Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Though the last of those three heartfelt wishes to all you patient readers is on time, the other two are examples of my pursuit - procrastination. Throughout my adult life I have been a fairly effective procrastinator, though not perfect by any measure. This decade I mean to change that.
I'm reminded of Jimmy Carter's recollection of his first meeting with Admiral Rickover. When Rickover asked the new Ensign whether he always did his best at the Naval Academy, Carter answered "No." Prompting Rickover's second question, "Why not?" Since I'm pretty good at procrastinating without putting any effort into the act, it's reasonable to assume that, with a little work, I could be much better.
First of all, this is my Christmas letter (or Solstice, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa ...) so I'm already on my way as an olympic class procrastinator! See, I'm starting the new year right. Second, I started this letter at about six this morning. It is now past two-thirty. How'm I doin'? Third, I interrupted this to begin neatening up my office - a process that promises to occupy most of 2020 - does that somehow (the interruption) count as procrastination?
Since this is the first holiday (see list above) letter I've ever written, bear with me if I deviate from acceptable norms ... Let's see ... news of the year ... Oh yeah, I visited the ER in January and again in May, January for tripping over my bike on the way down the bike shop stairs - concussion and large gash in my leg from the pedal, May after fainting while making morning coffee - concussion and finally recognition that one of my heart meds was trying to kill me. It's now listed as an allergen in my comprehensive health record. Carol had cataract surgery on both eyes November and December, you know of course those are not the names of her eyes (I had to say that) but rather the months in which the surgeries took place. She loves the results. I think that covers the medical history part of the year. On to family.
Our three kids Laura, Wanda, and Kelly are doing very well as are their spouses. Now the grandkids: Phoebe is wrapping up a bachelor's degree and will soon be an RN; Phil graduated from Syracuse with a Chemical Engineering degree and is now in Madison Wisconsin working for Epic; Nick got his MBA from UL Lafayette and is working in Baton Rouge and living in Lafayette with our two great-grandkids, Suri and Jaxon.; Miranda is fifteen, a sophomore, and still heavily into her gymnastics (she spent the week before Christmas in the Bahamas at a gymnastics meet); Danny is twelve and very interested in singing and acting. He auditioned for the Chamber Singers in his middle school and was accepted.
Carol and I spent the first half of February in Cedar Key, as we have the last several years. Oh! Oh! I forgot! The morning we left on that trip south, Carol slipped on the ice and fractured her wrist. (That should have been in the medical section, sorry.) It got tended to when we arrived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina because she didn't believe it was that bad, until the pain told her it was. Anyway, when that happened, we had the car all loaded and the bikes mounted on the rack so, at her insistence we headed south to Joan's. About the bikes, Carol was unable to ride so her bike lazed against the porch rail of our cottage until I loaded up for the trip home. Other than that mishap we had a very good two weeks.
Wow! I wrote a lot of stuff. I guess that's how these letters are supposed to go.
Until next time ...
Namaste.
I'm reminded of Jimmy Carter's recollection of his first meeting with Admiral Rickover. When Rickover asked the new Ensign whether he always did his best at the Naval Academy, Carter answered "No." Prompting Rickover's second question, "Why not?" Since I'm pretty good at procrastinating without putting any effort into the act, it's reasonable to assume that, with a little work, I could be much better.
First of all, this is my Christmas letter (or Solstice, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa ...) so I'm already on my way as an olympic class procrastinator! See, I'm starting the new year right. Second, I started this letter at about six this morning. It is now past two-thirty. How'm I doin'? Third, I interrupted this to begin neatening up my office - a process that promises to occupy most of 2020 - does that somehow (the interruption) count as procrastination?
Since this is the first holiday (see list above) letter I've ever written, bear with me if I deviate from acceptable norms ... Let's see ... news of the year ... Oh yeah, I visited the ER in January and again in May, January for tripping over my bike on the way down the bike shop stairs - concussion and large gash in my leg from the pedal, May after fainting while making morning coffee - concussion and finally recognition that one of my heart meds was trying to kill me. It's now listed as an allergen in my comprehensive health record. Carol had cataract surgery on both eyes November and December, you know of course those are not the names of her eyes (I had to say that) but rather the months in which the surgeries took place. She loves the results. I think that covers the medical history part of the year. On to family.
Our three kids Laura, Wanda, and Kelly are doing very well as are their spouses. Now the grandkids: Phoebe is wrapping up a bachelor's degree and will soon be an RN; Phil graduated from Syracuse with a Chemical Engineering degree and is now in Madison Wisconsin working for Epic; Nick got his MBA from UL Lafayette and is working in Baton Rouge and living in Lafayette with our two great-grandkids, Suri and Jaxon.; Miranda is fifteen, a sophomore, and still heavily into her gymnastics (she spent the week before Christmas in the Bahamas at a gymnastics meet); Danny is twelve and very interested in singing and acting. He auditioned for the Chamber Singers in his middle school and was accepted.
Carol and I spent the first half of February in Cedar Key, as we have the last several years. Oh! Oh! I forgot! The morning we left on that trip south, Carol slipped on the ice and fractured her wrist. (That should have been in the medical section, sorry.) It got tended to when we arrived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina because she didn't believe it was that bad, until the pain told her it was. Anyway, when that happened, we had the car all loaded and the bikes mounted on the rack so, at her insistence we headed south to Joan's. About the bikes, Carol was unable to ride so her bike lazed against the porch rail of our cottage until I loaded up for the trip home. Other than that mishap we had a very good two weeks.
Wow! I wrote a lot of stuff. I guess that's how these letters are supposed to go.
Until next time ...
Namaste.
Hope things get better in the new year
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you are coming to Cedar Key this year. It is not too very far from where I am (near Ft White)
ReplyDelete