Dear Family and Friends,
Holiday greetings and blessings to you and yours this Christmas. Although we originally planned to visit my family in Texas we decided to stay here in California because Jim has been traveling so much.
Our biggest news is that Jim has an assignment to Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio and they want him there yesterday. So, if the powers that be can find him a replacement soon, we’ll move mid-March. We’ll settle into an apartment while Jim gets his feet wet at work, then he’s off to a senior acquisition management course in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, from 8 May to 11 August. Since the military quarters at Ft. Belvoir won’t allow pets, I’ll stay in Dayton with our spoiled, elderly cat and visit Jim periodically.
Leaving Edwards will be bittersweet – we’ve worked hard and played hard. Won’t really miss the desert but we’ll certainly miss the people. The sweet side is we’re going back to an area we like, more good friends and we’ll get to move back into our house next August. Our renters have lived in our house longer than we have! I’m also looking forward to going back to school.
Highlights of the past year – My family reunion in Washington State last July was wonderful! It’s gorgeous there – mountains, ocean, meadows, valleys, everything. We had a snowball fight on Mt. Baker, cruised the bay to observe pods (families) of Orcas, and pigged out on great food provided by my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Merle. Later that summer Jim and I stole away for a long weekend in San Diego. We visited the San Diego Zoo, the Wildlife Refuge and drank champagne on the beach (not as romantic as it sounds – it was cold out there!). Observed a strange, fleeting, illumination on the crest of big breaking waves, looked like “blue fire”, very beautiful. Most exciting - we rescued a gull that couldn’t fly because of a length of fishing line wrapped tightly around both his legs. It was a challenge because, of course, he didn’t understand we were trying to help him. He bit me once pretty hard.
Below are some Christmas carol titles rewritten by government officials. See if you can figure them out! Answers at the bottom (no peeking!).
First Person Singular Experiencing an Hallucinatory Phenomenon of a Natal Celebration Devoid of Color
Omnipotent Supreme Being Elicits Respite to Ecstatic Distinguished Males
Jovial Yuletide Desired for the Second Person Singular or Plural by the First Person Plural
Traveling Bipedally Through an Amazing Acreage during the Period between December 21st and March 21st in the Northern Hemisphere
Much love and God bless!
Jim & Ellen
I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Walking in a Winter Wonderland