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!