Let's start with a question. Is anyone still following their New Year's resolution? Hmm. Thought so. Me neither.
The first two weeks of this month saw a number of milestones. First came Jeffrey's birthday, and then Margaret's. With Simon sick, I think Margaret is going to a) ask for a re-do in a few months or b) get sick on Simon's birthday, along with Andrew since Simon was also sick on Andrew's birthday.
Ann Gordon's birthday was remembered, she would have turned 69. Wow. Grandma Boyle's birthday was also noted, as was the tenth anniversary of Grandma Dickson's passing. Sigh. She turns out to have been more of the glue holding it all together than we knew at the time.
Speaking of Grandma, plans are proceeding for the Poconos this summer, from July 14-17. With positive interest from Matthew and Billy and their families, we now have seven cabins reserved. Janie is also a yes, as are Susan and Fernando. We are going a little further than a wait and see attitude, but we have until May to pull out, if this pandemic-thingy takes an even greater turn for the worse. Bets? Janie sent along the photo here of our cousin Diane and her family, with striking resemblances to Uncle All. Of course.
I remember in the beginning of the pandemic I didn't know anyone who got sick. Now, it seems everyone has had a close encounter. Unfortunately, we learned that Joe in Brazil tested positive and is having symptoms. Scary enough, although he's better. No one else in the house is positive, but the quarantine in that household has placed enormous strains on Leonor, with work, a new house, an upcoming due date and two active boys at home (it's summer vacation down there.)
Last weekend there was a shower for Erin who also has a due date soonest. She sent along a photo, also enclosed here.
The weather made news with major snowfalls in Washington and excitingly below zero days in Rochester, Chicago and here. Exciting, because I have to admit to a little bit of a thrill walking outside in this kind of cold. Not for long though. Our driveway is a skating rink and Mary almost slid into the garage the other day, she told me several days after the fact. We're expecting a lot of snow tonight, according to one report, or a lot of snow and then freezing rain according to another weather app.
Not sure if weather played a role or not, but unfortunately Janet was in a car accident this week. We hear she was not injured, but understandably shaken.
Mary spoke with Timmy who was on the road, having just returned from Mexico. He was in good spirits. Also on the west coast, Annie is finishing up a course she was taking to be certified as a professional life coach.
In the stranger than fiction realm, I opened an envelope from David with a postcard of Nassau Hall sent to Pop from Fred Fox, of fame only to anyone who happened to walk the Princeton campus from the 50s-90s and witness him happily riding around on his bike and waving to everyone. Fred had attached to the back of the postcard a small piece of mortar from the refurbished southwest wing of Nassau Hall. Later that day, in my last box of saved letters, I pulled out an article Pop had sent me of Fred Fox's obituary. It doesn't rise to the level of sainthood, but that was a miracle.
I did empty the box yesterday, and found one last weekly letter to be scanned. After that, my project turns to stamp sorting and organizing Pop's witticisms and news.
With that, love from up here.
