Introduction To Musings XIV

Holiday Greetings
November – December 2003

May the holidays be a time of rest, renewal, and inspiration for you and your loved ones. These greetings recognize how central to our lives are our families. May health and happiness prevail among those you hold dear.

For our family this has been a traumatic year. Daughter Janet Newton died after a doomed struggle with A.L.S. (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the Lou Gehrig disease). She fought valiantly and her courage and spirit were, and are, a continuing inspiration to us all. Her husband, Ron, daughter Christina, and son, Ian were wholly devoted to caring for her during this tragic period. Other members of the family traveled from California, Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, and other far places to help in her care. Janet is free of suffering now, but her life of love and caring will always be our precious memories.

Daughter Marjorie had mastectomy surgery earlier in the year. All indications are that the surgery and post-surgical chemo-therapy have been successful. Marj embraced this serious matter with courage and optimism with the total support of her husband, Dale.

Mildred Swanson, my first wife, and mother of Marj, John, Janet, and Bill suffered a tragic loss. Her husband, Roger Swanson died suddenly of a heart attack in Reading, Massachusetts, on the day before Janet’s Memorial Service. This sad event required much time, travel, and effort by John, Marj and Bill to help straighten out matters dealing with the disposition of much goods in order to have the Swanson house ready for sale and other matters concerning the estate. Mildred now lives in an assisted living facility in San Francisco.

Son Bill Westman had knee surgery in mid-November to repair torn ligaments which happened when he was playing tennis. He will deal with rehab and expects full recovery.

The dark days of this year were lightened by the arrival of another great-grandchild. Dylan Hunter Roseberry was born November 3, in University Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The happy parents are Maria and David Roseberry. Grandma Alicia reports that the baby is a strawberry blonde with blue eyes and very handsome.

So life and death have been very much a part of our extended family this year. That is the nature of human existence. If we did not care about others, there would be no deep grief nor real happiness.

My own health seems relatively stable, although I am quite aware that I am in decline. After all, I have been on this planet since 1911.

Happy Holidays,
Carl