With snapdragons, salvia and geraniums still blooming around my house, its a bit hard to get into the Christmas spirit so often inspired by cold and a bit of snow by now. I hope your year has been a happy and productive one with not too many of the curves and disappointments life has a tendency to throw our way periodically. I am happy to say that right now I am in better shape both physically and mentally than I have been in years!
A year ago I was facing an angiogram and worried about a heart attack.. Fortunately, it was all a false alarm, most likely brought on by the stress of teaching my UC Speech class along with all the other activities I keep trying to cram into my life. I was very right when I originally decided to retire from UC teaching in June, 1998; but my dean talked me into staying another year. The good news is that extra money helped pay my trip to Italy this fall; the bad news is that the work and stress connected with the teaching really came to dominate my life, especially Spring Quarter, not to mention trigger the heart attack scare. Spring Quarter was so awful that I wrote a 10 page treatise entitled “The Quarter from HELL, (or) If I hadn’t already planned to retire, this quarter would make me do it.” After my last test, a few good students from my spring qtr class, and 3 from past classes who have become real friends, helped me celebrate with a pizza and beer party at Uno’s. And my retirement became official as the Dean, at the Spring faculty meeting, recognized and honored my achievements for 34 years of teaching at the University of Cincinnati. I am still moderating the ILR (Institute for Learning in Retirement) class at UC, but that is only 8 weeks twice a year in Spring and Fall with no grades, no tests, no stress – and a co-moderator that this year took over the 2 weeks I missed while in Italy.
With all that going on, I took off a total of almost 6 months in my voice coaching, but am back at it now. In Feb. I sang Schubert’s Mass in G; last month did the Mozart Requiem again, and will sing Vivaldi’s Gloria Dec. 12. I do practically no solo work any more. I am secretary for the Phi Beta fine arts Fraternity Board, and secretary of Drama Workshop Board, as well as taking over their history files and continuing to do most of their photography. A trip to Vegas in June, a broken arm in July, and planning for my trip to Italy (not to mention the scorching summer heat that made my airconditioned home more appealing) kept me from getting out to my cabin at camp very much this past year.
I had a wonderful visit with the Muniers in Las Vegas in June. It was a rough year for Fred, as his son, Dean, (42) died from cancer on Sept 28. Because of the behavior of his second wife (Diana) that last month before his death, and especially at the funeral, the situation made afternoon soap opera look like a Barney children’s story in comparison. Diana got everything, and his two sons, Austin (16) and Cody (13) got nothing. They are living with their mother, Pam, now, who is struggling to make ends meet. Diana had bought Cody a computer, but would not allow him to take it with him to his mother’s house. So, when I got my new computer this month, I just shipped my old computer, along with a monitor and printer donated by 2 of of my friends, to the boys. I had planned to go to Oklahoma to the funeral, but was in Italy when all this transpired. Joseph and Suzanne are doing great in school; Joseph is an officer in Future Bus. Leaders of America and Student Council and Suzanne is doing so well in her piano playing she is going to start playing in a band. Fred has a new part time security job that puts him in close touch with many of the stars playing Vegas gigs. He has no idea who they are and could care less while Suzanne (age 14) is just ‘dying’ that she can’t be there and see them. Ha! Yes, I broke my arm. I tried to hold on to keep from falling, and the upper arm bone snapped right at the top. They put it in a soft, foam sling cast strapped to my body — not too cool in July. Barbara Sorensen broke her foot in April, and I was her “taxi” for a month. She graciously returned by favor by helping me bathe and dress for 3 weeks. Actually the broken arm turned out to be a ‘good thing’ as Martha Stewart would say. I was booked to go to Italy alone the end of August — too early because too hot — but they told me that is all they had. But when I called to cancel, amazingly they ‘just had a cancellation??!’ and could book me Sept 18-Oct 8 – with 2 slots. I took it. Then the next day Marienne Kruse Skinner, who lived with me for 2 years 1968-70 and went to Russia with me 30 years ago, called me. “Carolyn, go to N. Carolina with me next weekend” ‘I can’t, I just broke my arm’ “Oh Carolyn, I wish I were closer (She lives in Rockton, Ill), I’d do anything to be able to help you. What can I do?” ‘Well, you can go to Italy with me!!!’ After she realized I was serious and got over the initial shock, and thought about it, long story short, she DID go with me. What a WONDERFUL time we both had. And it was great therapy for both of us. She had just gotten over a horrible 3 years with her husband of 25 years leaving and divorcing her and this vacation renewal was just what she needed.
We went for three weeks. The Globus tour of two weeks was the usual Rome – Florence – Genoa – Milan – Lake Maggiore – Venice -Ravenna – Assisi – Pompeii – Sorrento – Capri – Naples circle. But I booked 4 extra days at a hotel in the center of Rome, and took the 5 day extension in Sorrento at the end of the tour. It was the perfect balance of structured tour and fun on your own. And our cameras were clicking all the time. Marienne took 10 rolls, I took 6 with ‘indoor’ 800 film, and 24 rolls of regular outdoor shots — 40 rolls in all. I still have 30 of those rolls to catalogue and ID. I have recounted a few of the interesting stories of our trip on the separate third page of this letter. When I returned home, I continued my ‘active vacation’ by working the following week as a volunteer boat hostess on the “Colonel” paddlewheel boat for 4 days at the Tall Stacks celebration event held in Cincinnati every 4 years. It is so thrilling to see 20 riverboats lined up along the Ohio River all at one time, or cruising the river on harbor or dinner cruises. I ran 4 more rolls of film and got to see my old childhood playmate, Clarke “Doc” Hawley who is now a retired but still famous riverboat captain (Delta Queen, Belle of Louisville, etc., etc.) On that Sat., Susan Giles flew in from Florida for a week with her Dad and we had a wonderful visit that night and the following Fri. Her brother, Michael, visited from W.Va. in August. Eight years ago, Bill Giles started building a 2 story addition to his little house. It includes a large garage with a room above (the upper room), a storage room at the back with a deck above that, and a cathedral ceiling living room with stairs to a large balcony area above. He did ALL the work himself (except the roofing) on the entire shell with windows and siding, and did a really terrific job. In January, he needed to start to work with contractors (heating/cooling, electricians, other carpenters, etc.) I helped him with getting his new furnace/AC, then he hired a man who was his next door neighbor years ago. This guy stole blank checks from his house & forged $700 with them. I spent 3 weeks helping clear up this problem before I left for Italy, but the construction work on his house stopped mid stream. When I got back, I got Paul Brunner, my wonderful builder and friend, to rescue the situation. By now the money and construction situation had become so complicated (it was simple when Bill did everything himself) that Bill threw up his hands and hired me to take over all his business stuff in Nov. Last year, recuperating, I had time to write pretty extensive personal notes to some of my far-away friends. With my new job as ‘Bill’s business manager’, and needing to catalogue my Italy pictures, you’ll get some Italy stories, and the enclosed pictures (my personal postcard), but few personal notes this year. The 5×7 photograph of the Amalfi Coast and the Isle of Capri (center rocks) at sunset is my special Christmas present to you. May the spirit of Christmas and the beauty of the season be with you now and on into the new millenium.