… *OK, 2009 -- I admit it: I completely failed to update my website, blog, and Facebook pages, and I didn’t send out season’s-greetings cards in time. But I have a perfectly good excuse! … somewhere in my box of excuses … Actually I can honestly claim exhaustion and lack of time — as Queen E II said, it’s been an annus horribilis: lots of legal fees (and time in court) related to family matters; lots of layoffs at work (which of course impinged on the workloads of those of us still there); increased commuting to work (no more staying in town) and often another hour each way to Temecula/Murrieta, where the grandkids have moved; some health concerns (and I know a number of you have had many as well); and the list goes on.On the other hand: Joan’s health has improved; her guava tree gave her enough fruit for her to make some jams; our seemingly dormant tangerine tree suddenly went berserk with so many goodies that two of the branches broke from the weight of them; our (incredible) lemon tree is ready to drop more bushels; our orange tree is ready to heave in February (Joan estimates); we’ve bought a fig tree and replacement persimmon tree (the first one didn’t work out), and the tomato plant seems to be bearing up despite the frigid temperatures and cold rains we’ve been having. And thanks to Facebook, a number of us "journos" from L.A. Valley College had a somewhat impromput reunion this past summer at Rick Meyer's home in Burbank -- great to see everyone; thanks, Rick and Chris P. (who tagged a bunch of us in a photo, which got the ball rolling).
In other news: Our new cat (a Mother’s Day present from the grandkids) has become quite the outdoors hunter — unfortunately he’s been eating all the lizards (which had been keeping us bug-free) and I think a few birds (but we LIKE birds) — but we haven’t seen him catch any rats or mice, which was the intent of getting a cat in the first place. (He also befriended a possum.) Of the grandkids: Bryce, 9, is enjoying soccer; Kendall, 11, is enjoying school friends (and her entry into tweenhood); Mariah, 17, is a senior in high school; Jay/BJ/Jerome, 19, is a sophomore runner at UC Riverside; Madison, 12, and Miles, 10, have moved back to Southern California, which makes Rose and son-in-law Matt very happy; Christine JUST got engaged to Juan; and Monica and Sky had a baby — yes, we’re now great-grandparents, but distance and logistics means we’ve only seen little Ilus once. (In other kid news, nearby young friends Veronica and Tony now have little Mateo. We also got to visit this summer in the Bay Area with friends of Rose’s: Connie, Ketil, and their three adorable sons, including twins).
Just got word that the parent company of the publication where I work hasn’t been able to sell off some of its magazines (it actually had hoped to sell the whole division, but that didn’t pan out), so those publications will cease to exist in the new year and there will be layoffs across the company, I understand. Between changes in technology and reader behavior (going more toward grabbing free tidbits online rather than subscribing to print products) and the collapse in the economy, things aren’t looking too good. But we’re all in this together, so I’m hoping the powers-that-be can overcome differences to create a “new” New Deal (beyond mere bailouts for Wall Street) to help Main Street and home dwellers keeps the businesses, jobs and homes. We’ll see. Any of you thinking of running for office?????
Best wishes for what will be a very trying 2010.
– Gary 12/31/2009
