I had pondered the idea of writing a Christmas letter this year and never did sell myself on it, but at the last minute decided to write one anyway. I guess that ultimately I just felt like writing and this does make a nice addition to the Christmas cards that I am trying to get into the habit of sending out each year. So for my family and friends who all mean so much to me, here is my letter:
I'm still living in Birmingham with my roommate Keith and my two cats Coal & Smokey. Keith and I get along well and this has been an equitable arrangement for both of us. He also likes the cats and gives them some extra attention that I am grateful for. This area is growing rapidly with great increases of business and population. Although many people enjoy downtown Birmingham, Summerset Mall and all the other shops and restaurants, I am ready to move on to a less crowded location somewhere to the North.
I still work for Kroger and will have my ten-year anniversary next May. I also started a small Internet business with my friend Brian early this year. We build web sites for small business owners and promote them. It's been a fun hobby and good learning experience that is not paying us much yet but hopefully the coming year will bring new clients, opportunities and significant income.
My parents are doing well and very much enjoy their fabulous home in Clarkston where they live with three dogs and three cats! Two of the dogs are rescued Greyhounds and one of the cats is a very fortunate stray. This summer they were able to add landscaping and a lawn that I'm sure many were glad to see. December brings my mom's 60'Th birthday. My dad threw a party for her at the impressive Castello Di Bologna banquet hall in Canterbury Village earlier this month. My sister Renee was married in November and once again has a family of four. She is doing well with her husband Al and children Zak & Ashley. She still resides in Valparaiso, Indiana.
This summer marked the beginning of an unfortunate struggle that Smokey and I face as blood tests revealed that she has diabetes. With perseverance, faith and a couple months of tests and adjustments, treatment for her was finally established. She is a happy and contented cat despite having to endure twice-daily injections of insulin. I've had Smokey and Coal since they were born nearly 12 years ago! Coal has no health problems and does not seem as old as she is. I know that Smokey may not be with us much longer, but I don't feel that it's her time yet. Despite the inconvenience of her treatment I hope that she has many more years…
Finally, as this year comes to a close I am able to leave an era of financial stagnancy behind. January will mark the beginning of my goal to buy a home by the time I'm 34. (One year from next March) By the end of next month I will have brought myself from having five credit cards to only two and from a nearly unmanageable debt situation to saving for a down payment. It's been a long road traveled as I have paid for past mistakes…I can't change the past so I will just look, always, to a brighter future.