“One Christmas was so much like another, that I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six.” . . . Dylan Thomas
Carol and I wish each of you and your families a very Merry (and healthy) Christmas.
Carol and I received a wonderful Christmas card from our family. It shows all of the most important aspects of the Christmas seasons - children, couples, and couples having children. It made the old couple in California a little homesick. We sure do miss them. Then we think of the snow - Santa rides a surf board here. We are not going to have a traditional family Christmas. We will play some tennis at 9:00AM, and then go to the movies. There was talk of seeing the movie that has caused all of the trouble between North Korea and Sony. Who knows.
So far as Christmas presents are concerned I will place money that my gift to Carol weighs more than anything you give or receive - 1100 square feet of inter-locking brick. Carol gave me a dump truck load of sand. We are so good to each other. The bricks started to arrive yesterday but they were not the right ones and I had to return them. We are eager to get them installed as we have some friends visiting in January (although if they are not installed when Billie visits in February, we will just get her a pail and shovel and let her go to it. That should work too.
We have heard that Bronwen is expecting a girl. It is wonderful news. We are as pleased as punch. Well done Bronwen and Glenn.
Hint: Keep reading and you will find the origins of "pleased as punch".
Glenn is the drummer in a band - passionate and intense.
Carol and I attended Bronwen's concert on Sunday. She still plays clarinet in the Festival of Wind Orchestra. Katie and Billie attended too, and they were both very well behaved. Billie squeaked a couple of times, but for the most part seemed to really enjoy and get into the spirit of the music.
15 Feb 1953 -- 05 May 2014
Bronwen and Glenn arrived last Saturday. Sunday was the Flea Market at the College of the Desert to buy inexpensive shoes followed by watching a Polo match at the Polo Fields in Indio (including picnic lunch), Monday was the fast and furious visit to Joshua Tree National Park, and Tuesday our guests left for Las Vegas for an overnight, returning Wednesday evening. Yesterday (Thursday) we visited Bill and Linda's, enjoyed Fish Tacos at Shanghi Red's, and got lost at the Palm Springs Street Fair. It is 6AM Friday and it is raining in Palm Desert. Oops, it just stopped. Oops it just started again.
Do you see the tree on the left in the photo below? That is a Date Palm. For various reasons (including, who would want a 60 foot tree leaning as the one in the photo on their front lawn?) 65 of these trees were removed from the common areas of Silver Sands in the past 18 months. You would think that you would notice it when 65 trees, each 60 feet tall, go missing. Well I didn't. Other more observant people did notice. There has been a hue and cry about replacing them. Even though I had not noticed them disappearing, I am concerned enough that I have joined the Landscape Committee for Silver Sands to determine how they should be replaced. I have volunteered to help with the recommendation for different types of palms that do not lean and do not grow to 60 feet. This will be fun and I will learn something new -- so long as no one issues me a shovel.
Where is the date palm photo?
I hope that you have a wonderful birthday today, Irene. Thank you for being there for me through the years.
