Happy
New Year 2008!
Dear Friends,
We missed our annual tradition
of sending out our holiday letter last year and we missed hearing from many of
you. But we resolve to have a good year now and to keep in touch – and we
hope to hear news from you as well.
We had a bittersweet two
years; hereÕs the bitter. Gerry had two heart health scares (one while
overseas) resulting in two unexpected heart catherizations
a year ago, first placing a stent and three months later repairing it. The
worst is behind us and he is doing great, back to his full work and a renewed
exercise program. Although he initially had to cut back on his international
travel schedule and some of our annual family treks, we did manage to have
several wonderful trips and events.
The other bummer of our year
was a home burglary. In the two short hours Gerry was picking me up at the
airport after I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, all my
beloved jewelry, including my wedding ring and family heirlooms (you get the
picture), were stolen. What a feeling of being violated. Sadly, we also had to
say goodbye to a number of old, dear friends of the family – way too many
funerals. Enough of the bitter.
Now for the
sweet. Gerry continues to teach and do research at Drexel University.
He is planning to do more book writing and he always has a few grant proposals
in the hopper, while traveling and promoting his work around the world. Very
exciting.
Carol continues to ÒworkÓ
helping her parents, and is in Troy about half of the time while remaining on
call the rest. Her Mom still struggles with AlzheimerÕs. Her Dad, now 91,
continues to live independently at home not far from her MotherÕs (to whom he
is devoted) nursing home, which he visits daily. He is still very active,
drives, golfs (won a club tournament in the Fall),
gardens and is very interested in life and his family. His grandson, BJ, was
recently engaged, Kelly just came back from volunteering at an AIDS orphanage
in Africa and Heather is coaching lacrosse at Colgate University. We managed to
have several mini family reunions on both sides, celebrating birthdays and
holidays. We celebrated CarolÕs decade birthday with two weeks at Cape Cod,
with family and friends coming and going (see picture). We attended weddings of
several friends. Carol also spent several weeks working in her friendsÕ
restaurant in Maine.
Besides our Cape Cod trip, we
traveled to Colorado for fun; to Arizona to see Zake, Kimlou and granddaughter
Nastasja – before they moved to San Francisco; and to Florida for a
conference and visits. Zake has an exciting new job and Kim hopes to break into
the world of film. Younger son Rusty is still running a foundation in NYC and
has a very steady GF, Dorothy, who is getting her Ph.D. at Fordham, where she
works. We spent Thanksgiving Day with GerryÕs brother Alan and his partner Bill
in Ossining New York. We enjoyed seeing his brotherÕs exhibit on medieval coins
at Princeton where he works and hearing BillÕs tales of being the new mayor of
Ossining.
We continue to be saddened by
world events, both near and far, and wonder what the future holds. In the
meantime we are hoping to hear from you all and maybe to see some of you in the
year ahead. Be well and take care.
All our love, Carol & Gerry 194 Lynnebrook Lane Philadelphia, PA 19118 (215) 248-2276 Carol_Bliss@hotmail.com Gerry.Stahl@drexel.edu
