Here’s a toast for Two Thousand Ten, for hope and prosperity to follow again.
As 2010 comes racing toward its end, we look back at a year which by all accounts should have been benign, and during a period in life when asked the question “what are your plans for the weekend?” we can gleefully respond “absolutely nothing”, it is surprising how quickly things can change (fortunately for the better). I suppose three words best characterize the year: inevitable, incredible and improbable. The inevitable involves the matriculation of grand kids from the flamboyance of high school, to the idealism of college and alas, the realities of life (which now days can be harsh).
It has really been a grand celebration. The lid first blew off the high schools with the emergence of Caitlin (Karen) to Georgia State University (Atlanta) where she is in the band, Leah (Diane) to Fort Hayes State University (Hayes, KS), where she assists part time in the local Emergency Room, and Ellen (George) to Troy University (Troy, AL) where she is on the twirling team (majorettes?). We actually went over for a football game to see her do her stuff. Well, luckily, we got there early enough to take in pre-game activities, because just after the game started and as if on queue, the bottom dropped out and it just “came a frog strangler” of a thunder storm.
Of course the teams scurried off right away, but it was some 15 min. later before the band and majorettes were allowed to leave. Talk about drowned rats (albeit cute ones)—and of course we left, the game was delayed and halftime cancelled, but we did see her do her thing and she was great. At the next level, Greta (Bruce) graduated from the University of Georgia and is currently a popular waitress in an up-scale downtown restaurant in Athens. Whew, enough already, but not so fast. The most incredible thing was the marriage of grandson Josh, (Diane) way out in Tribune, KS. The fact he got married wasn’t incredible, but the fact our grandson was getting married was.
Bruce and Pam decided to go out as well so we had great traveling companions and wonderful time in Tribune (a 5 hr. flight west from Atlanta to Denver and a 5 hour drive back east from Denver to Tribune). I’ve got to tell you, when a grandson digs you in the ribs with an elbow and asks if you want a brew, you know a major transformation has occurred. Finally from the “beware what you wish for” department, the improbable: We had occasion this year to purchase a new laptop, and carried it with us on a trip to visit George and family. Now most of our kids and all the grand kids are ardent Facebook fans, and they all have tried to convince us of the great communication vehicle it was and wished we would sign up.
No way we were going to go there until Ellen convinced us it was really a simple thing to do, and she proceeded to help us set it up on the spot. Well, we have enjoyed it and actually found some intriguing childhood pictures and we learned how to up-load them one at a time onto Facebook with the query to our “friends” “Who is this?” Last we heard…”whose bright idea was it to convince Mom and Dad Facebook was a good idea?” We will leave you with that thought, and wish all a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Love,