Dear Family and Friends,
Usually, as I review the events of the year that I’ll report on in the Christmas epistle, I wonder at how quickly the year passed. This year seemed longer than usual! And it is: it's a leap-second year, and a second will be added between 3:59:59 and 4:00 a.m. at the end of the year.
Usually, as I review the events of the year that I’ll report on in the Christmas epistle, I wonder at how quickly the year passed. This year seemed longer than usual! And it is: it's a leap-second year, and a second will be added between 3:59:59 and 4:00 a.m. at the end of the year.
Last winter, I made several road trips to Phoenix and stayed with my brother Brian and his family. I spent some time with Dad and Susanne, and Dad’s snowbirding sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Ted Berkland. It was so nice to be with family. Also while in Phoenix, I reunited with some friends of long standing. (Notice I’m not calling you “old friends.” That is because I am sensitive, respectful, and kind to my elders.) I got to meet some dear friends I’d only known online; and the delightful Jan Karlen visited me here in Redlands.
In March, I drove all the way to Desert Hot Springs (about 40 miles) to meet Bobby and friends who’d flown and driven there from Phoenix (about 360 miles) to do a concert. We had a memorable time with rehearsal, the restaurant, the concert, and afterward. Note to self: being the only woman at a men’s quartet rehearsal: fantastic idea. Must repeat. Here's the album: http://family.webshots.com/album/562794061NlCICn
In April I got to meet my new cat, Smetana. She was only five weeks old when I met her with the foster mom from Redlands Humane Society. She’s a cuckoo in the nest, as her mother cat and litter m
ates were completely different. So I’m thinking: daddy cat was half tabby, half Siamese, and she takes after him. The great thing is that she does not have the Siamese voice. In fact, at 9 months, you can barely hear her kittenish squeak. I brought her home on May 31. She gets along famously with Mali, the 4-year-old Siamese (they both love to wrestle), and with Evie, the 7-year-old Border collie (who’s not sure what to do when Smetana tries to cuddle with her). Smetana’s name was one I learned in Ukraine and Russia last year: sour cream or crème fraiche, and they put it on absolutely everything. She’s very light and has four white feet. That makes her a lynx-point snowshoe Siamese, even if she is a little mutt. I have to put clear packaging tape on upholstered corners to keep those evil claws out of my furniture. She loves to snuggle, and has a world-class purr. Which she uses on me at 4:00 a.m. That’s just wrong. Album: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/561590626vnTXMl
ates were completely different. So I’m thinking: daddy cat was half tabby, half Siamese, and she takes after him. The great thing is that she does not have the Siamese voice. In fact, at 9 months, you can barely hear her kittenish squeak. I brought her home on May 31. She gets along famously with Mali, the 4-year-old Siamese (they both love to wrestle), and with Evie, the 7-year-old Border collie (who’s not sure what to do when Smetana tries to cuddle with her). Smetana’s name was one I learned in Ukraine and Russia last year: sour cream or crème fraiche, and they put it on absolutely everything. She’s very light and has four white feet. That makes her a lynx-point snowshoe Siamese, even if she is a little mutt. I have to put clear packaging tape on upholstered corners to keep those evil claws out of my furniture. She loves to snuggle, and has a world-class purr. Which she uses on me at 4:00 a.m. That’s just wrong. Album: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/561590626vnTXMlDuring May, June, and July, I bottled about 180 pints (that is a lot!) of fruit jam from my trees: mulberry, peach, plum. It’s not the jammin’ that’s so much work: it’s the fruit prep. Stemming, peeling, pitting. I used every jar I had, even the dozens I’d bought at the thrift store. And I gave away many, many bags of fresh peaches to the neighbors and co-workers. Such a bounty from one tree! This November, I made about 10 pints of pineapple guava jam, and I think I’m done until May. In addition, I have tomatoes, green chilis, strawberries, blueberries, pluot, cherry, almond, lemon, lime, orange, and a volunteer bell pepper that was a lovely surprise. When I made salad, a pepper seed jumped into the coffee grounds I mulch plants with, and grew up in the lemon tree pot.
Over the spring and summer, I connected with more than 115 people from my past and present, by networking with them on Facebook. Between relatives, co-workers, alumni, church people, and professional peers, I’ve had a really fun time with instant messaging, communicating, commenting on photos, etc. I’ve even connected with historians and authors I admire. It’s much more grown-up and clean-cut than MySpace, and my friends range from their teen years to their eighties.
I’ve done genealogical research from my home computer, and spent a lot of time in the 10th through 14th centuries. I started an Excel file of where ancestors are buried, and it has hundreds of names and locations on it. In my research for previous trips to England and France, I learned that there’s no such thing as an index of medieval burial places. Muahahaha – until now! I love finding effigies in English and French churches. Finding those stone memorial statues became my hobby several years ago. I’m thinking of ways to make the ancestors come alive in a book. Don’t hold your breath about it, though, because I have no time.
Back in the 21st century, my cousin Phil Berkland and his wife Christine came to visit in September. I hadn’t seen Phil in maybe 18 years, and never met Christine. So it’s like I have new cousins!
Just before my birthday, I came down with a mystery illness. Lab tests and three doctors couldn’t figure it out. After two weeks of scary symptoms (like arthritis—I was too weak and pained to open a water bottle or play the piano—and my limbs turning dark red for 2 days) it finally went away. Score another win for humble ibuprofen. And I thank God for overall excellent health.
In October, I turned 50 (or 7 in dog years). My friends took me out for dinner, had me over for filet mignon, gave me a gift card at work, took me to lunch, one sent a giant box filled with gifts, Dad and Susanne sent a gift card, and my brother hosted a party for me in Phoenix (shared with my sister-in-law Stacey). The lunches went on for three weeks. Must try this 50-scam more often.Work: same place, and lots of stuff to do. This year, I put out six 24-page magazines, designed 6 or 8 magazine ads (for other magazines), wrote or re-wrote several video scripts for DVD and television, wrote 13 email newsletters with supporting web pages and devotional articles, and countless other projects.
Archive of articles: http://www.thequiethour.org/resources/devotionals.php
We got a few percentage points of salary raise, but it’s a nonprofit ministry, so none of us is keeping up with inflation. California has been in recession months longer than the nation has, and taxes and expenses are higher here. I’ve been extremely conservative with my finances, so I have a small car payment and the mortgage, and no other debt. To have an emergency cushion against the recession, I saved my dough instead of going on a much-needed vacation. (Sigh… It’s called “stay-cation.”) To burn off stress, I do a lot of gardening and playing with the critters.
I’m active in church music, playing and singing at least twice a month with two ensembles, and other service music. I sub with the choir and organ at the same Methodist church, and play for weddings or funerals at various churches as requested.
I am so honored to be included in the activities and affections of my neighbors the Avalos family. They invite me for all the holidays, welcoming their baby granddaughter, for their birthdays and mine, and just for hanging out. When I need lovins or turkey gravy or the Christmas lights stapled to the eaves, they’re here for me.
May the Lord bring us the love, acceptance, trust, loyalty, compassion, and peace of mind that we all crave, and the security and strength to feel comfortable about expressing those same qualities to each other.
Merry Christmas and a blessed new year to you, my friends, my loved ones.
Christy K Robinson
Evie, Mali, and Smetana
Christy K Robinson
Evie, Mali, and Smetana
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