Cathy and Brooke

2008 Season greetings from North Carolina! We thought we’d try an email Christmas letter this year as that is how we communicate the most! Yes, it is cheaper, too! We’ve had a relatively uneventful year thus far--no new births or passings.

Liz, husband Brent, and family are still in Charlotte, and we love having them close. They’ve spent quite a bit of time here with their two girls and twin boys. All of the children are thriving. Brent works for Wachovia, but is in “Distressed Debt,” (aren’t we all!) so he has a lot of work. No one really knows what the Wells Fargo acquisition of Wachovia means yet!! We’re keeping our fingers crossed!

Cathy is staying busy with family and Doncaster clothing sales. Her mother needs lots of care—Cathy, her sisters and a number of care givers make sure she gets what she needs. Fortunately, she is still able to live at her home. The clothing business is a bit soft with this economy, but she and her sister Barbara have a number of very good clients.

Brooke is still flying, but a little bit less! Sadly, he delivered one of the planes he flies to Wichita, KS in October to a new owner. The King Air turboprop was only a year old, and he enjoyed flying it. On two trips this year, he took Cathy along as the copilot. One trip was just two days to Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center (if you haven’t been, it is worth it). The other trip was six days in St. Kitts and Nevis (they are just south of the Virgin Islands). Good snorkeling, beaches, relaxation, and golf. His handicap has risen to 13, but he’s working hard and often to get it back down.

The only other trips we took were out to Seattle in June for a wedding and the Air Force Academy for a reunion—40th!!! We added an inside passage Alaska cruise to the Seattle trip. The weather was excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed the ship (Amsterdam) and the sights. The highlight was Glacier Bay on a perfectly gorgeous day. The low point of the reunion was a football loss to Navy, but it was great to see so many of our old friends (and, I do mean old!).

We’ve attached a few pictures for your viewing pleasure! And, we wish you all the best for the holidays and the New Year.

Brooke & Cathy