2014- a quick review of our family's year...

2014

Meme, Justin & I wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday Season,

& a healthy, joyous and prosperous 2015.

The past year has had several highlights, like:

Uncle Bruce Newlin

·      The gathering in Gilbert (AZ) this Nov. of some of the Newlin Clan to celebrate mom’s 90^th (Dec.) & Uncle Bruce’s 80^th (July) birthdays,

·      Justin finishing law school classes one-term early (Dec.), and

·      Firefighting “Safety Officer” duties in the Pacific Northwest (Summer). 

Hal Marcus

In January Meme & I visited her sister Pat Medici (& her husband Hal Marcus) in El Paso, followed by the Subaru going in-n-out of various garages over the following 9-months (yikes, and with <160,000 miles); Sis Chris judged some of the Terrier breeds at the Westminster Kennel Club’s dog show (putting-up a dog as Best-of-Breed that went on to win Best in Show) :-)... 

February included a quick visit by Pete (Meme’s cousin) and his esposa Nancy, and of course one of my favorite days of the year: “pitchers & catchers report.” Winter and early spring were also filled with a heavy load of college tennis chair umpiring assignments. Plus, there was the annual trek to Arizona for the Cactus League Spring Training (I didn’t make the cut… again…). Late freezes resulted in no apples or peaches this year, cherries were enjoyed by birds (again), but we did have a fair grape crop.

Ranger Rendezvous: YMCA-Rockies

Some year-round activities included the New Mexico (NM) SiteWatch steward program, NM Archeological Council Executive Committee, “Rocking out” climbing (Meme), and yoga classes (both).

Additional events included our annual sojourn to the beach (Pacific Beach/La Jolla area), being interviewed by the NPS Cultural Resources Academy, attending Ranger Rendezvous at Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park (Colorado) and getting to visit many ol’ amigos y amigas. I also got to provide the NPS Oral History program with a 3-hour interview for their archives (with about another hour needed next year to finish-up).

Lucy & I: holiday folk dance

Lucy-the-Bull Terrier had an uneventful year, filled with walks and runnin’ down “wascally wabbits.” No rattlesnake bites, or knocking me off my bike (breaking ribs) this trip-around-the-sun. She turned 6 this month.

This month (Dec.) I coordinated and taught (aka: produced & directed) a 20-hour Heritage Resources Investigations course for law enforcement officers and archaeologists in Silver City (where it is alleged that Billy “went to the bad…”): it was well received and seems to have been successful. Just another way to pass along a little something to “The Next Generation…”  Finally, now have time to read Cindy Schroeder’s Plunder of the Ancients (a page-turner).

Special congratulations again to our son (Justin) for completing his course of study at the University of New Mexico Law School: good luck with the bar exam in February + ALL your future endeavors…

Feliz Navidad y un propsero Nuevo Ano a todos… Phil & Meme 

I found this in my “Old Christmas Letters” folder: scribbled in long-hand…

 thought it might be time for a revisit:

May your season of joy be endless,

Enjoying the love & warmth of humanity,

Rejoicing in the eternal light,

Remembering ALL good friends,

Your spirit too shall be eternal.

Continuing our life’s quests, with

Hope refreshing our vigor,

Returning to the timeless lessons,

Inspiring all through our actions,

Selflessly giving our gifts

The joy grows exponentially

Marrying our spirit with the everlasting

Anticipating our ultimate gift,

Salvation.

Hal's Studio