Another Christmas is coming and I need to get busy on this letter to our friends and family. So much to recall about the last year and the memory is getting so weak.
Lets start with... NATE'S MARRIED!!! Yes, I know.. It came as a surprise to Gara Ann and me also! I can remember writing about him as a 13 yr old and it doesn't seem that long ago
Nate married a long time sweetheart on Valentines Day this year in Tallahassee. He let us know about it later.. Called and said he’d spent some time in the courthouse. My statement was, “what did you do now!”
Gina is a local girl (grew up on Marco Island) and has dated Nate for the last 5 years.. (I think she knew what she was getting into). They were boyfriend-girlfriend for over 5 years and married for 6 months before they ever lived in the same town at the same time! Kids sure are different these days! Gina is a beautiful girl with gorgeous long black curly hair, dark eyes and perfect skin…she is great cook, very kind to us and we love her. Nate moved from Tallahassee in July and they stayed here and there (parents homes) till they rented a small home and set up housekeeping on Marco. Nate is a security guard at a local hotel at night (9PM to 5AM) and does his digital music thing during the day.
A new chapter in our life.. Gara Ann has never known the joy of a new home, so here we go. Two years ago we bought the home next door and rented it out for a year; then we moved into it and rented our home to our friends, the Gaults for a year while they were building their new home on the other end of Stillwater Ct. They moved out in June and (we?), not knowing what to do decided to tear down the old and build a new. Seven months later we have approved the plans and made our choices in colors, textures, consistency and quality (and Lord only knows what else). I can’t remember anything about our choices and it will be a surprise to me when I see it completed. We are excited but as in all things, as you go on with the project you keep adding little things and the cost goes higher than you had budgeted in the beginning.. I’ll need to hold up a couple of liquor stores to pay for this thing!!! It should be done by next Christmas?
Other new things.. We are going thru the parent reversal stage in our life. Mom (granny) Martin moved in with us last March. She is 88 and was having trouble with her eyes and balance so we decided it was time to close out her condo in Ft. Myers and move her to Marco. It has worked out well from a number of angles. The home we moved into has a great guest suite and is perfect for mom. She has “fixed” up her room with numerous pictures and mementos from her condo. You need to remember that we moved a 2 bedroom condo (full of stuff) into one bedroom.. She is very snug there and gives everyone a tour of her mother-in-law suit. She has joined the Baptist church here on Marco and Rev. Jack Hughen baptized her here in our swimming pool with some friends in attendance. She is getting involved with the ladies at the church and has “settled in”. We get 5-6 talking books for her to “read” each week and there are always people stopping by to visit her.
Mom Toalson has also made a BIG move! She has left her ancestral (50 years) home “Meadowlark Farm” and moved to Fayetteville, AR to be near Alice and family. She has moved into a assisted living facility within 15 minutes of Alice’s home. She has also fixed up her rooms and it does resemble her home. Mom Toalson has a suite with one bedroom, a large living room and a small kitchen .The residence is really lovely with dinning room and sitting areas that remind you of a home. . The grounds are lush with plantings, flowers and walkways and it is an inviting atmosphere. We ate (with Alice and kids) Sunday dinner in a private dinning room with mom and the food & service was great. Gerry is looking after the house in Centralia and it is up for sale. If you know anyone looking for a Frank Lloyd Wright style home in the middle of 20 (count em) manicured acres give a call. Gerry plans to stay on in Centralia even after the property is sold.
We went on a cruise last March with some of the Okoboji crowd and what a blast! I was glad to finish the cruise so I could give my smile(er) and laugh(er) a rest.. Went to the Western Caribbean,, Many ports and Islands.. It isn’t the destination, I discovered, It isn’t the trip.. It’s the COMPANY! I’d be happy to ship with these guys anytime, anywhere. I worked the cruise ships, as a purser, for 2 years in the 60’s and has it changed.. Our ships, in the infancy of the cruise business, were large (600 passengers) by the standard of the day but now… WOW! 2,000 passengers is a medium size ship! The food hasn’t changed and we all gained weight. We had one problem to overcome however.. Grandma needed looking after while we were gone.. Well she got the best Granny sitting possible. Laura and Anna Grace ( Gara Ann’s Nieces )were conjured (that was a tough sell) into coming to Marco for spring break and they took care of Grammy (and dogs Happy & Pongu) for a week and a lady from the church did a rest…It worked out so well that Granny needed a vacation to rest up from all the (super) attention, and we thank everyone for pitching in so we could enjoy without worry!
Dogs! Did I say dogs? Last year you might recall, I acquired a “Jack Russell” terrier at a flea market in Tennessee. Well the “Jack” turned into a “rat” or “fox”; we are not sure which,. She has her faults.. Such as will consume anything that doesn’t eat her first. Socks, carpet, stuffed toys, pens, pillows, more socks… and the list goes on. BUT she’s MY baby and I choose to accept her “few” failings. Gara Ann may not share my delight in this 15 pound trash disposal but… She (Gara Ann) has Pongu, the (not as bright as Snoopy), Beagle she inherited from Nate.
