Another year and nearly gone again. It has been another fairly good year for us, but with several downs as well as ups. We hope that fate has been even kinder to you. In March, we began thinking that the Covid would soon disappear and our lives could resume as they were in the ‘before’ days. Unfortunately that was not to be. But at least we and our siblings have avoided the disease. Hopefully the same for you and your families. We are settled and extremely content in our Bentonville house that has only one floor and a very level lot. Phantom loves the large fenced backyard.
Sadly for all of us, in late October our son Paul’s beloved wife Angela died suddenly from a heart attack. Angela had been ill for many years, but her death had not been expected. We will miss her greatly. We will both be going to England for her funeral which will be on the first of December. When Sylvia comes back later in the month, Paul will be coming along to spend Christmas with us.
As if history is repeating itself, Sylvia had another back surgery in August. Unlike the surgery of the previous August, this one seems to have done the trick. Recovery was a little slow, but she is now nearly back to normal and given clearance for any activities, such as tennis, as she feels able. Jerry, on the other hand, has been relatively accident-free for almost two years — still doesn’t mean that growing old is getting any easier. Phantom of course is at his peak.
We usually write about our annual travels, but like last year, we gave up as the countries we had been planning to visit in the old Soviet Bloc, still remained under severe restrictions with most major attractions closed. We haven’t given up hoping for a trip next year — fingers crossed. But we did manage two shorter trips earlier this year. One to Des Moines and another to Lincoln, both just for long weekends at times when Covid seemed to be in remission.
As with the travel, Sylvia and Phantom were unable to make most “therapy” visits as they were curtailed due to the pandemic. Sylvia has resumed watching the entrance to the local Circle of Life hospice two afternoons a week. She and Phantom also go to visit hospice patients still in their homes several times a week. Jerry does little except for the regular Thursday “burger” celebration and maintaining the homestead.
That catches you up on us, and so we close another annual “Christmas” letter. The usual invite stands: “if you are in the area, please stop by.”
Again Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – Keep Safe