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Best Books of 2023

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  Best Books of 2023 FICTION In 2023, i read over 100 books, and many were very good. I tried to pick my top 10 each in fiction and nonfiction. This was much easier with the nonfiction, since I read mostly fiction. I also found, that like the Oscars, the most recently read books were easier to pick as favorites as they were more clearly on my mind. While I love Limberlost, I did wonder if it would have made the top ten if I read it last January instead of in December. Please let me know what some of your faves were in 2023, they may make my 2024 list.                                   Limberlost by Robbie Arnott Set in southern Australia, Limberlost tells the story of Ned, a teenager living on an orchard with his father and older sister during WWII, as they await news of the two older brothers who have been called up to war. Ned wants to work to buy a boat, but he doesn’t want others to know of his desire to buy a boat. The writing is idyllic and describes
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Christmas Letter 2023

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  Year’s End 2023 12/26/2023 2023: A Good Year     Wendy recently listed an excellent month by month set of highlights for the year. There were, of course, other people and events which added to our enjoyment of these fleeting times. Our opportunities to be with family and friends across the country is so meaningful as we grow older! Our current mobility both to walk and to drive hither and yon is a blessing we try not to take for granted. Thanks to all of you who hosted us in your homes and who journeyed to Burlington to be with us. We appreciate the fact that our current range will gradually decline. At least we’re still roaming while we can! Part of the joy of our lives is our connections to not one but two faith communities. We still are involved with Govans Presbyterian Church in Baltimore. Wendy remains a member there as she serves remotely on the Racial Justice Committee. We worship there online, visit in-person and commune in other ways from time to
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Fall 2023 Mexico City and Oaxaco Day of the Dead

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After family visits, we headed to Mexico for sightseeing in Mexico City and Oaxaca to see the celebration of Day of the Dead. There, we met good friends, David and Joanne, who we originally met in South Korea as Peace Corps Volunteers. We loved Mexico City and enjoyed the Mexican people that we met throughout our stay. So much culture and history! It was a wonderful trip!   Some scenes from Mexico City. We highly recommend this beautiful city  as a destination for a fantastic vacation! In Oaxaca there were plenty of skeletons and macabre decorations. We were intrigued by this plethora of visions. Below are three young Korean visitors with typical face paintings. We opted not to get our faces painted because, well, we're OLD and really didn't want all that stuff on our skin. LOL.  A stylized rendering of Mexico City from a castle on a hill. And below is a view of Monte Alban, an ancient ruins outside of Oaxaca. So much culture and so much history!  Thank you Mexico for the wonde
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Fall Wedding/Family Visits

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 We were honored to attend the wedding of nephew Clyde Always (Danny Beck) and new wife Nikki! They made a beautiful couple and we had such fun dancing and celebrating with them!  From San Francisco, we went to visit Chris' sister and brother in Sacramento and Seattle, just a quick trip up and down the west coast. Time to meet our newest grand niece, Eleanor and to see Tom and Cindy's new house outside of Seattle. We also made use of the time to see a little bit of Seattle, loved the Chihule Museum and the Space Needle. What a fun trip! Here's Chris' Aunt Kathleen, as well as baby Eleanor! As well as some cousins in between.  A  And our time at Tom and Cindy's was great! We are so blessed to have family members who are also friends!
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Summer 2023 Road Trip Number 2

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 Our second road trip of the summer was in September, and just a little bit shorter, clocking just over 2000 miles. I'd say it's time to give this poor car a rest.  We visited three good friends from different times in our lives. But, started this trip with a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. Our favorite picture (below) is one he did of some of the first Peace Corps Volunteers. Chris got to meet the woman at the top, in the middle, just behind JFK. She was visiting the museum at the time.  Our next visit was with Joanne, another Peace Corps friend and one who holds a special place in both our hearts. Here she is with her granddaughter, Elaina.  Moving on from Massachusetts to Maine, we spent a few days with Ralph and Carol, more friends from Baltimore. One advantage of living in many different places: we have friends all over. We got to relax, visit a garden and watch the sunset from the balcony. Who could ask for anything more! Our final stop was to see
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Summer 2023 Road Trip Number 1

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In August, we traveled 2500 miles to visit family and friends, starting with a baby shower for our niece, Evelyn, in Grand Blanc, MI.  From there, we visited two friends in Michigan. Marcy, an old Peace Corps buddy and her husband Bill in Midland, MI and Katherine, a friend from our church in Baltimore, who now lives in Grand Rapids.  From there we drove through Canada to Western New York and saw more family and friends, Aunt Dot, Wendy's mom and some old friends, Debby and her husband, Ken. And our niece, Melanie, who is also expecting her first baby! And we finished off the trip with a brief visit with our daughter Lily and her son, Wes, north of Baltimore. And a final visit with Chris' brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Susie in Pennsylvania.  A long trip, but so good to see so many family members and friends! Evelyn's baby, Paul, was born on September 30. We think he is beautiful!Congratulations to the parents, Evelyn and Brian. 
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