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!