HAPPY HOLIDAYS !

Thanks to all who have taken the time to remember our family with emails and cards-the photos are a special treasure. Technology has enabled me to keep you "posted"-literally- on my year of celebrating 60. It is true that age is just a number-so far the added year has not succeeded in slowing me down. Duncan and I continue to travel, golf and dance (he even still works full time) and enjoy it all. Leslie will be travelling to Aman, Jordan in early January to begin her two year post as a Foreign Service Officer in the Bureau of Global Health for USAID. This year's Arabic language studies have prepared her well for this new adventure. Blake still travels -on a smaller scale throughout the Southeast-as he is in and out of Charlotte (his home base) as a CPA for Grant Thornton. This year has been filled with blessings for our family and from our friends. I wish the same for you and your family during the new year !

A friend recently sent this quote to me....I want to share this thought with you for 2010...

" Your purpose in life isn't to arrive at a destination where you find inspiration, just as the purpose of dancing isn't to end up at a particular spot on the floor. The purpose of dancing--and of life-- IS TO ENJOY EVERY MOMENT and every step, regardless of where you are when the music ends."

FTF, YA'LL !

Literally speaking it's been a month of family, turkey and football-great American traditions. I love the holiday season and consider it to begin at Halloween and go through the new year. Halloween was actually celebrated this year with twelve couples at the beach for golf and fellowship. Aptly named "Witches & Warlocks", it is an annual event that truly "kick starts" the holidays. It was a blessing to have my mom and both Leslie and Blake home for Thanksgiving. It was great family time with an added few days in D.C. with Leslie-yes, she and I took a road trip on Black Sunday-my term for being on the road after Thanksgiving. The same week Duncan and I had a special treat-a trip to Dallas, Texas for the Big 12 championship game. With friends for the trip, it was loads of fun made even better with a win by Duncan's alma mater-the University of Texas. The Cowboys' staduim is spectacular and was an added weekend bonus. Home again in early December-the days are filled preparing to celebrate the last part of the holidays with family and friends.

RALLY FOR THE CURE

Over the last several months, I worked with my dear friend Betty and many other dedicated souls to organize and host a "Rally For The Cure" October 27 at Forsyth Country Club. As co-chairs, Betty and I coordinated the nine hole ladies Captain's Choice golf tournament followed by a Silent Auction and luncheon. A record breaking 120 women shared a day of love, friendship and hope for the vision of the Susan G. Komen Foundation-a world without breast cancer. The community support of sponsors and donors allowed our Rally committee to donate all monies raised directly to the Komen and its local Triad affiliate. We were so proud to triple the monies raised in past events for a total of $ 21,000 for breast cancer awareness and prevention. This experience showed the true power of combining creativity, vision and lots of time and hard work from a group of dedicated friends to achieve a worthwhile goal. This was my "aha" moment for the year !

CRUISING HAWAII !

Duncan and I left September 10th for a Hawaiian free style cruise on Norwiegian Cruise Line's "Pride of America". Before sailing on the 12th we were joined by friends and business associates (this was the 15th annual Pinnacle Benefits Group incentive trip for partners and agents). So a little bit of business and a lot of pleasure as we helped host a week of cruising the Hawaiian Islands. While on Honolulu we celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary at "La Mer"-my new most favorite restuarant. If ever on Oahu, don't miss it-especially the lililoku souffle (passion fruit)! We spent a somber day at Pearl Harbor, made more poignant by visiting on September 11th.; four surviving veterans of the 1941 attack were there that day to share stories and photos.

