Happy Holidays! Happy New Year

December 1995

Attention, you lucky recipients of our seasonal missive ! This message eaches a shrinking elite group - not via e-mail or fax or other new-fangled cyber-vehicle - but through the grace of a message a trusty old typewriter operated by an even older fogy who recently spent an evening within the confines of a tight and very noisy  cylinder in an attenpt to discover the reason for an insidious pain in his left leg. That very same ache has made us forego attendance at our usual holiday functions and, lo and behold, we did not even mind this a great deal - we have probably arrived at the stage in life when one cares less whether one sees or is being seen. At one time it mattered greatly - but now one knows looks forward to one's comfort and to contact with old friends that the universe will continue its usual route regardless. One at the very least through annual signs of life.

There have been few changes in our family constellation. Our two grandchildren have grown in age and scholastic standing. Evan is undergoing a change of teeth, a process I envy him greatly. Magdy follows him closely, emulates him in some ways, but fortunately is also determined to develop her own personality. We spent Thanksgiving week with them and their parents on Sanibel Island in Florida where also Eleanor joined us from her homa in California. Shirley could not get away - but as she lives in Richmond she gets to see tnephew and niece more often during the year. Unfortunately I managed to irritate my left sciatic nerve just before the trip and then took a tumble and dislocated a toe. All this required medical intervention, including the aforementioned MRI and physical therapy. Thus one pays tribute to the passge of years! Otherwise the year has been quite pleasant. We started it with a cruise on the "Ryndam", one of the new Holland-America ships, traveling in style across the Southern Caribbean. I say "in style" because thanks to an upgrade we occupied a lovely stateroom with veranda which brought us face to face with the ocean. Summer solstice found us in Norway by way of England, i.e. we flew to London for a brief return visit and joined the "Crown Odyssey" in Tilbury. The weather could have been nicer - but we enjoyed the respite from the Virginia heat and were duly impressed by magnificent fjords, waterfalls, mountains and the land above the Arctic Circle where the sun did not set - or so they say - if there had been any sun. Just the same it was a great ex- perience. We returned home to a sweltering summer and autumn.

Our yard was a mess for lack of rain, nothing grew because it was impossible to provide much needed moisture. To make matters worse, we had terminated our membership in the recreation club that we had joined twenty years ago. J. had discovered the joys of aerobics and attended a class three times weekly. In addition she continued her volunteer work in Richmond's young Botanical Garden. I have kept up my attendance at the V.A. Hospital until now, but have given notice for next year. Various public and private holidays were observed jointly by the family either in Arlington at Ralph and Margaret's home or in Richmond. In May family and friends gathered in our house in honor of J. 's special birthday. Although the weather did not fully cooperate and the barbecue had to be consumed indoors it was a successful and most enjoyable

affair. What about the future ? Well, at least we hope that we can elish the "golden years" that we all had been promised. We want to wish you happy and restful holidays and a splendid new year !

Henry  Janine