February 15, 2017
INTENDED TO RECAP 2016
We hope you had a Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Lovely Valentine’s day!!
This is probably the latest Christmas/New Year’s letter ever.
IT ACTUALLY IS BECAUSE I DIDN’T GET AROUND TO MAILING IT UNTIL NOW, WHICH MAY BE SETTING A NEW RECORD EVEN FOR ME.
I wish I had a good excuse—but mostly it was just the fact that it takes me more time than it ever to get anything done.
That couldn’t be a factor of getting older, could it?
Or maybe it could. We went to Hinsdale in June (2016) for our eldest daughter’s Tonya’s daughter’s eldest son, Andrew’s, high school graduation. I LIKE TYPING IN ELDEST ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE (We are definitely “not supposed to be this damn old”—slightly misquoting Garth Brooks—Nevertheless, he is now established at TCU.) While there, we were able to see his sister, Emily, perform as “Annie” in a local theater production. (“Tomorrow! tomorrow!!)” As people with years of theater going behind us we are totally objective when we say she did the red wig proud.
While there, I noticed that Jayne was 1) driving 2) out with friends a lot, and 3) had become a very nice and pretty young lady. (time for a few bars of “Sunrise, Sunset”)
In March, we took our California grandchildren, Henry and Alex to New York, New York, (“It’s a wonderful town”). Henry had never been there before, and I don’t think he was too impressed. He announced it was “cold”. That could be because he only packed shorts, flip flops and a sweat shirt. Undaunted, we took the boys to see most of the tourist sites, as it was fairly clear it wouldn’t be a travel option for Henry again, soon. (“California, here I come, right back where I started from”). When asked if there was anyplace else he’s like to travel, he thought about it and replied “your condo in Sanibel. (any Beach Boys song). We did take him from the Pacific beach to the Gulf shore beach in June, picking up Riley, Alexis’ daughter on the way. (any other Beach Boys song)
They also had another week in Sanibel in August, when we held our usual “everyone in Sanibel” reunion” week. (“Hail, Hail, the Gang’s all here”). Our trips to and from Florida have also provided us with the opportunity to visit with our youngest daughter’s twins “Princess Teagan”, and “Business Executive Lucas ” as well. (“a world of pure imagination.’) and their sister Riley, undeniably (“the leader of the pack”.
Chuck managed to work in two photographic expeditions this year—one to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for fall colors (“the autumn leaves, all red and gold“) and another to upper Canada “the land of the midnight sun, where the bears and the polar bears run”)
On December 30, 2016, we marked our 50th anniversary, and left for a holiday in New Zealand and environs.
ALSO, THIS IS WHERE I EVIDENTLY GOT DISTRACTED AND GAVE UP ON MEMORIALIZING 2016 , DECIDING IT WAS WAY TOO LATE FOR ANY KIND OF CARD.
Your very delinquent friend, Shelby (the blame is all mine; Chuck would have been all over this)
The Shelby Larsen 