Livi & Cat's Holiday Newsletter 2001
   This year had been a interesting one for us, as it probably has been for you, too.  The year's end seems to be rather overwhelming the rest of the year, so I'm having to delve a little harder into my brain files to remember what was happening last winter and spring.
     Seems like politics dominated our 2001, even from the beginning. Not good.  January brought the inauguration of the guy whom the majority of U$ voters, including yours truly, neither dimpled nor punched.   'thrax you, chad!  But seriously, that sucked.  Little did I know quite how much it would suck, however, to have Cowboy George at the helm on and after September 11. Calgon, take me away. . .

     But February brought great improvement in my outlook, as Olivia turned 10.  The double digits are upon us!  She has enjoyed this first semester of 5th grade at Mountainview Elementary.  We like her teacher.  Not surprising that she's not only nice, but a great teacher - her name is Ms. McConnell!  For real.  They've also had a student teacher this semester, Ms. Peer, who has been a great addition to the classroom.  They've done lots of science experiments, a play about the winter of 1776 (livi played Abigail, the protagonist), read some great books by Roald Dahl and others, and generally had a good school year so far.  Livi is in advanced math, and is on a trajectory to finish the year's math book next month.  She also still enjoys doing creative writing and reading.  Her early xmas gift was a pair of roller shoes (sound familiar, old friends?). 
    

      In March we adopted a foundling puppy, whom we named Bodhisattva.  A tiny little brown, black and grey doggie, he was probably only a couple of weeks old.  I found him running up and down Listravia Avenue by my office, tired out and crying.  Since Livi didn't get the puppy on her wishlist last xmas, and March seemed like a good time of year to get a pup, we figured he had found us for a reason.  Though it took only two weeks to realize we should have named him Kali, for the Hindu god of destruction, he has become a part of the family.  Archaeologists in the future will  think we had a butcher shop here in Gladesville, since deer season has provided Bodhi with a plethora of legs and heads to chew on.  Simple abundance.
     I got to go to San Diego for a conference in April, my first breath of California air.  Jolene, my pal from work, and I forayed into Tijuana, since neither of us had been to Mexico before.  Does a border town count as Mexico?  Anyway, we enjoyed the flowers and trees and weather.  Even the mall by our resort was cool, all outdoors with open air store fronts.  But those cats drive worse than New Yorkers!  Scary cab rides.
      Softball season was fun, even though Livi's team lost every game.  Correction, the other team forfeited the last game, so one in the W column!  Until this year, she has played in the instructional league, so this was our first year keeping score. But the Cheeseburgers (their sponsor was McD's) had lots of fun, and have a promising future - all the girls were 9 year olds, and the league is only ages 9-11, so two years from now, look out! 
     Livi and her Yia-yia took a wonderful trip to England, Scotland, and Wales for 9 days this summer.  Livi chose Wales because she wanted to see where some of her ancestors came from, and wanted to check out some bodacious castles.  They had a bloody great time, especially at the all-you-can-eat haggis buffet.  Just kidding!
     Sadly, Livi and Yia-yia's cat Feather died unexpectedly from illness. Zachary is back to being the sole feline ruler of my mom's house (dogs may have owners, but cats have staff).  We miss the sweet little cross-eyed kitty.
     What happened to the fall, it's a bit hazy.  Mass murder, the news and Entertainment Tonight getting harder to distinguish, the beautiful Beatle George dies, dandelions and blooming forsythia in December (still don't buy global climate change?), and Livi's not allowed to check the mail anymore.  My socio-political opinions have always been in the minority, but any more even my comforting little island of the like-minded seems to be shrinking into oblivion.  At least one dude's rhetoric seems to make sense to me, and I'll add to it my best wishes to every earthling for a peaceful 2002. . .
We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,
tied in a single garment of destiny. 
Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. 
Never again can we afford to live with the narrow provincial "outside agitator" idea. . .

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

MLK jr, letter from the Birmingham jail
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