Its Been a Pretty Good Year

December 2007

Somehow, one day at a time, the year has vanished.

We have good health, wonderful children, a comfortable home, work we value, a community like no other, and lots of things that amuse us so we hardly noticed the days of summer (that lasted much longer than a summer should) whiz by.

Our exotic trips were confined to day dreams. In reality one or more of us visited Walnut Canyon and Flagstaff in the dead of summer. There were small trips to Prescott, AZ, Irvine, CA, Washington D.C., Cape May, NJ, Columbus, Ohio, Oklahoma City, and Durango, CO. We got to see friends, eat good food, exercise, and reflect on the differences in place.

We worked puzzles day in and day out. I specialize in the daily sudoku. Bob should patent his sudoku sheet. It is easier to work with than anything I've seen on the market. Bob is dedicated to the NPR Sunday puzzle with puzzlemaster Will Shortz and the annual online summer US Google Puzzle Championship. We battle wits and words fairly regularly with Scrabble. Hannah has become a crossword fan.

The garden grows - with humming birds and lots of tlc. I saw a photo from 12 or 13 years ago and by golly, the landscaping has grown more lush. We are moving more and more to water harvesting, and enjoyed a water harvesting event held by one of our local groups. Water harvesting is as simple as sticking a bucket under a downspout and planting new plants in wells that naturally collect water. We planted two trees out front that seem to be surviving and an ocotillo in back. There is a risk with the ocotillo because you don't know if it takes root for some time - a year even.

We read, listen and watch - the paper, books, the internet news, youtube, netflix, a little tv - the Lynley Mysteries, Sicko, all the stuff you watch too. We wonder about things a lot.

While we all contribute to the family mileage, Bob does most of the running, by far, (he calculates 839.6 miles to date this year - exactly the distance from Tucson to San Diego and back). When it is July and the middle of the day, you'll find Bob plugging away. It was his top month for running. The whole gang turned out for the Thanksgiving Cross Country at Reid Park before our wonderful meal for 25.

Anusara yoga remains my real passion and after approximately 2 years of really trying (on top of a couple of not really trying), I have managed to kick up into handstand at the wall with no assist. The day it happened I woke up thinking, "I wonder if today is the day." It was. The thing about yoga is that it is called a practice. It doesn't have to be perfection...just a giving to the practice.

My peace corps students are amazing (yes I still work)...53 of them and 5 others who are AmeriCorps...working all across the community...a positive inspiration. Do not fret over the state of the world. All will be well with these people in our communities. Perhaps when we retire, we will join Peace Corps.

We are grateful to you, our family and friends. May you find a bit of joy, indulge in a sweet, hug your beloved, and embrace this season of reflection and the new year.

With good wishes and hope that you greet the new year with heaps of optimism,

Georgia & Bob