Happy New Year!

The year is all but over. It has been a very wonderful year for the most part. Maryann and I did get to do some treaveling this year. It has been absolutely marvelous since she had her second hip replaced. She is able to move effortlessly and painlessly. What a miracle. We are constantly amazed and amused at her ability to do things like she when she was much younger.

We are both saddened by the deterioration of her mother's mental health. At age 95 Margaret is doing very well physically, but she has developed a case of demetia that is unfortunate. She does not recognize anyone from the current generation. She does recognize photographs of folks who are long since passed on.

My mother is doing reasonably well at age 92. Her biggest problem is macular degeneration and she, too, is beginning to be pleasantly confused. Her sense of humor is still great. However, she still carries grudges against folks she believes have caused her harm in the past. Just about everyone she has a problem with has passed on. My brother has been the hero in the family because he has chosen to live with Mom in her house. She can no longer live by herself. She has always prided herself in being able to take care of herself and being in control of her life. Now she has to come to grips with the fact she has to relenquish some of that control.

We are looking forward to a very prosperous new year. There will be travel in the coming year. There is at least a trip, perhaps Spain in July and to the Ozarks in Missouri in September. Maryann will have to make a trip to Pennsylvania this Spring and I will have to make trips to El Paso and perhaps Phoenix to visit family.

We wish you all the most prosperous of new years.

Serve well and live fully.