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| Bissonnette's Christmas Gazette December 2004 Horicon, WI e-mail - [email protected] |
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| Thanks to the late Thomas Nast for his beloved illustrations. |
| � For this is the journey that men make: to find themselves. If they fail in this, it doesn�t matter much what else they find. James A. Michener � There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein All changes, even the most longed for, have theirmelancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves. Anatole France It�s what you learn after you know it all that counts. Earl Weaver In nature there are neither rewards or punishments; there are consequences. Robert Green Ingersoll There is only one religion though there are a hundred versions of it. George Bernard Shaw One must always tell what one sees. Above all, one must always see what one sees. Charles Peguy He prayeth best who loveth best all things both great and small. Samuel Taylor Coleridge If your mind isn�t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life. Wu- men Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you. Aldous Huxley The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly. G. K. Chesterton May you live all the days of your life. Jonathan Swift If you like these you might want to print and post them somewhere and savor them through the season. Enjoy! |
| Dear friends and family,
This year I was having a hard time coming up with any way to share some joy with all of you at this time of year . The weeks before Christmas (Advent) can be such a meaningful time. These short days and long nights should give us time for rest and quiet reflection but the way we live now, they seldom do. This morning I was looking at my little Zen page a day Calendar (I have had one every year since at least 1996 maybe longer). I was aware of all that I have received from my quiet moments enjoying the thoughts on the Zen calendar pages. Many days they help orient me in a confusing world. So I have decided to choose a few of my favorites to share them with you. In doing this I have also given myself license to spend delicious time sorting through the box (I have saved a whole 4"x6" card box full) of my favorites. So you might imagine me this morning,, dropping everything but my cup of tea and having a good wallow in a box full of my favorite bits of wisdom. Not to overdo it, I will limit myself to one for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas, though it will be difficult, because I really love so many of them. It's like trying to pick a best friend or a favorite flower or book. There is something special to love in each one. I guess that's how I feel about all of you, too. Even though we may not live close together or even keep in touch much, you have a special place in my heart. Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday, Debbie |
| Favorite thoughts for the Twelve Days of Christmas |
| Life moves on....
by Andy 2004 provided more changes for our family as it continued to grow and to move in different directions. Pete and Lara gave birth in May to a beautiful little red haired, peach skinned darling named Nora. She is totally absorbing in a very calm, happy way. Her big brother Phillip is 2 1/2 years old and is also totally engaging with his spritely, playful manner. We are happy for them that Peter found a great position in a group of 30 anesthesiologists as of next summer when he finished his residency....the only problem is that it is in Eugene, Oregon. We�ll have to plan on seeing the great Northwest. After seeing so many computer jobs heading to India and China, Joe decided to do something else with his life. He very nearly aced the LSAT test and started at the Univ. of Virginia Law School this fall. It has been fun for me to talk to Joe every week and compare his stories with my recollections of law school. Ceci was hired as a bank manger by the Bank of America. They now have her commuting an hour each way to work and that has somewhat diminished the experience for her. However, they have made some good friends there in Charlottesville and look forward to their time in law school. Henry graduated with his degree in Physics last December and this summer moved to Madison where he is sharing an apartment with some high school buddies from Beaver Dam. He is working as a closing agent for Internet lending companies while figuring out his next move. He has talked about an MBA, but current is plan is taking the 1st Actuarial Science test in the Spring and perhaps going that route. It has been nice having him a little closer to home after being in school for 4 years over in Minnesota. Debbie has really enjoyed her grandmothering opportunities...nothing makes her happier. She also went to China in the Spring with Joe and Ceci. What a great adventure! She is doing more of her art projects, continues with her weekly meditation and book group and is still serving as a hospice volunteer as well. She has visited at all of her sisters homes this year (and really enjoys her many nieces and nephews). She continues to be my best friend as well. Things have been fairly crazy at work this year. We have 3 judges in our county and really need 2 more. We keep looking for ways to manage the caseload, but it seems to come back to working very hard for very many hours and with very few breaks. On the other hand, grandfathering hasn�t been so bad. Like Debbie, I have really enjoyed the experience. I have been able to see my extended family a time or two this year, and will be in California the middle of this month for my dad�s 80th birthday celebration. We even enjoyed a recent visit from our AFS daughter Cari, pictured above. Debbie discovered a wonderful nature walk from our house where we walk a little over an hour in a big loop and almost every time see wild turkeys, egrets, great blue herons, geese, ducks, etc. Living so close to the Horicon Marsh has its benefits and we are taking full advantage of it. I hope that this letter finds each of you in good health and good spirit as well. |