CHRISTMAS 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

How can so many surprises happen in one year? I am always amazed. Firstly, I want to let you know we are back in the US...... for most of the time. We got back in February. And if anyone needs our address again, it's 32016 Del Cielo Este. Bonsall, CA 92003-3900. Phone: 760-724-9426, cell: 760-877-0868. Now no excuses if you get out our way for you not to call, or see us. We'll be going back to Italy in Feb for just about 3 months. We need our Italian fix.

It literally took me about six months to feel readjusted. I forgot how so many things are SO big and SO far, and SO MANY choices. What has been very nice is to be close enought to see our friends that we've missed over the past few yers. Now we have great friends in both places, here and in Italy.

Son Craig and family have moved back to the US from Italy also. Just this past Sept. they moved to Princeton, NJ. Actually, Craig's work is in Princeton and they bought a home just outside the city. Mike and family are still in New Bern, NC. As you will see below, a new baby boy, Aaron was added this year.

After our June trip to Canada we went to Bob's 50th Hi-School reunion in Oneida, NY. Taking advantage of being on the east coast, we started in New Bern, NC to see Mike and family. We drove north to Oneida for a terrific 3 day event, including golf, and catching up with a wonderful group of friends.

I'm back to my tap dancing class, doing photography, and maybe I'll get some more commercial work..... . needless to say, I'm staying busy. Well, as much as I want to be, and that's the best part. I've slowed down a bit. Really. And Bob has a new project. He has joined the Board of Directors for Medical at Novaces, a large consulting and teaching for quality advancement.

We also brought my brother, Gene, back from Italy. He's living in his own apartment in Fallbrook, just 15 ninutes away. It's a senior living complex and he can still do his own thing. All is well there.

Health issues...... let's not go there. Other than what most of us are experiencing, we just keep on truckin', right??!!! Right!!

We hope you have a beautiful Christmas with friends and family, and a healthy, loving New Year.

Much love to you,

Marilyn and Bob

THANKSGIVING.... AND OTHER PLANS

This shrimp coctail was just a starter.......

This last couple months have been filled with the usual appointments.........you know.... the stuff we don't like to talk about. Aches here and there that we try to deny. UGH!! And 'a better way of eating'??? And then comes Thanksgiving, so have our big day of eating everything we see. Mmmm good. We deserve it, right? We went to our neighbor's home and had a very pleasant evening.

A WINE TASTING GALA.......AND MORE

Jack White and wife, Lynn

Our special WNO group.

It's not like being in Italy, but we are enjoying our reconnections with friends and new events. We were invited to an evening of the most entertaining and delicious wine and food. A couple months later we went to a Lobster Fest in the Public Park up in the town of Fallbrook. We've been learing about Fallbrook since that's where we found an apartment for my brother, Gene. He's doing well and finding out the whole town is very 'senior' friendly. There is a special group of people I want to share with you. We call it the White Night Out group. It's named after a wonderful friend of many years, and well known in San Diego, Jack White. He is a retired anchor man from the local ABC channel, former Hollywood celebrity, and former International Magician Brotherhood President. Jack is a fabulous person, and we get together every two or three months. This picture is from a particular event when Jack was honored by the Magicians from all over the world. A very special time.

AND BACK WEST.......

Bob's got animal sense, and ..........scents! I guess!

And so it goes..... I think I've readjusted to the US. I no longer go into a large market and get confused. I've also started my tap dancing classes again with my long time friend and dance partner, Darlene. We took a few days and went over to Palm Desert with Don & Shirley. In the evening we sat outside so Bob could feed the ducks........ and only one day of golf. TOOOO HOT!!

MORE HAPPENINGS

Luke and Abby

Todd Blackwell and daughter Sophia. They are in Bluffton, with rest of family, Virginie and other daughter Juliette.

Abby and Luke are ready for the slopes.

We headed back south to New Bern. After a few days there we took another side trip to Bluffton, SC, to see other friends. We wanted to take advantage of the time back there. There's never enough time to see the many we would like. We're working on that now that we're back from Italy. Son, Craig and family are back from Italy and living in Princeton, NJ. We haven't been able to see them yet cuz they just moved into their new home and getting settled. We look forward to seeing them in Jan.

HEADING TO ONEIDA FOR BOB'S 50TH HI-SCHOOL REUNION

Bob's longest putt hole!

Of course we went to see where Bob had grown up. Yes, it has been remodeled since then.

Bob and Rolland Smith

The historic Mansion House, where we stayed.

The stop in Rifton was to visit Bob's hi-school friend, Rolland. Non stop talk, as you can imagine. We followed Rolland on up to Oneida, where we would join the rest of the group for the reunion. For a change, we took the back roads. It was three days full of fun and reconnection. Since I was a Navy 'Junior' and my schools were all over the place, Bob's class has kindly adopted me into the group. Great fun, and everyone was so enjoyable. Bob won the award for the longest putt!

EAST COAST TRIP

With Kaili, Aaron, & Gavin

New Daddy, again, with Aaron.

After our return from Canada, we set our next plan, which was to go to the east coast. First stop was New Bern , NC to see son Mike and family..... and, for the first time, new baby, Aaron. Lots of oohhing and aahhhing!! We then headed up to Virginia Beach for a night to see Carolyn Dittrick. Next stop was in Rifton, NY to see friends. Now I must tell you, driving, as Bob loves to do, is different from Italy. I'm still trying to readjust at this point.