Holiday Greetings to One and All:
It just couldn’t be ‘that time of the year’ again, but a look at the calendar and it is. And time to send along y best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season.
One of the resolutions on January 1st, I was to get my home organized, and even through it is slow, I’m making progress. For instance, I was sorting through a box of materials from my office when I retired and ran across pages from a journal I started in 1950, when I first came to Provo. I reminisced back through the years about the changes on campus, in my family, and chuckled over the changes in prices. Can you imagine $65.00 rent or a house? 79 cents for a nice beef roast. An excellent pair of shoes for $14.95. Ah, for the good old days.
Not really! I’ll take today, even with inflation. These times are exciting and challenging. Another look at the calendar and I realize that I’m surely up there among the Senior Citizens. The only problem is that I don’t feel it. My good health is amazing, along with a goodly supply of energy. I’m most thankful for both. And since I haven’t reached the stage of taking to my rocking chair and learning to knit, I’m continuing to travel and do things which belie my age.
Last May it was a wonderful three weeks to the orient. I had been there with a singing group in 1970 and during this trip in May re-visited Japan and Taiwan, but we also went to Hong Kong, Bankok, and Singapore, which I had never been. It was a great trip and my sister, Donna, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Our favorite was Hong Kong which seems to be everyone’s favorite. During one day there we went to the border of Red China and now I want to go there very much. Bankok was very interesting and enjoyable but we especially enjoyed Singapore. It was nothing like I had imagined, but it is lush green, clean and very beautiful city with no crime, a busy harbor, and lovely bays all about. After Singapore we went back to Hong Kong for one last night and filled our eyes with the beauty of this little British Colony.
Next May, Donna and I are going back to our beloved Europe and I am taking my daughter with me. Marilyn and Joan will fly from Los Angeles with us and then Linda will fly from Cedar Rapids and meet us a week later and finish off the tour with us. We will go by Eurail pass again and Donna will see places we have seen several times before but will enjoy them all over again through the girl’s eyes. Marilyn and Joan have never been to Europe. We are trying to get tickets to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, which plays only every ten years and 1980 is the time.
My family is all doing well at the moment. Steve and Cheryl added their 5th daughter to the family in February; Melissa, now a darling 9 month old. Steve is practically working himself to death in his Bashful Butler catering service, but doing very well. Marilyn and Chris now have their two daughters here at the Y, and the boys are in their school bands at home and doing well. Marilyn is working in Steve’s office and Chris is finally making great progress with his business in selling movies to television and also producing TV shows.
Joan and Dick and their ‘gaggle’ of sons are still struggling with getting their home remodeled. Their Kim is at the Y, and Dave and Keith in college near home. Matt is growing like the proverbial weed. Linda and Rich continue to be two prominent citizens of Cedar Rapids. The orchestra is going great and Linda is publishing music day after day for publishing houses and making a fine reputation. Kent is at Iowa State and Steve is working in computer programming and making progress.
And that’s how it is with my family and me. I couldn’t begin to tell all the interesting things I am involved in. This must end with one page. I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the Holidays.
GOD BLESS YOU EVERYONE. With love, Klea