This year we are especially eager to renew our connections and receive your greetings. Our focus has been on family and our non-profit SLO Village, celebrating grandson Grey’s 8th birthday, as well as 8 years of supporting our aging community in SLO. We have a new family member, 3-year-old female Cairn Terrier (re Toto) Jasmine [see incredible story of her adoption]. We also adopted a new car, a model 3 Tesla. Another highlight of our year has been the design and approval process for a 700 sq ft ADU behind our house for future occupancy by son Chris and family. For immediate use, Grey designed, and Dave built a clubhouse. Oh yes, and I got a pacemaker.

Grey is now in third grade at SLO Classical Academy, where he performs recitations of poetry and became Don Quixote for History Night. We had a bit of a scare with Grey winding up spending a week in the hospital due to an Asthma like virus infection, for which he now has 2 inhalers. Grey rebounded and the following month his crowning achievement was learning to ride his two-wheeler.

In October, we took Grey to the Reptile Expo, where he acquired his new pet Timmy, a camo Pacman frog, which he bought with his own money. We were delighted to spend time in Grey’s classroom for SLOCA Grand Days. As always, Halloween is a great celebration in Grey’s life as he and parents dress up and go trick-or-treating with friends. Grey was General Klytus from “Flash Gordon”.

In January, we hosted a visit with my Uncle Howard and Cousin Ginny from Philadelphia. Our first road trip in our new Tesla was to Pacific Grove in celebration of Dave’s birthday in May.

The 6 of us returned in August to our vacation rental in Goleta where we spent time at the beach, visiting the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for the live butterfly exhibit, bicycling along the ocean, enjoying restaurants and family time. We look forward to returning in 2025.

Dave and I traveled to La Jolla (San Diego) in September for the Village Movement California Conference and then returned to Monterey for our 28th Monterey Jazz Festival. September is a busy month for our family birthdays with celebrations for Brian, Chris and me.

I have been Zooming with some of my high school classmates and this year was our 60th reunion in Princeton, NJ (which I didn’t attend), but have found these reconnections a surprisingly rewarding experience as we share memories, laughter and the challenges of aging. In April, I was shocked to learn my alma mater Wells College was closing due to financial difficulties.

Dave and I continued as officers and Board members of SLO Village but were able to step back with the addition of our wonderful new Executive Director. As I have termed out as a Board member, I also resigned as Treasurer, since we have a new Board member taking my place in 2025, while Dave will continue as a Board officer.

As we anticipate the holiday celebrations, we wish you and yours peace, joy, and much happiness this holiday season and 2025.

Check out more family photos at our website Velcrosworld.com