Didn’t it really "sneaked up" this year…

this season of holidays and fun?

Not three weeks ‘til Christmas,

And this verse is not yet done!

Oh, I have excuses, and

there are lots of real good reasons,

so before this reading is over

you’ll know "what’s up" this season.

But first, let’s go back twelve months,

to days that seem now … most calm.

Because we were unaware that change…

would explode… like a bomb!

First, good old company CIGNA

sought a sale of my division.

and ACE a Bermuda player,

said "we’ll buy with a few provisions"

For six months we waited

for the deal to finally close.

Would it be retirement? … Maybe?

Or would another answer be proposed?

We cancelled some vacation plans,

No ski trips and no Florida sun,

We waited for…"direction"

That kind of waiting is not much fun.

A business trip to Nashville

gave a brief opportunity

to see Grandy and Poppa

in the cool month of January.

April found us checking on Russ,

Said he was "down in his back";

Turns out it was a serious infection,

Antibiotics required! …and that is a fact!

Intravenous doses for weeks

and now he is much improved.

We are praying no more problems

and he’ll stay "back in the groove".

We did get to see Jenny Jo,

Down at St. Augustine beach.

A conference near Jacksonville

made that driving within easy reach.

July came and we still did not know

If my job would terminate,

But an interview!…on Brent’s birthday!

Wouldn’t an Atlanta transfer be just "great"!

Oh sure we would be sad to leave

our "roots" in the Delaware Valley.

But if a move was the alternative,

Atlanta was…"right down our alley".

Mae spent most of July in Atlanta

with daughter Cindi and son Russ;

The Grandsons said if we were moving

They would not make a fuss.

But it took until the end of August

Before things began to "jell",

Got an offer on our house

and we decided to sell.

The job offer materialized,

and we set a moving date.

Picked a house a under construction

so ‘till Thanksgiving we would wait.

Our friends Frank and Mickey Rizzuto

were moving too… down Houston way,

As it turned out …coincidentally,

we left town the same day!

Now we have motored down to Atlanta,

and here we sit …in a "fix".

Two days before closing,

"buckled" floors… an "unwelcome trick"

Oh we’ll get in eventually,

and we’ll get over all the stress,

Sure, Christmas will be a good one.

We’ll celebrate in the "moving mess"!

Now we are closer to many of you.

It means you must come for a visit.

Our "northern" friends are welcome too

"Yankee land"…we sure will miss it!

Our new address is easy …

3071 Shelbourne Trace

Kennesaw Georgia is our town,

call, we’ll help you find our place.

We hope you all will keep in touch.

Here is our E-Mail address for you;

johnmae@concentric.net

and "snail mail" is welcome too!

What ever the means or method,

high tech wired or the old fashioned way,

we wish for you a Joyous Season…

And a Happy ….Y2K!