January 12th Jo Wrote

Dear All

We seem to have had a really busy life from last fall till now and I (Jo) haven't really done my share for our installments of the newsletter although I have enjoyed reading everybody else's. I have really enjoyed keeping up with everyone's lives because when we do get together some adventures are long in the past and we never hear about them. With the newsletter I get to hear way more about everybody's lives and it's great. All three of us enjoyed seeing everyone on the 27th-what a great turnout-especially exciting to see the new babies! We hadn't planned on attending a funeral that day too but we fit it all in!

We traveled a lot this fall. The Maryland lighthouse challenge in Sept. The NJ lighthouse challenge in Oct. A trip to my parents in Florida in Oct. They were all great trips. Then before I knew it, it was Thanksgiving and then soon Christmas. Then my parents have a 50th wedding anniversary at the end of this month and since they were eager to go to warmer places we had a party on the Sunday after New Years. So it was one big whirlwind and now I hope things will slow down as I have to get caught up on everything I pushed to the side to take care of things that had to be done. I even have a pile of bus seats waiting to be sewn.

Now my parents are back in Florida and Jeff is back in Massachusetts and I have to figure out what to do first.

It was great having Jeff home for 3 weeks. It went by so fast but then it is hard to believe he is on the home stretch to graduation. Where did four years go?? He slept, ate, and worked most of vacation but we saw quite a bit of him and just got to be home as the three of us (one of my favorite things). He left again on Sat. and maybe we will see him a few days at spring break it depends on the grad courses he is taking because they don't all break for spring break and he doesn't know until the week before. He will graduate in May and since he learned about 6 weeks ago that he was accepted to grad school he will return in Sept. How long depends on some variables that are still up in the air at this time. We just keep thinking about moving him from his apartment after 3 years with lots going up there but not much returning here to stay.

Alan & I are alone again which is an enjoyable thing too. As we both HATE the cold weather we will be hibernating in the house here as much as possible if you need to find us. We have plenty of food and lots of books so see you in spring!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

PS; Al here, I just got home from bowling. Jo was so nice to give me a time off from writing but I couldn't keep myself from adding a line.