).
As for a year-end message, frankly,
I cannot do better than what I wrote last year.
It's what I wish for everyone every year:
Whatever the occasion you mark at
this time of year, if any, I wish you contentment. I hope you find yourselves at ease, secure,
and fulfilled in your personal lives and relationships, able to face the
worries of the world, large and small, from that firm foundation. May your 2020 have more positives than
negatives, may the positives bring delight to you, may the negatives be minor,
and may the year find you at peace in your life.
Please stay
in touch.
Gary
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