CHRISTMAS 2002

OK, Folks, I shall now do what I should have been doing for some years, now. I will post this letter as a web page and will attempt to incorporate a few photos (via our new digital camera) as well. That way I reach you all on time this year - however, personalization is eliminated. Is this progress? I must say that my skills at web building shall go no farther than posting this letter - for the time being, at least.

My big news this year is that I dropped over 50 pounds from January to July. I am unaccustomed to the new skinny me. One costumer had to make me look heavier, and a YOUNG man actually flirted with me while we were in Quebec City this summer (Ainsley was scandalized). It took a whole lot of focus and a lot of walking, swimming, and going round and round on the elliptical trainer. I have to say I would not have been able to pull it off had I been working full time.

I played the nurse in "Romeo and Juliet" this summer with a lot of college students. I had a blast. In November I performed in "Madwoman of Chaillot", one of my all-time favorite plays. I have recommended it every year to the Chatham Drama Guild - and to several other local theater companies. I guess they got tired of me and decided to shut me up by doing it!

Ainsley has continued with her gymnastics this year as a Level 7. Her gym was sold mid-September and we are still adjusting to the new owner/coaches. She took her SATs in January as a part of Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth and did quite well for a 7th grader. She will repeat them this year as an eighth grader. Following the SAT's in January, I "forced" her to take an online course in essay writing. After this, they will start to "count" with prospective colleges - hard to believe.

Jim rigged our house up for wireless internet. As a result of frequent crashes of my 6 year old computer, and Ainsley's online course this summer, we each got our own laptop which we can use anywhere in the house - it's wonderful, although I now spend far too much time online. Jim ran the sound system for "Madwoman"; I am hoping he becomes more active at the Drama Guild.

Jim and I dropped Ainsley off at Mt. Holyoke College for Gymnastics Camp and took off to the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal. We stayed at the Far Hills Inn, a fabulous place in the tiny town of Val Morin. This was our second trip to this place. The food is incredible, and French. It was a test of my resolve. I managed to gain only 3 pounds, which I was able to shed again. I had to keep up the exercising while I was there, however, walking up and down the mountain for an hour a day. And it was HOT! They did not have air conditioning in the main lodge, so we were were dependent on a portable fan. The owner was having daily arguments on the telephone with a contractor who he wanted to have put in air conditioning, so we are hoping our next stay will be cooler.

After our 6 days and 5 nights, we drove back to pick up Ainsley and her best friend, Cassie, and returned to Montreal for 5 days and then up to Quebec City for another five days. We continued to eat very well, and we all walked miles and miles and miles. In Quebec, it was a LONG way up and down the hills of the old city. I followed Ainsley and Cassie around from shop to shop as they discovered clothes and oddities from different times and places.

We spent Thanksgiving with my sister in Connecticut. All her children were there with their significant others. Her middle daughter, Catherine, a reporter in Guatamala, announced her engagement to Luis Miguel, a Peruvian who also works in Guatamala. We anticipate a voyage to Central America sometime in the near future - what fun!

We wish you a wonderful season and a Peaceful 2003.