Christmas 2001

Another year gone and the time to begin the annual report on the coming and going of the Martins. Recalling the high points of the year brings many memories that were forgotten. Every year when I start this tome I make a pledge to write down the activity as it happens.. I can't remember anything.. Old age and too much aluminum in my system.

Nate.. Graduated from Full Sail in September and stayed on for 2 months of advanced training in digital something or other.. Just (November 3rd) moved to Tallahassee to start a job at a small TV station. It is an entry level (mop the floor, empty the trash) position but I think lie finally knows what "pay your dues" means. It will be a real learning experience. In September he sold his car and purchased a motorcycle.. Dumbest thing he's ever done (of course I did the same thing when I was his age). Sure is going to get coooold in Tallahassee this winter. Pongu (the beagle) is still his constant companion but he (the dog) is spending more time on Marco with his grandma, Gara Ann. Nate came home for Turkey week and we went riding on the bikes.. He rode the "Old" hog and I the new with mom on the back. Kind of fun riding with your kid..

Gara Ann busy as a ever but keeps talking about "slowing Down" and smelling the daisies. We lost our longtime assistant; Sheary, last Thanksgiving and Gam Ann hired a new girl, Jennifer Blaine. Jennifer has been with us a year and is working out super fine!!! She now has a real estate license and is going to relieve the pressure so we can play more. Gara Ann has been able to get to Centralia for "Mom visits" more often this year. She was booked to go on September 17`^s for a visit but due to the 9/11 thing she felt it better to cancel.

Somehow GAM managed to work in a long weekend trip to Negril, Jamaica with life long friends Margot, Elaine & Cilia at Elaine's "Yellowbird" on the beach. No specific details (some things I just don't want to know), but I think they had a lot of laughs and what ever else goes with it. They even came home with braided &beaded hair. Same crew got together in MO this summer for Cilia's daughter, Lauren's wedding. "Forever friends are the Best!" says GAM. After a summer visit to sister Alice's where they moved furniture in a truck and painted Ann Grace's room, GA came home and preceded to go paint crazy... She painted at least one wall in every room of our house a different color. For the dinning room she selected Chinese RED with the help and supervision of her "blind Mother in law", who actually picked out the color. While in the mountains for "my October" I got lonely and offered to pick her up at the St. Louis airport for a visit to her mom and a FOOTBALL game. Visit with Mom & Gerry was great and football game just right.. (I didn't go to the game). I went riding along the Missouri river on the dirt bike instead. I did carry her to the game on the bike and got to see just how big that thing is.. Them people was parrying for a solid mile around the stadium- at 10 AM and the game didn't start till I PM.. I have long suspected Gam Ann's enthusiasm for the game is mostly the partying. Left there and headed down to Arkansas to visit Baby Alice and her flock. Everybody wanted a ride to school on the Harley so Alice made a decisision that Anna Grace got to go as it was her birthday. Cold but fun. All my nieces like to ride the bike. When I'm in GA I pick up little Jessie at least twice a week from school. I might be their favorite uncle but I suspect that it's the HARLEY Then on to the GA mountains for some real cold weather riding.. GAM held up very well in 40 degree temperatures; 250 miles on the bike and we headed for Florida to warm up.

The Grandma news: Granny Martin (now 87 and going strong) has spent "recovery" time both on Marco and in the mountains.. No operations or hospital time. just skins and bruises. Sister Beth gets her up to GA for any event and mom looks forward to these excursions. She is going to see her grandson; Jonah (Atlanta Ballet) and great-grandson Jeremy dance in the Nutcracker this December. Lotsa talent up there. Grandma Toalson (85) is doing super also.. says she is loosing her memory but still comes up with names, dates and episodes that took place 100 years ago. Jerry (74) is not only the best cook anywhere but mows about an acre of grass for fun. She got on the Harley with me on our June trip to Centralia and rode to the Post Office (she sure looked BAD! as in BAD!). If I can be as sharp as my MOMS and still get on a hog at 74, I'm going to be one happy old boy.

