December 31st, 2013
Greetings all,
I had every intention of making a Christmas/New Years card this year and mailing it out to everyone, and I've come to realize it is just not going to happen, and one thing I've learned this year is that sometimes I just have to let some things go. So, please imagine that this email was cleverly decorated in seasonal colors and designs and probably some sparkles, and we can pretend that you never noticed it didn't come in an envelope with a poinsettia stamp.
I truly cannot believe where we've been in just a year. How to begin to reflect on tumultuous 2013? Might as well start with the doctor...
Dr. Tom has proven himself indispensable as senior research chemist at NanoLab in Waltham, and, in addition to thoroughly enjoying his job, is looking forward to helping the company (hopefully) expand in the future. This past semester, he also taught a General Chemistry lab course at our Alma mater Wheaton College. While he enjoyed doing that as well, he's decided to take the spring semester off.
Tom has been spending most of his free time making small improvements to our house, which he also seems to enjoy. While we were fortunate and didn't really need to do anything to move in, we are learning quite quickly that there are always little projects that can be done. Most of these projects have been in the interest of making our house more winter-friendly, the most exciting of which has been the installation of our wood burning stove. After hearing that the previous owners of the house filled the oil tank twice in one New England winter, we have been determined not to follow in their footsteps.
I haven't been doing as many projects, but I've spent many hours enjoying the new house, as I've been on sick leave from my job teaching art at Brophy Elementary school in Framingham since September. Between treatments, appointments, and time for healing, I am always determined to keep my life as busy and full as possible. We co-hosted a very successful Halloween party with a couple of our friends, with all homemade costumes, decorations, food and drink. We also hosted Thanksgiving for a lovely combination of family from all sides, though we did get quite a bit of help with the cooking. And while we didn't host anything in particular for the winter holidays, I managed to give myself quite a few Christmas related projects to accomplish.
As for our furry companions, Athena the giant dog has been an excellent addition to our house, and has settled in quite well. While still being very calm and well behaved, she's proving to still be a true dog and gets into trouble every once in awhile. And while the cats Echo and Narcissus are still getting used to having to share us with such a large animal, they have seemed to developed a truce recently, particularly when it comes to hanging around the wood stove during a cold day. There is still some bullying happening between Echo and Athena... Athena being the one who leaves the room scared. Maybe I need to organize an intervention...
Finally, I must take the time to acknowledge the love and support we've received this year. The folks at my school are some of the kindest people I have ever met; since my diagnosis in the summer, they have been regularly providing Tom and me with healthy, delicious and often homemade meals. And they are far from being the only ones; friends, family and even our neighbors - whom we've only known for a few months - have gone above and beyond to make sure we are always well fed and taken care of. And I can't even begin to account for all that our parents have done for us; their love and generosity cannot be expressed in words. We have been humbled by the kindness and caring we've experienced; even small messages of support have touched us greatly. This time of year, we are encouraged to reflect upon and be grateful for all that we have, and this year I find I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy in having so many wonderful, caring, kind and generous people in my life. It reminds me why we are here, and why we fight to keep going.
So with our hearts full of cheesy, sappy, sparkly love, we wish all of you a joyously happy holiday season and a peaceful New Year.
Greetings all,
I had every intention of making a Christmas/New Years card this year and mailing it out to everyone, and I've come to realize it is just not going to happen, and one thing I've learned this year is that sometimes I just have to let some things go. So, please imagine that this email was cleverly decorated in seasonal colors and designs and probably some sparkles, and we can pretend that you never noticed it didn't come in an envelope with a poinsettia stamp.
I truly cannot believe where we've been in just a year. How to begin to reflect on tumultuous 2013? Might as well start with the doctor...
Dr. Tom has proven himself indispensable as senior research chemist at NanoLab in Waltham, and, in addition to thoroughly enjoying his job, is looking forward to helping the company (hopefully) expand in the future. This past semester, he also taught a General Chemistry lab course at our Alma mater Wheaton College. While he enjoyed doing that as well, he's decided to take the spring semester off.
Tom has been spending most of his free time making small improvements to our house, which he also seems to enjoy. While we were fortunate and didn't really need to do anything to move in, we are learning quite quickly that there are always little projects that can be done. Most of these projects have been in the interest of making our house more winter-friendly, the most exciting of which has been the installation of our wood burning stove. After hearing that the previous owners of the house filled the oil tank twice in one New England winter, we have been determined not to follow in their footsteps.
I haven't been doing as many projects, but I've spent many hours enjoying the new house, as I've been on sick leave from my job teaching art at Brophy Elementary school in Framingham since September. Between treatments, appointments, and time for healing, I am always determined to keep my life as busy and full as possible. We co-hosted a very successful Halloween party with a couple of our friends, with all homemade costumes, decorations, food and drink. We also hosted Thanksgiving for a lovely combination of family from all sides, though we did get quite a bit of help with the cooking. And while we didn't host anything in particular for the winter holidays, I managed to give myself quite a few Christmas related projects to accomplish.
As for our furry companions, Athena the giant dog has been an excellent addition to our house, and has settled in quite well. While still being very calm and well behaved, she's proving to still be a true dog and gets into trouble every once in awhile. And while the cats Echo and Narcissus are still getting used to having to share us with such a large animal, they have seemed to developed a truce recently, particularly when it comes to hanging around the wood stove during a cold day. There is still some bullying happening between Echo and Athena... Athena being the one who leaves the room scared. Maybe I need to organize an intervention...
Finally, I must take the time to acknowledge the love and support we've received this year. The folks at my school are some of the kindest people I have ever met; since my diagnosis in the summer, they have been regularly providing Tom and me with healthy, delicious and often homemade meals. And they are far from being the only ones; friends, family and even our neighbors - whom we've only known for a few months - have gone above and beyond to make sure we are always well fed and taken care of. And I can't even begin to account for all that our parents have done for us; their love and generosity cannot be expressed in words. We have been humbled by the kindness and caring we've experienced; even small messages of support have touched us greatly. This time of year, we are encouraged to reflect upon and be grateful for all that we have, and this year I find I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy in having so many wonderful, caring, kind and generous people in my life. It reminds me why we are here, and why we fight to keep going.
So with our hearts full of cheesy, sappy, sparkly love, we wish all of you a joyously happy holiday season and a peaceful New Year.
- T&A
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