Let's start with Matthew and Tina's news. Another addition to the family.  We're so happy for the expecting parents, for Oliver and for the grandparents.  Congratulations.  Full stop.  In so many ways.

And then there was Margaret and Andrew's engagement party last weekend.  Happy days.  We went down to DC to join them for this celebration, and it was just that.  Nice to see all your friends, from your different eras, including going all the way back to Durban and then 2nd grade!  We saw Jeff and Melodie as well, and had a chance to talk about plans for camping at Assateague MD this summer.  (Hard to imagine summer now, but nice to dream about it.)  And we met Joe's girlfriend Leslie.  A surprise bonus.

Not in the same category at all, but hard to avoid mentioning was a 60th birthday that is turning out to be more of a birth-week, or birth-month, than a birth-day.  You all went all out, and it's humbling.  Several times this week, I have teared up, at your generosity and effusiveness.  What a family.  Did I say thank you?  Can I say it again?  And again?

It actually started with dinner (and cake) last week with Margaret and Andrew in DC, but it even started hours earlier when we saw Annie and Greg in New York on our way down to DC.  Annie couldn't come to DC with us, as she had a weekend class, on conflict resolution.  We need more of that.  Then on the actual day, John and Marilyn came over for dinner (meat loaf and cheesecake!)  Joe called, from a plane in Houston, as he was en route to Nicaragua for a wedding.  He wrote a few times from there, as we were getting socked up and down the east coast, and the midwest, that he was at a pool, or on the beach, sipping a cold one.  He was only trying to make us jealous, and he succeeded.

We were able to chat with Dundee and Fairport as well and catch up on news a couple of times.  Claire was accepted as an RA for school next year which is a nice honor.  Daniel is tearing up the basketball court, and as you can see, Bill and Jen came over, and we can enjoy a nice photo of Lur and Auden.  David and Paula are happy expecting grandparents, even with snow and shoveling and did I say snow?

Peter and Janet were able to take advantage of a brief break in the weather to make the drive up here on Friday for the weekend.  I was confused, surprised and awed at the delivery of a kayak. I have since heard it was a feat involving many people and matched only perhaps by the building of the pyramids.  Unbelievable. Makes me want to work harder to finish my school work and to anticipate the arrival of a relaxing spring and summer.  Can I say thank you again?  We went out to dinner and then did a main street tour of a very nice exhibit of Berkshire collectors, a few shops, and then lunch.  We are supporting the revitalization of Pittsfield.  Peter made a spectacular dinner and we covered many subjects, including Gov. Christie, the Oscars, baseball, the Olympics and snow.

Mary is off school this week, and she is ready for a break.  Too much birthday.  She is in the kitchen now, humming the Olympic theme song, as we have just watched the replay of the U.S.-Russia hockey game.  Easier this time since we knew the outcome.  I said to Peter as we were watching it live, that I knew why Pop couldn't watch sports.  Too much tension, for the a 60-year old.

Speaking of tension and competitive events, Colleen and Pauline won again at the Westminster Kennel Dog Show in New York, for her Borzoi breed! Congrats.

And one more time, thank you all again.  Love and hugs and kisses.

What's New with Johanna

Call this a long overdue update from Johanna. First off a huge thank you to everyone who wrote me, called me and my parents, and wished me well during my hospitalization and surgery this past summer. I so appreciate having such a wonderful, loving, and supportive family. The well wishes were a big help in my recovery. And of course, a HUGE thanks to Annie for taking such great care of Molly while I was in the hospital. She was in good hands!

 

I've been at my new job since November and I really, truly love it. After my bosses at the architecture firm decided not to renew my contract and move me to part-time I found myself looking for a new job again. I ended up finding my current job almost immediately. I am working as a Digital Publicist at MediaConnect, a Finn Partners company. I cover a wide range of books from murder mysteries to business books. All my work is online, hence the digital title. Right now I am working on five campaigns--a self-help book, a murder mystery (Zero Degree Murder which both my mom and I loved and I highly recommend), an education book on corporal punishment (scarily still legal in 18 states and not regulated at all), a major campaign for Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison, and an upcoming book on leadership and sustainability in business. It keeps me busy but as I said I really love it. My co-workers have become my friends!

 

I spoke to Aunt Jane recently and she sounds like she's doing really well. She'll be returning from a trip to France this week and we're hoping to meet up in the city for lunch soon!

