Not easy for a woman who hates to gamble. But nothing in life is ever a sure bet.
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I sent seasons greetings to everyone in my cabin, my friends and special teachers when I was in the High School Division at the National Music Camp from 1967-1969. It took me a long time to get through my list. I’d be done right around the new year. I gave that up for years, but when David turned a year old, in 1986, I resumed the tradition of sending a card with a current photo. I didn’t start sending a “year in review” letter until 1998. As much as people grouse about it, my family and friends seem to look forward to these. I send close to 200 each year.

My Featured photo shows a few of the most recent, as well as the first, and the stack of all through the years (don’t you know me well enough by now to know that I’ve got every one saved in a folder in my study). It becomes increasingly difficult to get something resembling a family photo, since my children live eight time zones apart and are rarely together. Last year, I used a photo of a Zoom screen. This year, there will be no actual card and it won’t go out until we return from London, so there can be photos of our granddaughter incorporated into the body of the letter. That may have to be the way forward in the future. I try to have them all in the mail by December 15. Then I can relax for the remainder of the month.

All of my first cousins, some of their children, lots of friends, neighbors, former neighbors and even a few former clients (and I haven’t worked in over 30 years) receive one. It is how they know what we have been up to. I try to stay upbeat. I learned long ago that no one wants bad news (obviously, I will share important news, but try to spin it in a positive way and not dwell on it). It must all fit on one page, double-sided. So when I include photos in the body of the letter this year, I will have to be a more judicious editor.

We used to receive loads of beautiful cards that I’d put out on my piano, the letters would be piled along side and I’d always enjoy reading them. Increasingly they come via email these days. I send some via email, though I don’t use a holiday frame for mine. It is typed as a Word document, printed at home, then taken to Staples so I can get it printed double-sided and all the copies made on a high-speed copier. Not sending via snail mail seems to be the trend. I understand, but still like the touch and feel a beautiful card, even if I don’t keep all of them (I do keep the photos from my family members). I appreciate all who reach out to me at this time of year. It is nice to hear from everyone.

Mom probably figured, “Dale has never in his life had his own package of gum. He only gets to chew a piece now and then when someone offers him a stick.
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The Year of Banana Bread

Dear Family and Friends,

As this year draws to a close I’m happy to say despite the pandemic and the lock-downs we were really busy with lots to tell you in my annual holiday letter!

Although our travels were a bit limited this year,  we did take many trips back and forth between New York and Connecticut,  and were always on the lookout for interesting places to stop along the way.  In fact last month we stopped at a new drive-thru Starbucks that had just opened.  And several times passing through the countryside we saw roadkill,  but that wasn’t so pleasant.

Unfortunately during the year our cat developed an allergy and so now we feed him special,  rather costly hypoallergenic cat food.   But luckily Chewy delivers.

And again this year we spent Thanksgiving in the country and cooked a turkey on the grill.   It was yummy and there was no mess in the kitchen,  I was really thankful for that!

Our newspaper was delivered every day and I must say I’ve become a real whiz at the KenKen,  although I still can’t finish the crossword puzzle much beyond Wednesday.

Let’s see,  what else did we do during these past 12 months?

Oh yes,  I baked lots of banana bread  – 22 this year up from only 19 last year.   But now we realize we really don’t like banana bread,   so after I use up all those over-ripe bananas I guess I’ll stop.

Last week we went to Walgreens to get our flu vaccines.  It was an exciting outing although not as exciting as when we went to get our Covid vaccines and boosters – that was really a shot in the arm.

But of course the real highlight of the year were visits from our son,  and especially the time he taught us how to hook up the laptop to the TV to watch Netflix.

We also enjoyed Zoom meetings with friends and family,   and went to several Zoom celebrations.  And I must confess that to some early morning bar and bat mitzvah services I went in my bathrobe and slippers.

Alas over the year we also grieved at Zoom funerals and memorial services – sadly we had too many of those.

But looking on the bright side,  thankfully my loved ones are all well,  and so I’ll end this holiday letter with my very best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

xox Dana

– Dana Susan Lehrman