CHRISTMAS LETTER

2020, a good year or not???

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the holiday, family, and the unexpected down time in our lives. I've pretty much have been hunkered down here in Chattanooga and life has been pretty quiet. Heaven forbid, but I'm actually thinking about reading a book next week.

The year started off good. In January I went to Louisville with friends for a swing dance weekend. The virus was almost nonexistent. The end of Feb. the Schmidts came south and we all went to the Olympic Marathon trials in Atlanta. We had a great time. But then things changed. It had taken awhile until the virus was noticeably present in the South. It was mid March when it started to increase in Chattanooga. Meanwhile it was rampant in the Chicago. And it was just in time for Laura to deliver Elizabeth Grace (Ellie) Johnson on April 7th. Ellie and Laura were blessed as they avoided the virus in spite of some tense times with hospital access and protocols.

Meanwhile I was playing a lot of golf since it was about the only thing going on. The health department allowed it as it was outside and you could socially distance.

Next the Schmidts and Johnsons wrestled with being a full time parent, working remotely, and becoming overnight teachers. This fall the boys (and their parents) were lucky as their school is one of the few that taught face to face the majority of the time. And the school has had no virus transmission.

As for me, I was still playing golf and even taking some lessons.

Meanwhile Catherine and Manny bought a place in South Haven, Michigan. They are fixing it up to be an escape from Chicago and they will also use it as an air bnb. About this time Manny finished his ground school and simulator time at Frontier. Thinking they had some time Cat and Manny drove to Oregon to see Manny's mom and dad in Portland. Well, as things would have it Manny got called back for his initial flight ops and had to leave immediately leaving Cat with the drive back with the two dogs while dodging wild fires.

I continued the golfing and played in two of the club tournaments.

Finally in September I drove to Chicago to see the family and hold Ellie for the first time. It was a great, long, weekend.

Later in the fall, Dan contracted the COVID virus. He had mild symptoms and recovered in about a week. About two weeks later the 18 month old, Grace, caught the virus. She had no symptoms other than being a little extra cranky. I consider it a blessing that they fared so well and only had very mild cases.

For the holidays, all the regular plans were canceled and we improvised. I stayed in Chattanooga for Christmas and we celebrated a ZOOM Christmas with the girls, their families, my brother, Mike, and my sister, Martha. It was fun.

As far as travels, the Johnsons stopped in Chattanooga on their way to FL two days before Christmas day. They will come back though right after New Years. The Clarks will stop in Chattanooga on their way to FL three or four days before New Years. And I will join them in FL for a week returning the first week in Jan. Right now golf is on the agenda for the Florida visit. And by the way I have only penciled this in since it is all subject to change.

So after reflecting on the entire year, it may be one of the more rewarding, good, years. It has been great to see how everyone has adjusted and done a spectacular job adapting to everything that has been thrown at them. And I've noticed that everyone realizes how blessed we have been and how appreciative they are. Years down the road I think everyone will look back and recognize the good job our families have done meeting the 2020 challenges.

I've seen and heard that all of you have had similar experiences Don't get me wrong. I'm ready for 2020 to exit and 2021 to arrive. I just want to remember how truly blessed we have been. Perhaps it is best put by these words from a friend in their Christmas letter this year to me that "it is apparent this is not the Christmas to ask for things we want, but to be thankful for all we have". Well said!!

On a small sad note though I am sorry to say is that in spite of all this golf I have played this year, I have not gotten any better. Sad. Very sad.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Bill

P.S. Just for the record this will be the earliest date for sending this website out - within just days of Christmas Day. And I actually did customize the site with a Christmas theme. No promises next year.