Greetings from Colorful
(and dry) Colorado!
It was another interesting year for the Hoffmans. We started out with
a visit to Estes Park in and the old Stanley Hotel (the supposed setting
for Stephen Kings book, The Shining, and later the movie) in
January. We didnt see Jack Nicholson, but it was a pretty cool
place anyway.
February was a visit to Albuquerque and an opportunity to attend some
southwestern cooking classes. It was fun and tasted good too.
In March we spent a couple of weeks exploring Sedona, the Grand Canyon
and northern Arizona. We topped that off with a visit to friends and
family in Phoenix. The weather was great and a nice respite from the
Colorado winter.
April was a trip to Hawaii with friends to revisit some old haunts
and discover some new ones. We spent a week on the Big Island and
then moved on to Oahu. We split our time between a hotel on Waikiki
and a Bellows cottage. Unfortunately, we had an old Bellows cottage
that needed a lot of work, but they have a renovation program that
will eventually cover all buildings, plus thy have a new multi-story
condo complex that was slated to open later in 2012. Our real excitement
started on departure, when Mary had a heart attack at the departure
gate in Honolulu. We extended our Hawaii stay at Tripler Army Hospital
where Mary was treated. Thankfully, her cardio rehab back in Colorado
went well and shes recovering nicely.
June brought the Waldo Canyon fire that threatened Colorado Springs,
burned almost 350 homes and forced 36,000 people to evacuate. We hosted
an evacuee family while the fire was brought under control. Thankfully,
their home was spared.
Marc and Rana visited in August after their vacation in Brazil. A
visit from kids is always too short, but we hope to see them in Turkey
next year.
Our travels the rest of the year were a bit curtailed with the exception
of a brief fall trip to Albuquerque for a Jane Butel southwestern
cooking class and some more exploring.
Gary has been busy working on the new home, facilitating some leadership
and character development seminars at the Air Force Academy, and a
little consulting in between.
If your travels bring you to the Pikes Peak area, please let us know.
Were in the Black Forest and look forward to seeing many friends
and family. Be sure to bring rain with you when you come!
We wish you and your family an enjoyable Christmas and our best wishes
for a great new year!
Gary & Mary