MERRY CHRISTMAS 2013 FROM THE BOWERS HOUSE

AT THIS GLORIOUS TIME, AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS, WE WISH YOU THE MERRIEST OF CHRISTMASES AND THE HAPPIEST YET OF NEW YEARS. WE HOPE YOUR YEAR WAS AMPLY BLESSED, AND THAT NEXT YEAR WILL BE EVEN BETTER FOR YOU. AS FOR US, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN MANY WAYS, THE MOST SPECTACULAR ONE BEING JOAN'S SURVIVAL DESPITE MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES. A CRUEL RESURGENCE OF THE INFERNAL SHINGLES, AND A STUBBORN URINARY TRACT INFECTION WHICH TURNED INTO SEPSIS! MADE FOR A ROC"Y TIME INDEED. HOWEVER, WITH SIX WEE"S OF HOSPITAL CONFINEMENT, SEVERAL MORE WEE"S OF THERAPY AND EXERCISE, AND WITH CONSTANT, LOVING #MOTHERING$ BY DAUGHTER MICHELE, JOAN IS RECOVERING. SO, WE HAD A THAN"FUL FOUR%GENERATION THAN"SGIVING, CAUSING US TO REFLECT ON OUR MANY WONDERFUL BLESSINGS. WE ALSO PAUSED TO REMEMBER OUR TWO SONS, MAR" AND RANDY, WHOM WE MISS SO VERY MUCH. ALSO MISSING& CHEF%EMERITUS SON CHARLIE, TIED TO HIS NEW YOR" RESTAURANT. WE GAINED ANOTHER GREAT%GRANDCHILD ALEX OF ALISON OF CHARLIE DEAN! AND SCHEDULED YET ANOTHER NEXT FEBRUARY SAWYER OF STEPHEN OF MICHELE!. #BU''$ WILL BRING THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAND"IDS TO TEN, WITH TWO WELL%ENSCONCED IN COLLEGE AND THE REST MOSTLY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AS FOR THEIR PARENTS, MOST MANAGED TO PASS THROUGH 2013 RELATIVELY UNSCATHED. OOOHH( ALMOST FORGOT& DAUGHTER ANDI HAS RETIRED AS A VETERINARIAN, AND IS NOW FULL%TIME%STUDENTING TOWARD A NURSING DEGREE( JUST THIN"( A COMBINATION DOGGIE DOC AND FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE(! OTHERWISE 2013 WAS RATHER UNEVENTFUL, EXCEPT THAT WE BOTH BECAME OCTOGENARIANS. OUR "IDS GAVE US A GREAT )0 *+ RECEPTION AT CHURCH, ATTENDED BY ALL AVAILABLE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. JOAN SE' #I CANT BELIEVE THAT WE MADE IT$. CHUC" GROUSES THAT #THE FIRST EIGHTY ARE THE HARDEST$. NATURALLY, OUR TRAVELS WERE SOMEWHAT LIMITED, CONFINED MOSTLY TO THE EXPLORATION OF DAR", MYSTERIOUS HOSPITAL CORRIDORS, AND THE OCCASIONAL IMPROMPTU ELECTRIC%CART RACES WITH FELLOW HANDICAPPEES THROUGH TREACHEROUS WALMART LANES. JOAN EVEN ,UALIFIED FOR NEXT YEAR'S WHEELCHAIR OLYMPICS( A SUGGESTION FOR YOU ALL& IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD YOUR SHINGLES SHOTS, GIVE THEM TO EACH OTHER AS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. BELIEVE US, SHINGLES ARE SO BAD THAT YOU SHOULD DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO AVOID THEM( HERE'S ANOTHER SUGGESTION FOR YOU& HAVE YOURSELF THE HAPPIEST CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ((( FONDLY

JOAN AND CHUC"

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