2010 Highlights

It was 20 years ago today (sort of) that I first wrote an annual highlights letter to include in my Christmas cards. I just didn’t have time to hand write a note for each card, so I typed up a sheet of highlights and put a copy in each card. Boy have things changed. No more typewriter and carbon paper. Now I can include color pictures.

In one way, this has been a tough year.

In January, just a few days before her 66^th birthday, my mother-in-law, Judy, was killed in a car accident. Her death has really traumatized our family and we miss her greatly.

One suggestion for coping is to count your blessings. And we certainly have some to count. One of my fondest memories of this past year is going to Bethlehem with Richard last Christmas to stamp and mail our Christmas cards. On our way home we enjoyed great tasting burgers at GBurgers. Great company!

Richard is a sophomore (10^th grade) at Hall High. He is quite involved with technical theater and is growing his resume of shows he has worked on. He is involved with set construction, lighting, and sound; he also designed a program. Recently, he and I spent a Saturday at an open house at Hartford Stage that was capped with a performance of "Breakdancing Shakespeare Macbeth" (yes, it was weird).

He likes crocs, orange, and hockey. His favorite NHL teams are the NY Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Detroit Red Wings. We also still enjoy the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers. And most weekends, he is playing roller hockey.

In addition to their cats (Double, Lady, Spot, Cutie), they recently were gifted with some tropical fish (I don’t know their names).

Lynn is still walking and caring for Richard. This summer she again worked two (2) plots in the community garden. She also spent a lot of time at the dentist working on her smile.

In the past, we gathered at Judy’s for the holidays. This Thanksgiving, Lynn made dinner for us: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn, sweet potatoes, and rolls. I brought ice cream and Sr. Pat brought the pies.

We timed our annual trip to Ohio in order to see the 4^th of July fireworks at the Indians game. We also got to tour one of the Clevo bridges with my sister Carol. A regular highlight is a visit to Mary Lynn & Jeff's farm and the trip up their driveway. This year we included Columbus on our trip to visit Lynn’s relatives (Uncle Dick and Aunt Pattie) and Rick’s sister, Tina, and brother, David. And a trip to Clevo would not be complete without a meal at the Winking Lizard.

Speaking of the Indians, Richard & I saw the Indians win an exciting game at Yankee Stadium during Memorial Day weekend. We also did the kite festival(in May) and the Air Show at Jones Beach; Monster Truck Jam, lots of mini-golf during the summer, a couple exhibits at the Knights of Columbus museum in New Haven, a huge corn maze this fall and the Terryville County Fair(which had lawnmower racing) but no train shows this year.

I am still a fire protection engineer commuting 40 miles to the office in Armonk, NY. I’ve spent a lot of time working in hospitals and museums this year.

So, upon reflection, a lot of blessing to give thanks for. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and great new year 2011! God Bless. Shalom. Etc.

Birthing

"It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly, a shot rang out...."

That's the way Snoopy always started out when he tried to write. A good intro is important. And so is the very first sentence. So if it was good for Snoopy, well I hope some of it rubs off on me.

I'm getting a head start on my New Year's resolutions (for 2011) by starting this blog. I was inspired to do this by blogs done by my nephew and niece. They do a great job and so do their friends.

Every year since I left Ohio, I have been doing an "Annual Highlight" letter that I include in my Christmas cards (because I got tired of hand writing all the same stuff). I always ended up doing it at the last moment which made getting my cards to the post office an exercise in anxiety (not to mention speeding and protection by my guardian angel).

This past year (2010), I thought it would be beneficial to keep a running list of "highlights" so I wouldn't leave out anything (like my first experience at Monster Truck Jam in 2009). Alas, I didn't make it past April. So let's hope I'm more successful with this blog. My nephew updates his Miracles blog once a week.

It somehow seems appropriate to start on Christmas Eve. A time of new beginnings.

So, I'm sorry if this seems like a lame post, but there has got to be a starting place. "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start...."