Spring is coming

Pop used to begin his letters around this time of the year with "the days are getting longer; spring is coming."

The snowstorm we got, which some of you also got and some of you drove and rode through, demonstrated we are a long way from spring.  And happily so. Come March, we may not be so happy with the snow.  For now, though, it's our first sizable snowfall, although the little sprinkling we had on Christmas eve meant we had a white, Currier and Ives day. 

So, Merry Christmas.  Since we're only up to the 5 golden rings, I think I can still wish you all a Merry Christmas.  

Here's a game, for the photo we included.  How many items in the photo can you identify which you also saw in Pomfret.  Items, not people.

We thought of Pomfret yesterday, on Joe's birthday, remembering his birthdays in the years we all used to congregate in the week between Christmas and New Years.  Fun.  These days, all I can think of is the mess we created.  I am not sure how Grandma and Pop put up with the chaos, but it sure was fun.  And, while we're not together this week, we will be next week in Fairport, for Matthew and Tina's wedding.  More fun.

And, we had fun this Christmas, and hope you did as well.  It was planes, trains and automobiles, coming home for the next generation.  Joe was first to arrive, on the train from NYC, which he barely managed to get following a delayed bus ride up from DC.  Margaret and Andrew came by car the following day, and then Annie on Christmas eve.  Annie had arrived a couple of days earlier by plane from China, but spent her first day decompressing in NYC with Greg's family before getting the train north.  When they all left, it was a sequel to the arrival, but with the snow a lot more frantic.

Surely there were more stories than transportation?  Yes, John and Marilyn joined us for Christmas eve dinner; we ate way more cookies, English muffins and cinnabuns (thank you) than we should have; caught up on job and grad school developments; played Sequence; did a jigsaw puzzle (or started it) and crossword puzzles; opened wonderful presents (thank you!!); gave up being vegan and had bacon and prime rib; went for walks and to the gym (not enough); listened to John Denver and the Muppet Christmas songs; watched the kitty and D sort out their territory, eventually; and, went to Christmas eve mass.  i imagine there were similar scenes in your homes.

Some news:  Claire got into Hope College, yet another one.  She will have a tough decision.

Share your Christmas photo by attaching it to an e-mail and sending it to: popsweeklyletter.dickson@blogger.com.  Better than Facebook and Twitter!

Love from over here, and see you next week!       

'Twas the week before Christmas

All the papers turned in, the presentations completed and the books put away!  Yipee!  I remember how it feels; right Sean, right Margaret?  Niiice.

Mary and I spent the last of the semester in NYC, as my final assignment was participation in the Guantanamo Public Memory Project which opened an exhibit at NYU on Thursday night. Anyone interested in seeing the exhibit in the windows of the Kimmel Center near Washington Square will notice that UMass did the panel Where is Guantanamo?  At the two-day conference accompanying the exhibit opening, we heard some incredible testimonials from soldiers, Cuban refugees, children who grew up on the base, lawyers, etc.  

While in NYC, we went to see the show "Warhorse" which featured some pretty incredible mechanical, puppet horses and a wonderful story; we also went up and down 5th Avenue about a hundred times and then stopped at the Cloisters on our way out, on a lark.  Quite a lark.  We had seen the sign dozens of times before, Joe had told us to go dozens of times before.  And it was worth the stop, to see the medieval religious art and architecture, which was brought over for this museum in the early 1900s.  Nobody could think of doing that now, but the Rockefellers were able to 100 years ago.

We were also made acutely aware of a pattern in our lives, of hearing about tragedy while we are away from home.  Terrible news from the school in Connecticut hit home since it was such a quiet town, since we all know teachers like the ones there, since as parents and brothers and sisters, we can all relate to the instant loss of such young, innocent children.  Sad, and angry as well about our inability to focus on our gun problem.

Anyway, since it have been quite a while since we last wrote, we have a lot of news:

Joe has come back from and gone to Kosovo on a business trip related to an assistance project; Margaret finished up one job last Friday and starts her new job at the State Department tomorrow; Annie has applied to three grad schools for next fall.

Just as Janet gets back on her feet, Peter has had some real issues with his knee, in terms that sound like a football injury.  He also had some pretty serious dental work this past week.

Claire keeps getting into the colleges she applies to, but wants to apply to a few more.  Oxford?  MIT?  Andrew has a couple of intestinal procedures this week.

We got a wedding invitation!  A fun one from Matthew and Tina.  Two, even.  One for Annie.  We noticed just in time there was an RSVP and said YES,  Looking forward to seeing everyone in early January.

Since we last wrote, we also hustled down to DC to attend a friend's 60th birthday party and drop in on Margaret and Andrew (Joe had just left for Kosovo.)  Short but wonderful.  

And we have a story, a This American Life story, where Mary was able to knock off at least a couple of her 15 minutes of fame, with her exchange with Ira Glass in front of 700 people at his talk on radio in Troy New York.  During question time, Mary asked him what she should do if she had a story worthy of This American Life.  He could have easily just dismissed her with a "Go to our website" line, but I think Ira sensed he had a possible story for the audience.  He asked Mary what it was and she said "It's a story about a con man whose son cons his father, the con man.  The only problem is, I'm not supposed to know the story."  No hesitation, or nervousness, mumbling, or confusion.  Ira responded: "I want to hear that story.  Give me your e-mail."  Mary did hesitate at that, in front of 700 people, so Ira gave her his e-mail.  When she wrote the next day, he responded, with encouragement and sensitivity.  Mary's following up to get the story to the program.  Stay tuned to see if there's a second act.

And also, we saw John and Marilyn's grandchildren, Hayley and Natalie at the show as well.  So there are witnesses, from family.

So, today, we catch up on Christmas preparations.  First, we get a tree.  

And you?  Hope you're all well.  Love from over here.