The Hog! You might recall that GAM bought me a “new” 1998 Harley last year – because I was a good boy. Well, there was an emotional tie to the “old ’89 Hog” and I couldn’t bring myself to part with it right away. (After 100,000 miles it must be love) Well, around August I decided to sell because of a space problem. Nate had been “exercising” the Hog for me and when I found a buyer, he and granny (she loves that old bike) berated me for selling a part of the family… An heirloom if you will. Soooo… Nate worked out a friendly payment plan and is now the proud owner of a Harley in addition to his Honda bike, no matter that it is road weary, scratched and worn here and there and just generally tired. Sounds like I’m describing me! Heck, I might even get paid in the next 8 to10 years.
Gara Ann.. I could write the same paragraph I did last year or the year before and save paper. Still a staunch part of the First Baptist Church of Marco Island and my favorite Sunday school teacher! She is as busy as ever at Real Estate and still finds time to be a mother and a wife not to mention taking granny (Martin) under her wing. I couldn’t begin to tell you what all she does in a week, besides it would wear me out just writing about it. As you know we seldom get more than a few days away from work together… Well, this year it was different! A 10 day cruise and almost 4 weeks in the camper traveling plus a week in GA at camp Martin. One big reason that we can get away together is Jennifer. She is not only our assistant and friend, but also a licensed Realtor and she can cover almost anything that comes up. She is a real blessing. Another reason is the cell phone, portable computer, fax machine and e-mail. Gara Ann has everything needed to do business on the road.(an office on wheels). She has made many trips to visit her mom in AR not to mention helping her move (a major undertaking) and even saw MIZZOU go into overtime against Colorado. I just remembered that she also moved Granny Martin! She is a BUSY girl! She is also my BEST friend!
Thanksgiving.. Sister Alice and the “Gang” came down for a week to learn tennis and visit. Bob, Lucas, Anna Grace and Alyssa took tennis lessons in Naples while Laura sun bathed and relaxed from her college studies. Alice was in need of some time off but keeping up with that crew, even on vacation, would wear anyone out.. Actually the girls did most of the cleanup and we all pitched in on the cooking. They camped in the old house and will be the last occupants.. It will be torn down this month.. It was fun!
Travels.. We ( Gara Ann, Happy and I) really enjoyed the camper this year. We left Marco August 10th and didn't return till September. That old song "We’ve been Everywhere" applies to us.. Some of our stops were Reelfoot Lake TN, Piggott AR (Randy & Jeannette), Eureka Springs AR, Fayetteville AR ( Sister Alice and her gang),
Osage Bch MO, Centralia MO (Meadowlark farm & Gerry), Columbia MO (Brother Bill & Vickie's), Pella IA (Red Rock Lake), Okoboji IA (Danbom's Campground - Bunch of friends), LaCrosse WI (Mississippi River), Bellview IA (Mississippi River), Hampton IA (Mississippi River), Geneseo IL (Mike & Jan's Campground),***( see next paragraph)! Kentucky Lake Dam KY, Gatlinburg TN, Blue Ridge GA (Last Resort- Beth & Joe's) and last but not least The Hubschmitt’s home in Polk City FL.. We generally stayed till our hosts unplugged the electric cord or let us know in other “subtle” ways. This was fun.. We sure enjoyed the hospitality of all our friends out there and if I started to mention all the neat things everyone did for us this letter would never end. Again, we had super help in the care and feeding of granny.. Nate & Gina took on the task for the most part but sister Beth came down for a week and gave the kids some relief. They did a super job and Grandma was pleased. Nate is great with kids, dogs and grandma(s)..
***One of the main reasons for the trip was to “see” John Gault Retire after 35 years with John Deere & Co. I called friends Mike & Jan Wyffels and asked for accommodations for our 25’ camper, Jim Danbom’s 40’ and Skip Millers 38’.. Big order but then the Wyffels have a big driveway and 5 acres.. Great time! Karleen Gault sneaked us into the party on Sunday night and we surprised John. (big time). Great retirement party! Poor John missed the cook out Saturday night at the Wyffels farm but we will do it again. While we were there we also dropped in on Rich Smith at his factory in Bettendorf, IA. Always fun to visit friends in they’re “Northern” hangouts.
Old age.. I’m afraid it is creeping (did I say creeping? I think springing is the word) up on us! I am approaching 60 in the next week or so. Not only do I feel it, I look it also. I can remember my dad giving out a groan when getting out of a chair… I do that.. It takes a few steps to get my legs working first thing in the morning and more.. Memory? What memory! I guess I’ll just get used to the fact that I’m OLD. I find people calling me sir. I look in the mirror and shave this old guy every morning! I’m starting to check out rocking chairs instead of girls.. I think I’ll retire the Harley and my leathers.. Maybe cut my hair and buy a 4 door sedan.. NOT!!! I may look it, feel it and be it but as long as I can get a leg over that seat….. I’m gone! For my 60th I am getting out of town to avoid any possibility of a circus (party)… Down to Key West, I told Gara Ann,” without her to cramp my style!” I’ll let you know all about it (the printable parts) in my next Christmas letter. How much trouble can a geriatric get into?
For some family pictures
and captions on the web go to http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=92512
Or www.visualtour.com and put in tour # 92512
There is no greater gift we could wish for you at Christmas than the Gift God has already given …the Gift of Life now and for eternity through His Son, Jesus. Our prayer is that you have accepted this priceless Gift. Have a Blessed Christmas!!