WE SAIL ! After a round of golf Saturday morning at the Hawaiian Prince Golf Club with our friends, Lynne & David-we were off to the ship. We boarded to settle into an elegant cabin for the crusie-very spacious with a lovely balcony. I loved the week on board-more food than one should actually need-the posted sign stating that the average weight gain on board is 5 to 10 pounds did not stop the afternoon ritual of chocolate milkshakes! Free style cruising gives you dining options and we were able to have dinner with friends at every venue during the week. The Jefferson Bistro (pictured with friends Lynne, David, Janis & Jerry) was my favorite. Each night we sailed and by morning were docked at a different Island. We played many rounds of golf: Wailea Emerald Course and The Dunes on Kahului, Maui.....Mauna Lani North Course on Kona, Hawaii....Poipu Bay Golf Course on Kauai. All courses were spectacular in their own way but my favorite was the golfing "experience" at Mauna Lani-built on volcanic rock so there were fairways bordered by volcanic rock throughout the course. Just amazing! While docked in Hilo, Hawaii our group visited the Volcanoes National Park that was spectaculor. And then there was dancing-the ship had a great nightclub "Mardi Gras" that provided several evenings of dancing fun. A great whirlwind of activities and fun on land and sea!

SUMMERTIME FUN !

Can it already be mid-August? Turning 60 seems to have put time on "fast forward". Leslie and Blake were home for visits in mid-July which was great; Leslie will be leaving for Jordan at the end of the year-her year in D.C. has gone by too quickly for me. It was family time at the beach in late July with my mom, aunts, cousins, sister-in-law....lots of fun! Off to mountains with my girlfriends Betty, Darlene and Nan for golf and fun. Once home have been consumed with organizing a "Rally For The Cure" golf tournament (co-chairing with my friend, Betty). The actual event is not until October but we are working at it every day. Off to beach again for two weeks in late August/early September. Some "me" time before Duncan and friends join me. Summer is almost over....best to enjoy while I can.

It's All Relative !

Summer has arrived and the travel is now limited to North Carolina and the South Carolina beaches-at least for NOW ! Dancing with friends (Linda & Travis), visits home and my constant summer companion, Kayla (grandog is visiting for summer vacation) are featured in the picture montage. I am enjoying the downtime to catch up on projects and am trying to work to improve my golf game (I even had a lesson). My new addiction is Zumba-exercise to Latin music-it is great fun. In the coming months am looking forward to a visit from Leslie and a family getaway to beach with my mom, aunts, cousins, etc. Will keep you posted !

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND "The Adventure Capitol of the World"

Queenstown, New Zealand was true to its tag line...adventure at every turn!

We traveled with Mutual of Omaha (an incentive trip) in early May and spent a week enjoying the country's quaint surroundings and peoples. Our home base was The Millbrook Resort just outside of Queenstown. Although we arrived in late fall it was more like early winter with snow most every day. We spent our days busily traversing the countryside via paddleboat, river cruiser, jet boat, four wheel drive, helicopter and small prop plane. A four wheel drive trip took us through the Mount Aspiring National Park-location for "The Lord of the Rings", "Wolverine" and many commercials including Colorado Coors? A jet boat sped us down the Dart River and through the valley with Mount Chaos and Mount Head rising on either side. We helicoptered to the Walter Peak Station-a sheep ranch and flew by prop plane to the Tasman Sea to cruise Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park. The 100 year old paddleboat cruised Lake Wakatipu and then there were the evenings filled with great food, dancing and entertainment. In addition we attended an inspiring breakfast that featured Peter Hillary who had grand stories of his explorations. I am an amateur photographer-at best-but I hope you enjoy the pictures of this spectacular country.

"Training" to D.C.

In late April I took my mom by train to D.C. to spend a long weekend with Leslie. I loved the train-I am now trying to think of somewhere to travel by rail again. Anyway, we had a grand time together visiting gardens, museums, dining out and in, shopping and just spending the time together. My mom (88) kept up with us even with a marathon shopping trip to Loehman's-there had to be at least 50 wardrobe changes. We had a great time even if we did slog through a lot of rain.

MAC-MAR Invitational....Girlfriends, Golf & Great Times

In the spring of each year my friend, Betty Martin, and I host at least a dozen of our friends at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for four days of golf, gossip and good times with girlfriends. 2009 was our seventh year and tradition holds that we elect a Ms. Flamingo (our recurring theme). Pictured left to right are Betty, Emelda Lawing (Ms. Flamingo 2009) and myself-celebrating in style with a hat made by our friends. I am already looking forward to 2010!

