Sunday, December 28, 2014

Reflections on 2014


This is my final entry for the year, so I thought I would try to make it my annual newsletter, or what passes for same.  I promise not to make it too boring, but you always have the delete button if it does get out of hand..

First of all I want to get something off my chest that bothers me more and more every year.  We are truly becoming a society of nerds.  We only seem to socialize with each other through electronic communicators; nobody actually interacts with their friends and relatives.  A stunning example is the paucity of Christmas Cards we received this year.  Judy sent out over thirty cards, but we only got a dozen cards in the mail from those same people who used to send one every year.  Of course, we got lots of email cards with family pictures attached and warm Christmas greetings via some artist or computer geek - Jackie Lawson comes to mind - but those just don't convey the same meaning as a snail mail card that somebody had to select, add their greetings and signature to and then seal and stamp it for posting.  It just isn't the same, folks!

We did our usual road-tripping this year which included four separate trips. If you get my trip journals, you'll know where we went, but there were a few that didn't make it into the journal stage.  One of the most fun ones was the trip up to Niagara Falls with the son and grand kids.  That one included a reptile and dinosaur zoo and a day at an amusement park that actually has no admission fee, just per-ride tickets and very reasonably priced at that.

I didn't have any heath episodes this year, but Judy did have a bit of a scare and was the one I took to the ER for a change instead of the other way around.  It turned out to be a temporary and curable type illness, so everything is back to normal now.

My daughter, Cathy, has had super success with her cottage industry in scrapbooking, and is always busy filling online sales of video tutorials as well as her scrapbook creations.  The scrapbooks bring some amazing bids, but then, they are masterpieces, if I may boast a bit here.  Cathy has built a nice little business for herself.  You can see some of her scrapbooks and tutorial samples by doing a search using the words, "So much scrap" (without the quotation marks) in your favorite search engine.  They really are beautiful.

We decided to trade in the Toyota Sienna van back in February, and bought a RAV4 to replace it.  We've had some adjustment problems, but are learning to appreciate the new SUV more each time we travel in it.  We just can't take along as much as we used to, but it gets great mileage and drives like a dream - so Judy tells me; I've never gotten behind the wheel.

I still haven't gotten to attend The Masters Golf  Tournament, although I've been in the raffle for several years.  I did, however, get to go on the grounds this spring to watch the Drive, Pitch and Putt Competition.  Jeff, my son-in-law went with me and we spent several hours enjoying the course.  Jeff is the avid golfer, so I know he wants to get in there to watch the actual pros play someday.  I've already lost out for 2015, but will keep on trying.  I'm just too cheap to pay up to $1,000 for a one-day pass, though.

The grandson here in Augusta went through a few employers this past year, but is now firmly ensconced at Lowe's, working mostly in the Paint Department and doing a fine job there.  His hours aren't all that he would like, but at least the pay is good for those he does work and he is building skills for himself.

I trust that everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and is celebrating the holidays with friends and family.  I look forward to a new year full of promise and adventure and I hope you do too.  Keep on counting your blessings, try not to have any regrets and we'll be just fine. 

Happy New Year!

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