Christmas
2016 and we’re still here
Waking up every day and
seeing I am still here is not yet a surprise…but …. You know. Peggy and I are well.. as can be
expected. We are working very hard. I
didn’t think we would be toting that barge and lifting that bale at this time
in our lives. But in the last year I
have conducted appraisals and valuations in Gainesville FL, Portland OR, Boise
ID, Near Lewiston ID, and Near Ashville NC.
Along the way I was instrumental in putting up for sale and selling a sizeable
nursery in Cobden IL (southern IL). All
in all a busy and profitable year; AND
I’m still working. I enjoy the expert
work and while I have no projects on the docket right now.. the phone still works.
The Nursery itself did
well. It helps to have some good people
in place. BUT I am still in search of a successor or
buyer. I know the day will come when it
will go from a blessing to a burden.
It’s a good little business and makes money.. but it needs to find
home.
Peggy and I got a chance to
freshen up our tans in Florida - bit at Ormand Beach and then later in the
summer at Mexico Beach which is Becoming one of my favorite places. Still primitive. Not overdeveloped.. yet. It’s pretty with it’s Dolphins in the morning
and the little sting rays in mating season.
On Ormand we saw a crab trying to eat a baby turtle. I rescued it. There is a very angry crab in Florida. Florida is a tradition now. On the
last trip we stopped at the Fountain of Youth in St Augustine. We both took a big drink from the
fountain. I’m pretty sure we are good
for another 50.
We were there this spring to
get some trucks loaded out of a growers operation in North Florida. Peggy played the role of counting plants as
they were loaded, but she insisted on getting up in the truck and helping to
load. I kept yelling .. GET OFF THAT
TRUCK! She’s something.
We celebrated our 50th
wedding anniversary this year. Tim,
Raquella and Kevin put together a wonderful celebration party in West
Fargo. We are more appreciative than
you can know. She is as beautiful as she
ever was and looking at the wonderful photo album Raquella put together Peggy
looking at it couldn’t figure out for a second who that pretty lady was. It was wonderful to see so many cousins.
I hadn’t seen some of them in
years. Jim, Elaine and Wally.
Of course we had to visit our
“Summer Home”
Asheville NC. The Biltmore.
They let us rent it (a tiny
piece) for 50 bucks a day.
Tim, Raquella and the Four Grands are doing
great in
West Fargo ND. Tim’s construction business is booming.
They makes us proud. Nearly all photos here
by Raquella.
Kevin is in Dallas and is
about to move to a new restaurant
location downtown. He does everything but wash the windows.
He owns one condo and is in
the process of buying another. Kevin also is my extant technical consultant on
EXCEL issues. Proud of his exceptional ability
Peggy’s Mom has moved to a
new place with more security. Living
alone without Ben had become difficult and she is over 9 decades of age. Peggy, to help make the move work, roared
back and forth to Oakes in the little Mercedes till the tires nearly wore
off. Then we went for Thanksgiving. We are going no where this winter. Did you know there can be snow on the
roads? Speaking of snow on the road, we
made a trip on the road to Oakes to celebrate Mom’s 100th Birthday
(Ruth Redlin) in February. That only
comes round once a century. She’s doing
well enough for a centenarian. Well
attended and well deserved.
In Church News… we have
joined ourselves to a small church in Oswego IL. Good preaching and it’s coming along. Great things are in store. I still, when I am
able, try to be part of Crusaders in the city. The drive is a bit difficult…
but worth it. The impact network is restarting next year. I’ll be part of it.
Peggy has
the house decorated inside and out full on old school
for Christmas. If there is a
flat surface it now jingles with bells.
It’s
cheerful and wonderful. I “supervised” a bit.
We bought our Christmas
present to each other. The Old Panasonic
Twin Power Microwave we have had since 1977 finally gave up after moving with
us to 5 different residences in which have lived the last 40 years. We now have a brand new Breville. I don’t know if we will see it last 40
years.
This last year has been one
of great change .. mostly for the
better. I think the changes we see in
our nation bode well.
Make Your Christmas GREAT AGAIN..
And the New Year GREATER
Gene and Peggy Redlin
Established July 16, 1966