Re: Happy 2009 Winter Solstice!

[Jonathan <http://www.jcm.com/~jb>]

Hi Robert,
Belatedly, Happy Winter Solstice to you too :-)
Here are my news is brief, with our story thus far covering my doings and 
those of my dearest:
I continue to work at Ab Initio Software, of Lexington, MA, but spend more 
time working at home (6 months) or at customer sites (4 months) than at the 
office (where I sometimes ride my bicycle).  At our congregation I continue to 
spend more time playing with the little kids than at prayers.  I expect you 
disapprove, but what can I do, I'm addicted to their laughter.
Claudette is teaching English as a Second Language to low-income workers (
Certified Nursing Assistants, kitchen staff, etc.) at a nearby Rehabilitation 
facility.  She finds it very rewarding, or as she says it: "these women have 
such hard lives, and they have never had anything first rate, and here - I can 
give it to them".  She is also editing a book of and by women with Turners 
Syndrome, seeking a few more articles (she doesn't have anyone over 55 yet, 
but I don't really know more details).  She campaigned for a friend who wanted 
to become mayor of our town, but only got 49% of the vote (I helped a bit too)
.
Our son Nathan is spreading himself (too) thin working three part time jobs to 
support himself. He is teaching math, geography, and science to grades 1-6; 
teaching Algebra 3 and Business Calculus as an adjunct professor at Newbury 
College in Brookline; and teaching Israeli Folk Dancing on Sunday mornings and 
Monday nights. I'm concerned about his health -- kids being such hotbeds of 
disease... and it doesn't leave him much time to pursue the relationship with 
his lovely girlfriend.
On the Summer Solstice, our son Noah was married to his college sweetheart (
and she is a sweet heart) Becky. They delayed the event a month to allow for a 
full year to have concluded from my father's death. It was a very happy event. 
 The young couple are employed as "Activities" people in Assisted Living 
facilities in our area.  Noah even gets to drop in on us occasionally for 
lunch :-)  In his spare time Noah is writing a fantasy novel for "young adults"
, which I think means the 13-17 age group.  In her spare time, Becky is 
studying something called Art Therapy at Leslie University.
Our daughter, Miriam, is off to college, leaving us home alone.  We like each 
other's company, but still, it is good to have her home for the semester break!
  She studies Marine Biology at SUNY Stony Brook.
Wishing you a great new year!
Jonathan