Christmas 2001...
After cleaning up from last year’s New Year’s Eve party, we pretty much stayed in the house all year, anxiously waiting for the Lord of the Rings to be released. And then we saw it. That’s pretty much it.
Well, maybe there were a few other things that happened. Let’s think…..
Once again, we outdid ourselves in the travel department. Didn’t really set out to, but we had both amassed a good bit of vacation days so we figured with the job market they way it was we better use ‘em or possibly lose ‘em (good plan as you’ll see…). Of course there was the annual Western ski trip with Andy and Ted (Steamboat Spring this time around). Then in March, Michelle and Eric went to Hawaii for a five year anniversary trip. The romance started off in Oahu at a hotel that according to Fodor’s was “reasonably priced, a block from the beach, and convenient to the convention center and shopping.” Apparently in Hawaiian terms, that translates to “Hotel Where the Hookers Stay.” Eric went for a jog the next morning and was joined on the elevator by a “lady of the night” who was either getting off work or going to work. Eric didn’t ask. After that experience, the Millers decided to go upscale the rest of the trip and it was absolutely spectacular, spending time on both Maui and Kauai. We didn’t want to leave the Hyatt Resort on Kauai and both submitted job applications (something to do with wearing grass skirts and juggling fire).
No takers on the Charleston Bridge Run this year, but Eric decided to go down at the last minute to visit sister in law Suzanne and friend Peggy who was in town on business. It was a beautiful day, great race and Eric was sure he had finally beaten Erin Murphy’s dad. After crossing the finish line, who did Eric spot immediately but Erin Murphy’s dad stretching and eating a banana. “How’d ya do this year Eric?” he asked. To which Eric replied, “mumble mumble mumble cough 52 minutes cough cough.” “Good time! I ran a 51,” quipped Murphy. Note: April 8, 2002 is the 25th anniversary of the Charleston Bridge Run and Michelle has a block of rooms reserved for anyone interested in joining this year. And Eric has wagered he will beat Mr. Murphy or run next year’s race dressed as a leprechaun.
The Miller Travel group trip to Tuscany was a wonderful experience (yes, Kramer, you CAN get a villa in Tuscany). 18 of us stayed in a 9 bedroom Tuscan villa amidst a working vineyard 30 miles south of Florence. From the villa, we did day trips to nearby Tuscan towns such as Cortona or Sienna or simply lounged by the pool with a bottle… I mean glass… of Chianti (hey, it was cheap). The food, sights, and smells of Tuscany and the camaraderie of the group will long be remembered. As will the night several members of the group must have thought the villa had been mysteriously transported to Austria and were reenacting scenes from Sound of Music (incriminating pictures are available in 8x10 and wallet size).
Eric and Michelle burned off their remaining vacation days with a trip to Puerto Rico in August with a small group of friends and a trip to Key West over Thanksgiving with Michelle’s Mom, sister Suzanne, and our nieces Madison and Kelsie and nephew Greyson. There’s nothing like a good Thanksgiving Lobster!
The year also included a Guys Weekend – Eric, Rich, Ken, Andy, and Evan converged on Ocean City Maryland for a long weekend in July. In preparation, we had portions of our brains removed and our stomachs and livers enlarged. All in all it was a smashing success and we didn’t even have to pay for the TV remote control that somehow found its way into the pool. We also proved that it is possible to subsist on chili cheese dogs as they include all major food groups.
The Millers spent several weekends this year helping out Danielle, Michelle’s mother, who now lives on a four acre spread in Warrenton, about an hour away. Danielle added several dog pens, many yards of fencing, and over 100 hazelnut trees. Danielle also decided to purchase some friends for her brood of Great Pyrenees dogs- two sheep, three goats, and five chickens to be exact. Within days, the sheep and goats were getting along famously with the dogs. No so fortunate for the chickens, however. Apparently to a dog, a chicken looks just like a really fun squeaky toy. You get the picture… Dogs: 5, Chickens: 0.
Other free time was spent getting our own house in order. Having done a good bit of furnishing after we moved in last year, this year we concentrated on the outside of the house. This past fall, Michelle mentioned in passing that she had bought a few bulbs to plant. Michelle must have been Dutch in a former life because to her a FEW is 600! And yes, they all got planted one weekend. Michelle looked like a squirrel burying food for the next 20 winters. If no one sees us this spring, send help because we may be trapped in the house by mutant yard plants…..
We also attended a number of weddings in 2001 – friends Andy Becker, Linda Zoller, and Joe Mazza all tied the knot. The big family wedding of the year was Eric’s sister Susan’s, in which both Eric and Michelle had the honor of participating. It was a wonderful affair with the ceremony at an old church in Swedesboro, NJ where Eric’s parents were married and the reception at the Riverview Inn on the Delaware River. Susan and husband Chris honeymooned in St. Lucia.
The Pets are doing well and have adjusted to the new house. The fence around the backyard was finally completed last month so we no longer have to walk Shiko twice a day. Now we just let him out, he digs a hole under the fence, runs around the neighborhood for an hour and then barks at the front door to be let back inside. As you can see, the fence has been a tremendous time saver for both of us.
And last but not least, employment news….. Michelle continues her employment at MCI Worldcom. As for Eric, he is currently “employment challenged.” His company of the last 4 years, Teligent, started to wobble last spring like many of the telecoms, and it finally went into a death spiral last month. Eric is taking some time off while figuring out what he wants to do next and there are a number of prospects on the horizon (Michelle has already killed the learn how to play guitar and join a rock band idea, however). Stay tuned to find out what happens in next year’s letter.
In the meantime, Eric is using the time off to get caught up on the many household projects and proverbial “honey do” lists that had been put aside. For example, Anne-bee VanMeter left a watch at the house some months back. Two weeks ago, Eric finally packaged up the watch and sent it back to the VanMeter’s. Mission accomplished. Last week Michelle asked Eric why Anne-bee’s watch was still in her jewelry box and if he had seen her own watch recently. Oooooops! Gentlemen…. some words of wisdom…. NEVER mail your wife’s favorite watch to North Carolina. Suspiciously, we haven’t heard from the VanMeters, so we suspect they prefer Michelle’s watch as well. And to any future visitors… Do not try leaving your jewelry, watches, old clothes, etc hoping that we’ll send you something different in the mail... We are much wiser now.
Bad humor aside, looking back on 2001, we were fortunate to have spent a great amount of quality time with our family and friends, and for that we are truly thankful. Happy Holidays and we hope to see you in 2002!
With love,
Michelle, Eric, Shiko, Oliver, and Charlie.