Long Time Between

Christmas is past. On our part it is getting quite simple as the grand kids and we two elders advance in age. A small, fun gift to open --- but the main gift is CASH. That makes it good for both old and young. They get what they want and we (with Amazon's assistance) avoid the Christmas crowds at the stores.

We had the extended family "Goodie Party" at Jenny and Stuart's house on Saturday (a tradition since 1972), and brunch at Ellen and Martin's on Sunday. That was all the time we had for all of us to be together. Jenny and Stuart then left for Aptos. Stuart's father died on Dec. 9 and the memorial service was on the Sunday following Christmas. All his family were in Aptos for Christmas and in the days following prepared for the service on Sunday. Dave's family and Ellen's family were here on Christmas day (Tuesday.) Dave's family stayed on until Thursday morning.

We traveled to Aptos on Dec. 30 for the Memorial Service for Stuart's father, Deane. Ellen drove us in our car. It was a lovely service in a Methodist church on a hilltop, very picturesque. The pastor could have passed for Friar Tuck from Robin Hood. He was short, round, robed and sandaled. He was also a man of many talents. He played the piano for the hymns and also the accordion. The most touching part of the ceremony was when taps was played and our grandson, Zach, walked slowly down the aisle and presented the folded American flag to his other grandma, Hazel, Deane's wife.

January 4th brought a big storm with strong wind and rain. None of our trees went down but lots of dead branches fell, debris everywhere. Last Friday Ellen came up with her three teen-agers and three of their friends. They helped George collect all the litter and pile it in a big pile to be burned later. We paid them with pizza.