I am sure we all thought the Covid virus would be in the rearview mirror by the time we headed into 2022, but it is beginning to look a lot like a Merry Variant Christmas. Like an atom that keeps on splitting, the world is cautiously on watch once more for the mutations that threaten our holidays with friends and family. My wish for the new year is that it mutates its way right out of existence so that that life can return to normal.

The virus has kept us from our California family for close to two years. The vaccines and boosters have allowed us a semblance of safety for travel, so we will happily mask up for the long flight from Florida to California. Florida has been pretty open, so we have enjoyed activities with our two sons and families and the four grandkids this past year. Finally, we will spend a month during the holidays with two daughters and their families, hugging on the latest addition of a great-granddaughter and four grandchildren.

Our year was safe and filled with travel through our beautiful country. I have a driving fool for a husband, so we drove to Michigan in the spring, drove to Texas for a funeral and back, visiting friends along the way. In the fall, as we pulled out of the autumn color surrounding Camp Maqua, we headed through the Adirondacks and into New York, with many stops to see friends along the east coast. Our trip was planned around visiting the 9/11 Memorials, which were meaningful and memorable. It was a trip filled with great weather and scenery visiting old friends on our return to Florida for the winter.

Retirement has been good with the freedom to pick up and go. We appreciated the protocols instituted on the trips that allowed us to see the country safely, but many were closed to the public. I am grateful for FaceTime, Facebook which has allowed me to continue to communicate with my loved ones.

I have also enjoyed keeping up with the many new friends I have made through the Camp Maqua experience. Camper Laura Taylor made a visited camp this summer, and we made two stops on our way south to see Barbara Haggart and Jen Sibole and Beth Taylor and her husband George. They were all gracious hosts.

My books continue to sell, which makes my heart happy, but I have plenty left for gifts! Thank you for your continued loyalty. Happy New Year to you and yours!