The lights, the carols and songs, the cheer and parties; even the glut of TV Christmas shows, pages of advertising circulars in newspapers and the mail urging “Buy from us!”; the chill of winter, the threat of snow and an early Chanukah herald the advent of our Christmas holiday season. Time once again to “touch base” with dear friends far and near.
The new addition on my house has become affectionately known as “my perpetual project!” because it never seems to get finished. I was working away at a steady, slow but acceptable pace from January until last Memorial Day when I fell and broke my right arm at the wrist while I was mowing grass on my farm. I couldn’t do anything physical requiring dexterity for 5 weeks and, after the cast came off, pressure and twisting was out for another 5 weeks. I certainly did get caught up on my reading though. Anyway, the rooms are quite usable, although I should use the exercise room more. One good concentrated month doing finishing work on the walls, woodwork and other minor jobs should complete it. The trouble is, I don’t seem to get that uninterrupted time now that I’m “back working again.”
I have truly enjoyed my part-time teaching at Univ. of Cincinnati. this year — Mon. night Fall and Spring in Evening College and Tues & Thurs all year for 2 day school “Fundamentals of Speech” classes. I spend 3 hours a day for classes plus office hours and, of course, much time grading speeches and tests. Although a few of the freshmen and soph. students still behave like high school, the atmosphere at the University is so much more pleasant and stimulating. Even more so, the time flexibility and virtual freedom from arbitrary, unilateral administrative control is fantastic. Starting Winter quarter, I will be teaching an advanced course in “Persuasion”. The only negative to that is that I again have to spend a good portion of my December “vacation” reading the book, developing lectures, and typing up a syllabus and assignment sheets on my computer. Did I say part time job?????
Bill and I did not go on our western trip last summer. Because of my summer school speech class thru Jul 20 & Bill’s early opening date for his school (Aug 19!), we had less than 4 very rushed weeks to make the long trip. So we decided to postpone it until next summer-June 29 to Aug 13- giving us a more leisurely 6 weeks. I went West anyway for one week, flying to Las Vegas to visit my cousin Fred Munier and his family in their new home. They moved there from Richmond, Va. a year ago.
My Indiana farm partner, Paul Hageneau, had been wanting to sell out his half of our farm for over a year, but I wasn’t ready yet — until I broke my wrist. And so it developed that we sold the farm on land contract to Doug Kern in October. It’s a great deal since I will hold full ownership rights on my half for 4 more years-and then it will take an additional 4 years for my half to be fully bought out. In the meantime, I’ll have all the pleasures of my land with none of the maintenance worries — no more grass mowing.
In November Bill and I drove to Chicago one weekend to attend a SCICOP Convention (that’s Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal). I can’t remember the time I have been around and talked with so many creatively intellectual people – famous, infamous and unknown. It was an exhilarating and renewing experience and perfectly timed. I had just spent 4 weeks in October designing and cutting about 60 costume pieces for the period play Anne of the Thousand Days set in the 1530’s. I really enjoyed once again using my long dormant skills in this area. However, as so often happens, I ended up doing much more than I had bargained for and got stuck with a lot of the sewing as well. It was very satisfying on Thursday night dress rehearsal to just leave town! One of the smartest things I have ever done.
It did get me back into sewing for myself again – so much so that I just bought a new “serger” overlock type sewing machine to supplement my regular Viking. I have also acquired another new addition — an 8 year old miniature (almost toy) white poodle, Tootsie. She belonged to a man who called the veterinarian and said “Come get my dogs, I’m dying,” and he did, indeed, die. When no one claimed them, Ginny Weil rescued them from extinction. Belvedeer is still looking for a home, but I happily took Tootsie. Hecuba still doesn’t quite know what to make of her new playmate. They are a very unlikely pair – 55 lbs. of massive, muscular English Bulldog vs 10 dainty, spritely pounds of cuddly poodle.
Dad was 97 in June and was doing very well until August when he started having TIA (transitory ischemia attacks), sort of a cousin to strokes. Fortunately, they are only affecting his legs directly and leaving him very weak. He was in a wheel chair for 3 weeks in Nov., but in characteristic fashion, he has fought back and is now using a walker. We don’t expect it to get much better than that.
A number of people have asked to see and have copies of some of my “prize” pieces of photography. So this year I decided that I would share this gift with my special friends and family. The photograph I chose hangs in my own home and speaks to me of peace, serenity, the greatness of the mountains, seas, and sun in this earth and the relative roots of man as the lone fisherman plies his trade and others relax out on the water. The picture was taken in 1984, looking west at sunset through summer haze (hence the special rose/gray tones) over the harbor at Patras, Greece. I share it with you with wishes for a blessed Christmas, much happiness in the year to come, and many thoughts of Love.