Dear Ones, I don't know how to start this holiday letter. It could sound like a country and western song or the blues. "My dog died, my Mom got a new hip, Dad's in Chemo, and Bruce had 4 operations in 4 hospitals in two weeks!!" Pick the beat or the drawl. But funny thing is all I've done is learn about love, family, and how the fragileness of life tends to bring out the strengths. These are the best lessons a person could be offered. All other obstacles or problems in my life path seem small compared to these gifts. Star, let curiosity get her and she ate snail bait and died on the first day of spring break. Star was a gift and got me through one of the hardest years of my life. She gave me unconditional love every day. Dad, I've had the gift of him in my life 30 plus years more than we ever thought in the mid 70's. He is a true peaceful warrior, fighting quietly for life. Mom, with that Swedish and Danish blood is a true trooper and is doing great after having titanium added to her body. Bruce is still recovering from his ordeal, a "simple" kidney stone procedure gone badly. He started out at Petaluma Valley Hospital on December 5th. He had two visits to Sonoma Valley ER being admitted to ICU each time. We took an ambulance to UCSF Mount Zion and a transfer to UCSF on Parnassus. We came home from UCSF December 20th and he is now gathering strength. Not part of the CW song or the blues is my daughter. Jaime is exploring life and it's creative options. She has had many jobs this year. Wedding photographer's assistant, journalist for the local paper, wine pourer in the tasting room of a fantastic winery, and web designer, reporter for Personal News Network, PNN. Check her out @ http://jaime.pnn.com She is back in Wales over the holidays to visit friends. I am teaching 2nd grade for the 2nd year. I never thought I would leave 4th grade but I have managed to fall in love with 2nd graders. I'm getting older by the moment but the only way I know this is the fact that everyone around me seems to be getting older, so must I. Love to you and yours, Robin