2017
Christmas 2017
Hello from Arizona.
Really it is Christmastime again, feels like I just mailed the 2016 letter.
Well the joints got older, the memory keeps slipping, I’m not certain to where. My normal line is – “its on the back loop, you need to wait until it comes to the front”, that said, life is good.
Hugh has two more days to work before officially taking down his shingle. He will continue to teach at the medical school in 2018 but will not be working urgent care. Those of you associated with the medical profession will not be surprised to learn the company is having a difficult time finding a replacement doctor.
I am planning on selling my business in 2018 and work full time through a transition period for about 21 months. I am hoping to close in January but with all my late year travel, it may be delayed.
We traveled more than normal this year. We realize that postponing is no longer an option. We went to Germany for 4 weeks in May. We drove all over the country and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We both loved driving on the Autobahn and watching the cars wiz past us. We both marveled over how advanced the road technology was in Germany.
We realized on the flight over that we forgot our debit cards and didn’t have cash withdrawals set up on any credit card. We had the equivalent of $200 US in Euros. It was rather fun to see the choices we made. Thankfully the gas stations took credit cards or we would have been sunk. One day we wanted a second trip to the gelato shop, looked at each other and said – “we better not spend the money”. We had a good laugh over that. It felt like our early dating days.
In July we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in Iceland. Hugh enjoyed the trip but I found it difficult. I know everyone that goes, loves Iceland but I didn’t. I will say they have the best pickled herring I have ever eaten.
We just returned from Japan, Thailand and Bhutan. Our friend Scot joined us for the trip. We went back to the “Art Islands” and spent more time this year. Last year we only had time to visit Naoshima, this year we worked in Teshima and Inujima. We returned to Kyoto and Tokyo. Julianna, who has moved to Dubai, joined us for the Art Islands and Kyoto. It made it that much more special to share Japan with Julie. In Tokyo, Hugh took a wood block printing class and we both took a Yuzen dying class. From Tokyo we left for Bangkok, and stay a couple of days before flying to Bhutan and then one day on the way back. The days that we didn’t visit tourist places were outstanding, especially the Indian and flower markets. The rest was too crowded.
Bhutan, how to describe it in a meaningful way? The people – I’ve never met people like the Bhutanese anywhere. They are warm, friendly, gracious and generous. The children all want to interact with you – and come up and ask your name, they all speak English. I watched very young children wander the streets – completely safe in their community. No one needed to warn them not to talk to strangers. How tragic that our own children cannot have that freedom. The country is beautiful, but it was the people I will always remember. I shall be very sad if I am unable to return to Bhutan. I dream nightly I am there. Although we never had consistent Internet service, sometimes the electricity was sporadic, and there were nights we had a wood-burning stove to keep us warm, I would never turn down a trip to Bhutan.
Next year looks like another year of heavy travel. We plan on going to Australia in May, I will be going to Poland with a friend in the summer and then the fall we would like to return to Japan and go to Vietnam, but we also need to work in a trip to UAE, so I’m not certain how this will all fit. But I will believe it is possible.
I do believe this is my last Christmas letter. Most of you know what the family is doing because of Facebook and the letter feels redundant. Besides you all have better things to do than read a letter at this time of year.
Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018.