Dear Madeline,

It's another holiday season.  We all hope that you are well and having a good school year.  Your father is still working to get through all of the mathematics needed to get into the program he is interested in. 

Your aunt Erin got married last summer.  Your new Uncle Jack is an antique dealer and they enjoy going to shows and buying and selling interesting stuff.

Before the wedding we all went to Monterey where Erin and Jack took an all-day Kayak lesson.  This is your aunts Erin and Eleanor, there is me with your aunt Amelia in front of me.  Jack and his daughter, Maya, are on the right.

Eleanor is 18 and she is a senior this year.  She has added parrots to her interests and has two Amazon Congo parrots, a male and female.  She and Amelia share a pair of parakeets, and also a foundling blackbird girl. 

I hope that someday you are able to see this blog and know that we thought about you often, and always wished the best for you.