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HOLIDAY GREETINGS 2006 FROM NANCY & BOB MURDOCK 
Bob celebrated his 80th birthday with several celebrations along the coast. Then when we returned home, some more were added. It was a special year for him. He has had a year of good health, and with the aid of his cane, he is in fine fettle. Nancy fell on the sharp corner of a plant table in late May, injuring her left knee. So far there has not been a diagnosis that can account for the problems since then, but with the aid of crutches, she is leading a busy life. She plans tentatively to retire at the end of 2008 but knows she will miss her job. Her 75th birthday will come soon, on January 14. Her quilts get smaller and smaller, but she enjoys creating them. Our family newsletter, The Murdock Muse (d21c.com/murmuse/), has acquired a more professional look, while retaining its interesting news by family and friends. Bob has concentrated on the use of pictures and links, bringing new improvements with great regularity. Nancy has now asked him to document his methods, in case he needs help at some point. Her knowledge of those items is more primitive. To return to the trips, our next one was to New England in July, where we participated in the Howlett Reunion 2006 in New Hampshire and visited several family members in Massachusetts. We discovered some advantages in traveling with crutches and a cane. The airline personnel were very helpful, and it was great to be given preferential treatment in getting through Security - in wheelchairs. Our third trip was to Minnesota, where Darrel had arranged for us to travel to all his favorite places to observe waterfalls and fall color. We even went to Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the second weekend. We enjoyed seeing both Jason’s and Rickey’s families, meeting for the first time Rickey’s wife Deanna and four of his children, and Jason’s girlfriend. An extra plus was that Roy arranged to rent a Hummer to take his family to Minnesota to visit Tami’s mother during our stay at Darrel’s. We had a great time documenting Roy’s Minnesota years with photos of all his schools and his early workplaces. Five days after our return, we drove to Williamsburg, Virginia, to stay at a timeshare with a whole room dedicated to a jacuzzi. We had a good time visiting our favorite pancake house and a few stores. Bob toured the discount malls while Nancy was dyeing several yards of fabric. We also went to a truly excellent Italian restaurant with a friend who runs a Bed and Breakfast. After our return, Bob took our 16-year-old Toyota Corolla for a regular checkup and was given the news that it was not safe to drive it anywhere but locally. So far it has been as reliable as ever, but no doubt in 2007 there will be a news item relating to a new Toyota in our family. We tell everyone that we have been married 56 years. And we now have the completed 50th anniversary 2000 quilt to prove it! With so many marriages dissolving in their early years, we want to encourage people to think in much longer terms. We wish you a fine year 2007 and a long, happy future. Nancy and Bob Murdock murmuse@comcast.net |