Home > Christmas News letters > Alert Readers > 2008 Collection > Retirement Living

Border of holly leaves

Retirement Living


Christmas News Navigation:

General Suggestions

Best brag

Three short examples

Full-length examples

From me:

01 A practical joke
02 My grandparents die
03 English Tour
04 Barn swallows
05 Buying hubcaps
06 Group photos
07 Mr. Science
08 Backpacking, Middle English
09 Leukemia
10 Comfort Clothes
11 Marmots and Texas
12 Eagle, Turkey and Emu
12 Accident and Hike

From Alert Readers:
01 In the Foothills
02 Excess
03 Things unsaid
04 11 Kids
05 Multiple Choice
06 . . . bit my ear
07 Facts and Stats
08 Neiheisel Review
09 Family and Horses
10 Sing a Song
11 The Professional
2007 Collection
2008 Collection
2009 Collection
2010 Collection
2011 Collection

Parodies:
Erma Bombeck & Martha Stewart
Around the World
Coping with DUI
Defining Pretentious
The 12 McQ's

Other sections on my web site:
Home
Genealogy
Peace Corps
Web Design
Misc. Essays
Homilies
   

Dear Loved Ones,

Christmas seems to be saying, "Here I come, ready or not!" Creekside Terrace is resplendent with wreaths, garlands, lights, and a tall tree in the atrium. A Nativity scene, made by a resident, rests on a table in the dining room. Christmas music plays in the halls .

I pause to reflect on all the joy the past year has given me. Many new friends, new experiences, a new way of life. Losses, too - my brother M---- last January, the first of the children of my parents to go. But the good memories come, eventually, to replace the sad ones. I have made so many new friends. Dear old friends have kept in touch, by phone, letters, and visits. Friends and relatives have come to eat meals with me. I enjoy sharing my home, and all of you are invited to come.

I have learned so much. I have learned to play new versions of Dominoes and Scrabble. I have learned about the Moravians, the founders, over 200 years ago, of Salem, which became Winston-Salem. They gave us Moravian cookies, Moravian stars, Moravian pottery and woodcrafts. The Creekside bus took us on a tour of Old Bethabara, the first Moravian settlement in the area.

We celebrated the Beijing Olympic Games by holding our own little Olympics, in competition with another "facility", Cedar Ridge near Burlington, NC. Events included watermelon eating, seed spitting, cow chip throwing, ring toss, sack, three-legged, and wheelchair racing, and a cooking contest between our chef and theirs. Then our bus took us to Cedar Ridge to compete with them. Our wonderful activities director, a physical education teacher, holds daily exercise classes, and I rarely miss that opportunity. Once a month, a group goes on the bus to deliver "Meals on Wheels" to shut-ins. We have fun on the bus and enjoy the morning.

I have read many good books. Two of them are historical novels written by the daughter of a resident here. They are William Henry Is a Fine Name and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires, by Cathy Gohlke, an award-winning writer. She will be here next Saturday to autograph books and speak to us. We have had many good speakers on topics of interest to seniors, such as elder law, senior services, and health topics. I see so many incidents of kindness, caring, and love between residents and on the part of staff members here.

My greatest joy is sharing in the lives of [my son] T---- and D---- and my little granddaughter, S----. She is in preschool now, and I am able to relive part of my life by sharing in her activities. I attended the Thanksgiving "feast" at her school, with all the little Pilgrims and Indians. Thanksgiving dinner at T---- and D----'s was a joy, also.

I have learned to "live, love, laugh, and be happy" again. I heartily wish the same for all of you!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[Written and contributed by Leona Brown of North Carolina.]

This is one page of over four dozen devoted to Christmas news letters. The main Christmas News Letters page has links to more examples, plus some general guidelines and specific suggestions for writing Christmas news letters. If you have an example, either good or bad, that you'd like to share with the rest of the world, send it to me and I'll add it to these pages.



Problems, comments or complaints? Need an opinion? Send E-mail to:
This page updated: June 21, 2014