 

Other than all that, not much else to report. It's been great catching up with Annie now that she's been in the city. My current roommate joked that Annie could have lived with us forever she liked having her around so much! As many of you know Molly had a health crisis after our family reunion in Pittsfield three years ago. She relapsed again this year and while we have no real diagnosis it's likely an auto-immune disorder that will keep her on a low dose of prednisone for life. Thankfully the stuff is dirt cheap! I've attached a photo of us at my office from before Christmas. My office loves dogs and she's been in few times. It's nice having such an accomodating office!

 

I hope all is well with everyone else!

 

Much love, Johanna

Place your bets

A mere hour and a half before another momentous Super Bowl.  This entry for Pops Weekly Letter will not have a long shelf life.  Denver 35-Seattle 13.  

Anyway, it certainly is an excuse to eat terribly.  It's the one day of the year we buy Fritos, and indulge in that.  The challenge will be to not buy Fritos tomorrow.  Actually, last year at this time, we were doing our cleanse so we celebrated with kale chips. They are a poor excuse for Fritos.  John and Marilyn are coming over for a probably subdued affair at our house.  We may not make it past half time.

Here's a photo from a couple of weeks ago stolen from Facebook.  Annie had gone out to lunch in the big apple with Janet and Johanna, and reported that all is well with both of them.  School had just started, and Annie had returned from a trip to Denver, just barely making it back before airports were shut down before the big storm.  

We have had a busy January, with two weekend trips.  The first was to Rhode Island where we stopped in to see Dan, Maura and Steve, and of course Elsie. I faintly remember how much fun and energy is required with three year olds.  Maura is working, going to school and busy with Elsie.  Overall, a nice visit. We then went over to Marge and Lew's to take in the Patriots football game, that was supposed to be their send-off to the Super Bowl.  Hmmm.  Lew has a big theater and big screen in their basement so it was fun to watch and eat too much with them.  A friend of theirs came over, whose last name is Crane and went to Darrow with his two brothers - remember anyone named Crane, David?

      

While in Rhode Island, we Skyped with Joe who was in London, and was contemplating his next job move.  He made his decision a few days later and will be coming home later this spring.  Yeah.  

Then last weekend, we headed back east but this time to Boston to attend a "Burns night" celebrating all things Scottish, including Robert Burns birthday.  Our friend whom I walked the Great Glen Way hosted the party, and he managed to randomly meet a piper the night before and convince him to come play the bagpipes for everyone.  I like bagpipes, but from a distance and maybe for a song or two.  Kind of like mariachis.  Anyway, he played three songs, showed how hard it is to play the instrument and then let us get back to trying all the different kinds of Scotch on hand.

We spoke with David, who let me know of a Shaker box workshop coming up in March. Looks interesting but I postponed until next year when I didn't have this danged thesis over my head.  I think David could probably give his own Shaker box workshop!

We spoke with Andrew a few times, during their winter freeze-outs, and planned a weekend with Peter and Janet up here in a few weeks.  This coming weekend we're heading south to DC for Margaret's unofficial engagement party.  She sounds very busy with her work and school work.

What else?  We saw a good movie last night - Dallas Buyers Club, and have rearranged our Oscar nominations.  Matthew McConaughey for best actor. We watched and read a lot of the life stories about Pete Seeger.  And, Mary has taken on a new student at the local volunteer literacy program.  

So, lots to look forward to in the coming weeks.  Hope all is well with all of you.  Place your bets. Time is running out.

Love from up here.

Letter from Dundee

Last time, I asked about everyone's new year's resolutions.  Even though I know that I cannot make resolutions for other people (but, hey, wouldn't that be nice,) here's a suggestion.  Everyone resolve to submit at least one contribution to Pops Weekly Letter during the course of 2014.  More than one would be nice, but, let's start small.  It's easy: just write an e-mail (delete all your signature items) to popsweeklyletter.dickson@blogger.com.  

On that note, Andrew has already fulfilled his (my) new year's resolution:

Talked to Claire this week who has joined an intramural volleyball team with her roommate, Matty, and was kind enough to go to the easy league because Matty has not played too much. She was asked to apply for a RA position and will interview this week. She is also teaching second graders in the Zeeland, MI school district one day a week for her education class. To do so, she had to drop one of Hope's popular classes, "Religion and Atrocities". I told her there are plenty of examples in history. I drove her back to Hope on the 8th, and it was a harrowing ride both ways with semis off the road and major backups. Thank goodness for the Subaru.

