eva@theworld.com http://theworld.com/~eva Dec. 21, 2015
Dear Family and Friends,
Last Christmas Herman said “This will be my last
Christmas.” But also that day his sister Anne, along with Todd and Jane, came
over bearing a feast and Herman sang Christmas Carols robustly.
On January 8, 2015 Herman died in the Beth Israel
emergency room after collapsing and never regaining consciousness. I was
holding his hand. He had been out birding twice that week, and fixed a lamp for
me the night before. The 10 feet of snow fell well after his funeral so friends
and family were able to come from NJ, NY, IL, WI, and the UK. Glenn delivered
the eulogy. At the burial in May Ellie
and Stauffer came from VA, Ricardo’s family from NJ, Sheila from WI, Ezra from
WA, MaryDan and
Bob from NY, and Helen from ME.
The birders each laid a yellow rose.
After Herman died I lost heart for working, so I retired June 1. Since then I wonder how I ever had time to go to work.
My godson Conor McCann
embarked on a new career as a copywriter in Boston. He stayed at 45 Montrose
from June to September while he got oriented.
In August I attended the
U.S. Go Congress in MN, followed by Yellowstone National Park with my cousin
Jean, and I topped that off
by attending Buffy’s 50th anniversary party and
wheelchair tennis tournament in UT.
In September I visited
family and friends in IL and WI (planned) and, sadly, attended my cousin Dan Drumm’s funeral in Chicago (entirely unexpected).
I took the train to
Rochester for Thanksgiving. MaryDan and
I went to her TRX class at her Y then swam. I joined the Y a block from my
house. I resolved to get a minimum of 45 minutes exercise/day. The only class I’m taking is Aqua Zumba,
Oakes took me to Pike’s Road
where I photographed the Rose-breasted Gossbeak, and I saw another one while on
a new path we explored on Glenn’s Mt. Greylock trip in June. I was walking the Pines on Plum Island alone when
a stranger pointed out the Black-billed Cuckoo.
45 Montrose’s roof was 31
year old. I had that replaced and then installed solar panels! Margaret from my
book group retired her bird feeding station so now it’s in my back yard. So far I attract nothing like such quality
birds as Herman’s brother Harold enjoys at the feeders Duane maintains at
Harold and Irene’s.
I directed one Go Tournament
this year. James Peters stepped up to the plate to direct the other three. I
just backed him up. On Thursday evenings
I walk to Davis Square for a Go Meetup at a Café that serves healthy meals.
Peace,
