Dear Family & Friends,

My year has been extremely busy with lots of travel. In early February, my brother Jim and his wife Diane invited me to travel to south Texas with them for a week-long vacation. Then in mid-March, they asked me to drive them to the same area so they could purchase a winter home in a warmer climate. Finally, in early December, Jim and I flew to south Texas again to open their new home for the winter season. That’s where I wrote this letter.

In late March, I flew to Las Vegas to judge a barbershop singing contest and went on to California and stayed with my brother, Mike for over a week. Mike and his wife Mary have a resort home at Lake Tahoe and took me skiing for the first time in a several decades. Had a great time!

In late May, I spent a week with my brother Jim in Blue Earth helping him farm. Early July, I flew to Anaheim, California, where the chorus sang in the International Chorus Contest placing 3^rd in the world. Again, I went on to my brother’s in northern California and stayed with his family for another week.

Mid-August found me in Duluth for a week as Dan and Dawn invited me to attend the National Railroad Historical Society national convention. We had several great train rides.

Early October, I judged a contest in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in late October the chorus sang in Rochester at the Land O’ Lakes District chorus contest where we placed first!

On several summer weekends, Dave invited me along to his cabin in northern Minnesota and throughout the year, I attended a number of Bleess events in the Long Prairie area.

My barbershop singing hobby also keeps me busy. In addition to the travels mentioned above, our chorus went on a 3-day tour around Minnesota in late April singing 5 concerts in 3 days… it was a great weekend! Throughout the year, I traveled to numerous cities across the country to judge local barbershop contests and to oversee the computer programs that they use for judging.

As I may have mentioned in last year’s Christmas letter, I’ve joined several senior citizen clubs in Plymouth including a monthly luncheon group, a computer club, and a men’s club. This year they asked me to teach a class on computer fundamentals for seniors. It was so successful that I’ll be teaching it once again next March.

Computing continues to be a fun part of my life. The family web site (http://roger-theresa.n0kfb.org) contains photos of my family’s lives. I’ve mentioned my work with the seniors and the barbershop singing contests program. Another computing project I’m working on is documenting my ancestors and descendants using a computerized system at Ancestry.com. If you want to contribute, please drop me a note.

On a sad note, I must report the passing of my 93 year old father in his sleep in August. He led a full life following my mother’s death 39 years ago. He was up and about in his own home with my stepmother, Marlys, until he went to sleep that last night. May he rest in peace.

And my life without Theresa continues to be lonely. I’ve been advised that it takes a long time to get over 46+ years of marriage. But my family & siblings help with that. My kids and grandkids do a fine job of taking care of me, including weekly visits and dinner outings. Dave’s son, Garth, is a high school senior with his sister, Hannah, right behind him as a junior. They still live in Eden Prairie. Kathy and Cam’s family is also maturing. Connor is a sophomore at Wayzata high school and Kyla is in 7th grade. Dan and Dawn keep busy with railroad and ham radio clubs as well as looking for new jobs.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your families!
Roger