Merry Christmas 2008

Dear Ones,

It's that time of year again when our thoughts turn to family and friends both near and far away.  Actually, we think of you now and again at various times throughout the year.  Little things bring fond memories to mind, and old stories are remembered and retold. We were gone from this area for 17 years and have been back 19.  Just doesn't seem possible, or that it's been so long since we've seen some of you, because it seems like yesterday.

I've been retired now 1 1/2 years, and Charlie 2 1/2 years. It's been wonderful not having to get to bed at night so you can get up early!  Trust me - retirement is great - not at all like I feared it would be.

Our day usually starts at the "Koffee Klatch" where we meet with old friends (from high school) and new friends to solve world problems - now if only we could get the world to listen to us!  From there we do whatever...Charlie's still docenting at the Frank Phillips Home three Thursdays of the month.  This month he's been extra busy providing Christmas piano music on Frank Phillips' original 1908 piano.  He's also still singing with the Bartlesville Choral Society.

In March my sis and I took another Caribbean cruise - this time sans hubbies.  We had a great time. This picture was taken in at Chichen Itza - a pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula.  So what's so special about this picture?  Surely there are pics of beautiful beaches, flora and fauna.  Yes, that's true.  However, this picture is special because...I was watching Emma watch a video on the computer the other day - "Dora The Explorer".  And guess what they were doing - playing "basketball" at this exact location.  See the "Stone Ring"?  It's located 9 meters above the floor of the Great Ballcourt. The game was to throw the ball through the hole.  Of course in pre-Columbian days the losers were put to death, but Dora skipped that part.

Melissa and Emma moved back to Bartlesville in June. Jeff is still working on St. Croix.  Hopefully he'll be joining them before too much longer. Melissa's working nights at Jane Phillips Hospital in postpartum and peds.  We get to care for Emma while Melissa's at work or sleeping, and this is one five year old that doesn't miss out on anything!  It's so much fun for us - always something to do.  As an extra bonus, they live just two miles away.  For example, Sunday afternoon while mom was sleeping (she worked Saturday night/Sunday morning), Emma and I went to Santa's Cottage at the Frank Phillips Home (Gramps was in the main house playing Christmas songs for the tours - we joined him later).  Anyway, on the way to the Cottage Emma asked if we were going to see the "real" Santa or the "fake" one.  I said she'd have to decide and let me know.  After she met him, sat on his lap, and told him what she wanted for Christmas, I asked if he was real or fake.  She said - HE'S THE REAL SANTA!  She's full of so much enthusiasm it's awesome to watch.

We went to Melissa's Jane Phillips Family Care Unit Christmas party last week, and Emma  met the other Santa...

Tomorrow night is her Christmas Program at the high school, and this Sunday she's going to be a sheep in the church pre-Christmas program (her choice - that's what she wanted to be.)  I've taken her to two rehearsals and she's got one more Sunday before the performance Sunday evening. Last week I went to an "Ornament Party" at her school.  We went from room to room, making a different ornament in each room - the last being the decorating of a Christmas cookie - then she got to eat it!

We had Thanksgiving Saturday instead of Thursday because Melissa had to work. We had Chip, Melissa and Emma with us this year - it was wonderful.  Chip is coming back for Christmas and Katy will be here too!  Jeff has some work to do in Chattanooga, and is going to combine it with a trip here, but so far we don't know the dates.

From our house to yours, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  (I was going to say a Happy and Prosperous New Year, but that may be too much to wish for right now - how about just keeping the status quo?) 

Love to all, and to all a good night...