Today, Daniel got braces. It will be 20 month long process, so here we go. He continues to do well in basketball, and is enrolled in drivers ed. Yikes. Bill and Jen seem to have their hands full with the kids, and am sure the out-of-control granddad doesn't help.  Just doing my job.

Sign of things to come: the cat jumped on the outside bench and the leg collapsed. Everybody is getting older.

Total snowfall in Chicago last winter: 38 inches

Total snowfall in Chicago so far this winter: 39 inches

More arctic freeze and snow coming this week. We will try to send it east as fast as we can.

I told my doctor last week that I was in shape. He did not agree. I then said " Hey, round is a shape".

All is well in Dundee. Be well.

Cold and colds

Not only is it the coldest season on record, but it's been the season of lingering and recurring colds.  I spent the better part of the day in bed, and am still a little foggy from four different types of cold medicine - not all at the same time.  I thought with vitamins and breakfast fruit, I had beaten the odds, but the colds are definitely winning this year.

It was frightening to flip through the temperatures where everyone was living this past week.  Chicago -13.  Rochester -4.  Pittsfield. -1.  Princeton 4.  DC 12.  Yikes.  Then yesterday it was up in the 50s.  Last Sunday ice fishing, today people could have gone canoeing on the lake. Last Monday, when it was 1 degree here, I went over to take some pictures of the preservation project; people were out working and it was brutally cold.  I stayed for only 30 minutes and that was enough for me.  One more sign of the cold: we've almost gone through the woodpile I set aside for the winter.  Fortunately, winter's almost over.  Right?

The glow of the holidays is over;  Marge and Lew had come up for a new year's eve dinner with Mary's high school friends.  The big news is that we actually made it to midnight, and a little beyond.  Last Sunday we took down the tree.  We still have the big wreath up, but we haven't lit the lights since new year's eve.  And so, it's back to work and back to our routines.  

Did you all make new year's reservations?  I did but I can't really start until May when I am finished (hopefully) with school.   That's the best new year's resolution, one that doesn't begin for another five months.  What is mine, you ask?  Swimming.  Learn how to swim properly.

Odds and ends.  Two birthdays last week: Jeffrey and Margaret.  Happy days!  Marilyn had knee surgery this week, and has bounced back quickly. Not so happy a day, but it will mean happy days to come. Mary went with her swim team to a meet yesterday, and she swam in five different races.

We spoke with Joe last week, and he was getting ready to go back to work after two weeks off, part of which he spent in Paris.  Sweet.

So, we're watching football and Downton Abbey and Chris Christie press conferences, at least John Stewart and Stephen Colbert's takes on them.  Not sure which is more entertaining.

Outside of school reading, I am working my way through two Christmas books: one on Bush and Cheney and the other on the history of the Book of Common Prayer.  I am trying to find the connection between the two, other than that they are both interesting reads.  

I ran out of photos from the week, so I found one from the files.  Those were happy days, and warmer ones as well.  Stay warm.

Love from up here.  

 

Farewell to 2013

And hello next year!  

It's quiet around here.  The kitty is wondering where everyone went, but doesn't really mind.  He has his house back to himself -- and the two people he occasionally pays attention to when he's hungry.  And he doesn't have to worry about sharing the house with a dog, who pretty much ignores him.

We had a wonderful Christmas, with Annie, Margaret and Andrew here for a few days.  We had met up in New York City in 70 degree weather.  Mary and I had gone down for our anniversary and to celebrate the end of the semester and take in a show.  The city was packed, especially as we wandered around mid-town, between Broadway and 5th Avenue to take in all the Christmas sights, with the millions of smart people who had the same idea.  It was still fun to see the skating, and the light shows, and fancy stores, and the singing and dancing and bell-ringing Salvation Army Santa Clauses and elves.  

On Annie's advice we headed down to the High Line which is an elevated train track converted to a path, starting next to Madison Square Garden and going south.  I think the same people who were at Rockefeller Center the day before went here.  Or maybe it's just a big city.  Anyway, the trail is very nicely done, and little neighborhoods are springing up all around it.  We had our choice of restaurants when we finished and chose an authentic Mexican one.  It was all helped out by the warm weather. We saw Newsies, a musical about a strike by newspaper boys in the 1890s against Joseph Pulitzer's paper.  The singing was good, but the dancing was phenomenal.  Very entertaining.    