A CAPITOL IDEA...

Duncan and I traveled to Washington, D.C. in late February for a long weekend with Leslie. While Leslie was at language school (Arabic) on Friday we were real tourists-especially enjoyed the newest D.C. museum, The National Museum of the American Indian as well as The National Portrait Gallery. Over the weekend we all attended the Arabesque Festival at the Kennedy Center. (The photo shows Leslie and Duncan literally stepping into an art installation by Lebanese artist Lara Baladi) The newly renovated Museum of Natural History is grand and fun; we even had time for an afternoon movie and a bit of shopping. A highlight of our trip was joining some of Leslie's friends at a local wine bar one evening (Keith Alm and girlfriend Beth were part of our group-he and his family were great neighbors and still friends from the 80's). Snow-and lots of it-slightly delayed our Monday departure but nothing could dampen our spirits-it was a great weekend.

FOREVER YOUNG !

We celebrated birthdays and Valentines with my brother Gerald and sister-in-law Sandra in mid-February in Winston-Salem. We shared a great weekend that included lots of food and drink, a spa day for the ladies and a Wake Forest basketball game for the men. Good times with family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

Although a birthday celebration should stretch over many weeks, there is one week that has necessary celebrations-the actual week that includes the birthday. One of my favorite things is to go to the movies so Duncan and I went to see "Slumdog Millionaire"-a must see- before having a dinner celebration. The day also featured many calls from family and friends which are always appreciated. The week included lunch with friends Darlene and Gail, a Broadway evening "Just Duets" with the Hands and Hendricks, a formal dance with our "Fantastic" dance group, golf with the Blands and then a Wake basketball game late on Sunday. It was a great week to become 60! We had a beautiful snowfall and I was reminded in one card that it was the fiftieth anniversary of "the day the music died"- a reference to the plane crash carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. This event was noted in the 1971 song by Don McLean "American Pie". (A bit of trivia to help you remember my birth date.)

"GIRLFRIENDS IN PARIS"

As a birthday approaches, one always reflects on their personal "bucket list"-things to do before whenever. In January I succeeded in returning to Paris (the last time being 40 years ago in a college bus tour through Europe), checking it off my "list". It was a grand trip made even more special by sharing with girlfriends Betty, Gail and Nan. Highlights included a quick stopover in London to see "The Lion King", traveling on Eurostar under the Channel to arrive in Paris, museums (my favorite was Musee de l'Orangerie des Tuileries featuring magnificent panels of Monet's water lilies as well as a collection of impressionists including Renoir and Picasso) and Viator's little red "Hop On and Off" bus that took us around the city. We spent a wonderful afternoon in Montmartre visiting the cathedral, Sacre Coeur, enjoying a cozy lunch at a local brasserie and chatting with artists working in an open air plaza; an evening was spent at the Moulin Rouge and other evenings we walked through the city. What would a trip be without shopping? We especially enjoyed the Galeries Lafayette featuring a great champagne bar as well as Printemps and a quaint street, Saint-Louis-en-Ile with charming boutique shops. Adjectives escape me to describe what a special time this was. "A picture is worth a thousand words.".........

A NEW YEAR BEGINS

Duncan and I celebrated with our "fantastic" friends dancing into the new year 2009. This tradition was begun many years ago by friends from the studio where we take lessons, "Lite Fantastic", and it is grand to join them to celebrate in "high style" the beginning of a new year.

HOLIDAYS 2008

Before the new year I was blessed to have both Leslie and Blake home for the holidays. Leslie has returned from Africa and is in Washington, D.C. with USAID training as a Foreign Service Officer in the Bureau of Global Health. Her first post will be in Jordan in the fall of 2009. Blake is living in Charlotte; he successfully completed his CPA exams this past summer and has begun his work as an Audit Associate with Grant Thornton. As a first year he is traveling most weeks so Duncan and I have temporary custody of the grandog, Kayla.