New things: Well I went out and done it! Got my own dog.. Here I am almost 60 and I never got to pick out a dog. I acquired (it was love at first sight) a little Jack Russell at a flea market in Monteagle Tennessee. What a bundle of energy! Name is Happy Camper! And is she happy.. She is my dog but GAM gets visitation rights and loves to cuddle her (when she runs out of steam). That dog will chase a ball as long as you are willing to throw. Now don't expect me to be the kind of guy to treat my dog as a person or to sign her name to Christmas cards.

New Bike: To make a long story short.. Gain Ann bought me a brand - spanking - new Harley in July.. Damn she's good to me.. Said I'd been a good boy and

deserved it! The bike was in a garage in Key Largo for 4 years and had 600 miles on it. All the bells and whistles.. cruise control, stereo radio, CB, intercom and enough chrome to sink a battleship! Damn she's good to me! I still have the old bike and might get around to selling it. 105,000 miles and a little dinged and weathered but still looks and runs good.. Describes both me and the Bike.

New House: Well new address.. Over the years we have acquired properties that seemed to be a good buy. About 2 years ago we bought the home next door to ours and decided last June that we needed to occupy that home for tax reasons. So we are now at 173 Stillwater Ct. The home is about the same age and size as the other but does not take advantage of the view as the old home did. We applied a redo to the baths and kitchen along with paint and carpet.. Good as new! Moving is traumatic; especially if you have stayed 20 years in the same place.. It took a full month to accomplish, and we are still not completely moved. The old home is rented out for a year so we have some time to decide to rebuild, redo or teardown and start anew.

Misc ramblings: GAM & I hopped in the camper in June for nephew Jonahs wedding in GA. The entire Hooper family was there; the wedding was beautiful; the parties were super; On to Piggott Arkansas for an overnight visit with Randy & Jeanette; Then to Grandma Toalson's for a couple days visit and more food and quality time. Overnight visit and a poolside party at Uncle Bills & Aunt Vickies and see the "Kids": on to Moline to visit the Gaults and meet the Danboms in their motor home.. We all camped in Gaults driveway and I'm sure the neighbors were impressed with the Gypsies. Highlight of the trip.. We all toured the John Deere Plant and (including the girls) got to drive the new (state of the art) Combine. Our tour guides were none other than John (General Mgr) Gault and Mike (Chief Engineer) Wyffels. Even the farmers don't get that treatment. Gara Ann & I rode the Harley along the Ohio River to Bettendorf Iowa to visit Marco snow birds Rich Smith (included a tour of his plant) and the Battles for a tour of Club Colleen. We were wined, dined and partied in the Quad cities on a grand scale. On to Lake Okiboji with the Gaults and Danboms for more of the same.. The annual Marco Island cookout at the "Barn" with at least 20 people in attendance and enough boat rides to make us feel at home. We left Okiboji for the trip home with a stop in

the GA mountains for some riding, rest and recuperation. Well guys, this paragraph has just about wore me out.. We put 5,000 miles on the camper and at least 1,000 on the bike and enjoyed the company of many friends. It just don't get no better than this.

The visits with friends and family, the travels around this beautiful country, the joys of quality time with loved ones, the sadness of both personal and national tragedies. All of these are cause for us to count our many blessings. The September catastrophe stirred the fire of patriotism in all of us and left a bitter reminder of how quickly life around us can change. Caught up in the rush of every day living and getting the job done, we all too often fail to take the time to enjoy the journey or express appreciation to those most important to us. We are thankful for your treasured friendship, our cherished family, wonderful experiences and a multitude of material blessings.

All are gifts from God, but the most treasured and cherished gift is His gift of Salvation ... providing a way for us to be righteous and in His presence now and forever! That gift came in the person of Jesus, His divine son and our Savior. Our Christmas wish for you is that you too have that gift and the peace and Joy that comes with knowing Jesus.