Christmas Greetings

December 2010

I’m sort of ambivalent about Christmas letters, but equally ambivalent about writing long notes on cards, so I will include this note with our annual Christmas greeting. [...]

E is in her fifth year at WM teaching high school math. She was honored in the spring by being selected as a STAR teacher by one of her students. (the top SAT scorer at a school chooses a faculty member for having made the most significant contribution to the STAR student's scholastic development). She’s organized a peer-tutor program at a local charter school that she drives a minibus-load of high school kids to once a week after school. In spite of her accomplishments, she says she’s getting the five year itch (a recurring theme in our professional lives), but I dare say the housing market will keep us rooted for awhile probably, maybe forever—at least her school has a sabbatical program. She seems to take after her Dad in her fascination with technological gadgets—she bought herself (and Gabi… okay, all of us) an iPad and I bought her a new postage-stamp sized iPod for her birthday. She overdoses on news podcasts and downloadable talking-head programs.

K is still working for the public library and getting more adept at preschool story time, a skill that he never anticipated having to hone. Renovations at the office building in which his midtown branch is housed caused major disruption and extended closure of the branch (which continues at the time of the writing of this note). At least the county is financially solvent for now, but programs and budgets have been cut and there have been no raises, but also no furloughs. He enjoys dabbling in watercolors in his free time, pottering around the yard, and reading (sometimes, but not exclusively, on his new Nook). Check out his book blog at http://atlpt.pbworks.com

G left junior high and signed on for the increased academic rigors of high school. She is in the honors sections of Geometry and French. She plays oboe in school band as well as in a local community youth symphony, which rehearses at a nearby university campus on Sunday afternoons, and which she has thoroughly enjoyed! She was on the lacrosse team this spring and ran cross-country this autumn. She plays oboe on occasion at church and has become an acolyte.

Travel highlights this year included a wonderful five-day trip to NYC, where we got our big city fix. Also we enjoyed what seems to be an annual pilgrimage to the SC beach this summer. We’ve also taken advantage of local cultural opportunities—the opera and symphony, hearing Idina Menzel, Natalie Merchant, and David Sedaris, frequent trips to the always-wonderful botanical garden, and the art museum.

We hope that 2010 has been kind to you, that you are weathering the economic downturn, and that you too have blessings to be thankful for.

Best wishes this holiday season and all the best for a wonderful 2011.