Christmas Letter 2024

I emailed my annual Christmas letter earlier this morning…it’s below this intro.A couple of days ago I learned that a long-time friend and colleague had passed away earlier this year. Les and I exchanged messages occasionally, but we hadn’t spoken in at least a decade. Can’t turn back the clock…I’d already decided on the song…

Big Yellow Taxi—an ear worm with meaning

I’ve never been annoyed by “ear worms” (having a song and its lyrics stuck in my head).I sorta love ‘em.Recently I’ve been experiencing a repetitive ear worm: “Don’t it always seem to go, That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…”It happened again this morning. Joni Mitchell’s 1970 “Big yellow taxi” is more…

Finding laughs in a TM world

I can’t help myself… I know I shouldn’t do it… I’ve read many “experts” telling me that I shouldn’t do it… But a few months ago, essentially a homebody thanks to being ambushed by Transverse Myelitis, I started doing it: answering “suspected spam” calls. Oftentimes I can show self restraint. I have even gone a…

2023 Christmas Letter

It;s a JibJab, a Christmas letter from a very different year, and a couple of songs that I love. Many of you already know why this was a very “different” year. Either way…Read On. First things first (the JibJab): https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/let-it-snow-bing-crosby-starring-you-vertical/7ef68a0f-0e36-41a0-80ae-40875b993fd3 Not all that much live music in 2023 compared to previous years, but I did…

2022 Christmas Letter

It’s a JibJab, a short Christmas letter, and a couple of songs that I love. First things first: https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/ugly-sweater-song-sye/53ba0beb-e739-4108-b822-f4f2b98647ba It’s an interesting phenomenon: the older I get, the shorter the letter. There was quite a bit of live music in ‘22…but not as much as I would’ve liked. Saw some of my favorite artists multiple times….

2021 Christmas Letter

It’s a JibJab, the dreaded Christmas letter, and a Christmas song that I love. First things first: https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/the-git-up-blanco-brown-christmas-starring-you-ecard/86407c74-8ffe-4ef0-8d88-1f14aab25552 In 3 days we head for Gulf Shores, AL. It’s our 6h late December trip to the beach, and once again friends will be meeting us there. Looking forward to 16 days of sunrises, sunsets, naps, and…

2020 Christmas Letter

This is my first blog post of 2020!! I drafted a number of items, but never finished them…it has been that kind of year. -=-=-= December 16, 2020 I’m writing this from Gulf Shores, AL. It’s our 5th late December trip…and only the second time I have been out of the state of Missouri during…

2019 Christmas Letter

Not sure how many people read their e-mails…  Fewer still re Christmas letters…  Whatever.  But everyone loves JibJab.  Sent the following to my e-mail list earlier today -=-=-=-=-= It’s a JibJab, an abbreviated “Christmas Letter” and a song that matters. First things first: https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/elf_dance/0c056492-990a-4365-96cf-c6dc16a422c5 RE the letter: I reread last year’s. Too long…what a windbag!!!…

Watching her sleep

Every once in awhile I flash back to a morning in mid-October of last year and a “deja vu moment.” Shelly had been out of the apartment less than an hour. I was on the couch with a cup of coffee and the latest issue of Time magazine. I was about to wrap up a…