Did you get our Christmas letter last year? I’d be surprised. We didn’t send one. Just lazy I guess. Everybody is busy, so that is no excuse. I’ll be brief and update you on the last year.

This letter cannot be written without explaining an overshadowing sadness in our family. My brother, Richard, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in June. Life seems very different now. The problems of day-to-day life shrink in perspective. We have been reminded to more fully appreciate everyone and every day. Again we are taught to number our days.

Still, we have to go on and the youngest among us lead the way. Bob, now 20, graduated with honors from Riverland Community College in Albert Lea in May. He received his certificate in Industrial Maintenance and Mechanics. He left his job at Schweigert’s in Albert Lea and began working for Viracon in Owatonna in July. Bob bought a house near Hollandale in August. He lives on one acre and has all the necessities of life, particularly a shop and space to park autos, both mobile and inert. Bob divides his spare time between working on cars and playing with his cats. Mary, his girlfriend, gets some of that time, too, we assume. Bob’s address is:

27969 825^th AV
Hollandale, MN 56045
Phone: 507-889-3813

Matthew turned 18 in November. Last spring he got his first full-time job working at the Treehouse, a tree nursery and landscaping business not far from home. He worked on the landscaping crew most of the summer and learned to do a hundred different things that he never knew he would be interested in. This fall he built single-handedly (almost) retaining walls for our house. This has inspired his interest to attend Rochester Technical College’s Horticulture program after he graduates next spring. Matt enjoys playing his bass guitar, playing bass clarinet in the school band and pep band, bowling, movie-going and extensive camaraderie with his cohorts. (Also known as hanging out.)

Ted is 14 since June. He picked rock, baled hay, and mowed lawn this summer to generate some cash. Ted enjoys reading, writing and has broad interests in lots of things. Deb and I went with him to a World War II airplane show in July. It was "hog heaven" for an airplane buff like him. Ted plays basketball for the Junior-Varsity team this year. He also enjoys playing the electric guitar and plays the trombone in the pep band and school band. Deb continues her work as bookkeeper at Grass & Sons Seed. She is webmaster for at least three websites and recently bought herself a new laptop to bring her hardware up to speed in the 21st century.

I keep working with farmers on their farm management issues. My spare time is filled with fixing things around the house and writing columns for the Fillmore County Journal every other week. Because of the somewhat somber mood of my letter, I am including one of those columns with this letter to help add cheer to your holiday. I hope you enjoy it.