Christmas 2015

Ainsley continues to work at the World Bank in Washington, DC, and continues to amaze us as a truly global citizen. Her work and leisure continue to let her explore the world with trips to Kuwait, Myanmar and Mexico.  I’d be jealous if I weren’t so darned comfortable here on Cape Cod. I did help her move to a new apartment in Foggy Bottom early November. During this trip I learned how to use Uber, which, I have to say, is pretty handy. I felt like a true millennial. She met us in Connecticut at my sister, Freddi’s and her husband Alan’s house for Thanksgiving. Jim and I are headed down to DC to spend Christmas with her before she takes off for a short trip to Mexico, where she will also see Carolina, our Chilean AFS daughter from 2006-7, and her husband.

Greetings from the elbow of Cape Cod! Here’s the wrap-up of McPherson clan doings for 2015.

At right: Ainlsey motoring through Myanmar

Jim also traveled quite a lot this year with the Red Cross – first to Houston for the floods there, then to Boise, to work with those displaced by the forest fires, and finally to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to work with those displaced by the torrential rains. His work with Disaster Systems Technology keeps him up-to-date with systems, and even “let” us cart around a large satellite dish in the back of our car over the Thanksgiving weekend in preparation for an exercise in Worcester, MA.  Jim keeps the Cape Library system busy finding books from his favorite authors in stock for him. And he has the memory to remember everything he reads. I envy him that.

In the spring Jim and I got to go to Fenway Park in Boston to help “rehearse” for the Red Sox opening day there. What a blast!

I have been nowhere. Well, to DC to help Ainsley move, but other than that, just lots of miles on my car driving from home to one theatre or another for rehearsals and performances. A high point was playing an (old)maiden in “Pirates of Penzance” this fall. All the other maidens were ages 8-17, so it was an opportunity to get in touch with my inner latent teenager. But then, Gilbert and Sullivan are nothing, if not a little camp. The singing was challenging for this old folksinger, though. Light opera is not quite my style, and I had to work hard at it.  Other performances were in “Game’s Afoot”, “Gypsy”, “Vagina Monologs”, “Eleemosynary”, and a number of open mic sessions. I put lots of miles on my bicycle when the awful winter finally relented in April. I participated in a Citizens Police Academy. Jim took the class last year and he and the local sergeant who works with the kids in town insisted that I attend. It was a good experience and education, especially in light of a lot of the unfortunate incidents this year. However, I declined the offer to visit a shooting range. No. Not now.

Not ever.

Above I get in touch with my inner maiden with out-to-there eyelashes and brownish red hair.

We were fortunate to visit with my sisters and their families. In August two of Freddi and Alan’s daughters and their families rented vacation spots in nearby Brewster. Freddi and Alan and my sister Peggy and her husband, Jonathan also came out to the Capeand we spent a wonderful time together.

Back row: Sister Peggy and husband Jonathan, Sister Freddi and husband Alan, Jim. Front row: Niece Nora, Chris, and daughter Zoe. New baby, Jasper, is sleeping. Missing here are my niece Dori and her family, and, of course Cat and family, who are in Peru these days.

Ainsley came up to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, and again, we were able to spend time with Freddi and Alan’s family. It was gratifying to see Ainsley finally “the same age” as her older cousins and able to connect with them in as a fellow adult, though it meant she spent less time with her aging parents.  Being the only child of an only child (her father) of an only child (her grandfather) means there are fewer opportunities to bond with family. We will see her for the week before Christmas, however, and are looking forward to that.

 

Someday I really shall leave the Cape for a national tour to see friends. Someday.

 

We cannot, even in this season of expectant joy, ignore the sorrow in the world. We pray for families enduring loss, for those searching for a home. We pray that this world will find some balance, and learn to love and accept all humankind. However, Jim and I do wish you a peaceful Christmas, and a healthy, youthful 2016.