We tried to connect with Peter and Janet for Sunday brunch but it didn't work out.  We actually had brunch at a sidewalk cafe (in December!) with Margaret, Annie and Greg before heading back to Pittsfield.  The warm weather had reached up here, melting almost all the snow.  We had a dusting Christmas morning so we could claim a seasonal white ambiance.   

Andrew came up the next day on the plane, and we had a Christmas eve supper with John and Marilyn. They were having a houseful the next day.  In case you're wondering, the picture here after that supper was not posed.  Just candid. 

Joe called several times, from London and once from Paris.  His girlfriend had gone over to spend Christmas with him, and was generous enough to carry over gifts for him, for his birthday and for Christmas.  He had had Christmas dinner with a friend he met one summer working at the Embassy in Ottawa.

We touched base with almost everyone in both Dickson and Boyle families, from Mexico to Illinois, Rochester, Stonington and New Jersey.  We thought a fair amount of Pomfret at this time of year, and while those days are receding faster than we want, the memories of that happiness, are still fairly close to the surface.  We all crowded in, ate lots of food, played football, sledded, and pretty much made a wreck of their house.  

Each year, on return, we all got a letter from Grandma and Pop, thanking us for making the trek north and east, and reminding us, as if we needed reminding, how special that time was.

So here's a resolution for 2014.  Let's try to get together!  Any ideas?

Love from up here.     

How can it get any more Christmas-y?

The tree is up, so are the wreaths, Mary has been making cookies, the UPS guys are here too much, there's fire in the fireplace, and.... there's snow on the ground.  Where are Currier and Ives to paint a picture?  We have a few more things to do, like write a Christmas letter and .... and....and..... The list never ends.  But it's fun.

And one thing that is not fun, is I have one more paper due this Friday.  Then we'll have fun.  We're off to NYC for a couple of nights.  Wanna come?  We'll see Annie, and bring her home.  Margaret's also planning to be up in that neck of the woods for the weekend, before coming north.

Our big news was the first big snow of the year, which I bet folks in Pennington also got.  We know New York City got a lot since Annie sent us a photo.  Out in Rochester and Chicago we have a long way to catch up.  Anyway, it snowed all day Saturday, but teeny flakes, and then got a little more serious over night, so we woke up to about 6 inches of the white blanket.  Even though it was Sunday, we had our own little snow day and stayed home, except for a walk in the woods with snowshoes.  Exhilarating.  

We remembered that this was the weekend we had panned to go to Boston, for Mary's swim meet, but we cancelled since she had not been feeling well and so wasn't swimming.  So, good thing we didn't go since we probably would have gotten caught up in the mess.  Things work out.

Margaret finished her semester handing in her last paper.  She and Andrew are going to celebrate by going to a Beyonce concert.  Why didn't I think of that?  When is Beyonce coming to Pittsfield?  

We had a long chat with the Chicago folks who were getting ready to go out to Michigan to pick up Claire for the winter break.  Lur's parents continue to struggle health-wise.  Apparently, Myles is keeping everyone in good spirits though.  We have to see them!  We have to see Daniel dunk a basketball.

Out in Rochester, it sounds like the deer are taking over or at least feeling right at home in David and Paula's back yard.  They are expecting Jeffrey and Melodie up from DC and Matthew, Tina and Oliver on the big day.

Joe sent us a photo he took on his way to a Christmas party.  He was wearing his new kilt, along with Pop's tuxedo jacket and a bow tie.

And Peter wrote with some sad news that one of their friends from McCarter Theater has been accused of embezzlement.  He was a big supporter of Janet's work with the blind.

Another first to check off the bucket list - an auction.  Mary and I went to our first live auction with the fast talking and everything.  No pork bellies or cattle, but we did get a small rug.  We were outbid a few times on other rugs, and left before the furniture came up.  An hour plus was about all that I could handle.  

Other happy events?  Does the dentist count?   Finishing the second season of Homeland?  John and Marilyn came over for tea and cookies yesterday.They have been walking six miles a day.  Not sure what the snow will do to their hikes.  David says the path by the canal where he walks is plowed.  

At some point, I will have to tell you about our project to go back to Gabon this summer.  And about my thesis on historic preservation.  But they're still in the planning phase so we'll wait until they're a little firmer.

And that's all the news from up here.  We hope you all enjoying the anticipation and the joy of the season.

Love.