Merry Christmas from John & Linda Morgan,

December 2013, Piedmont, South Dakota

2013 was a nice year for us. We put the house up for sale in May with plans to move south, but
that turned out to not be in the cards. Instead, we purchased a new truck and 5th wheel travel
trailer. This is so we can "escape" the winters and go to places south whenever we desire.
Also, just to be able to travel any time of the year and have our own place to stay when we get
there appeals to us (no hotel bedbugs). We got our truck in Rapid City and traded in Linda's
faithful Subaru Outback which had served us well. We found the best deal on the trailer in
Indiana, so our first trip with the trailer was from Indiana back to South Dakota, with a few
stops along the way. This picture is at an RV park in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Our daughter, Katie,
lives just 40 miles from where we bought the 5th wheel trailer, so we naturally made our first
stop to visit with her and boyfriend Brent.
 On our way back
from Indiana, we
stopped at the
Amana Colonies in Iowa. This is a really special place.
We looked all around the place, and if we hadn't just
bought a truck and trailer, we could have brought a lot
of things home with us. They make really nice
furniture and all sorts of other things. Had never been
to this place before or knew much about it, but it is
worth a visit. The picture is of us in a lovely restaurant
within the Colonies. The more we travel through Iowa, the more we realize what a neat state it
is. The landscape is almost exactly what you would see on quaint, farm-style picture postcards.
The rolling hills, the crops and the colors are really special.

Another highlight of the year was a mini-family reunion in Utah. I have two brothers remaining
in my immediate family, and both of them and their wives, and Linda and I, spent a few days in
southern Utah in October. We had reservations for several months and planned to visit Zion

From left to right: Linda, John, Jack, Teresa, Will, and Carole

and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Needless to say, we were a little worried about the likelihood
of that happening in lieu of the government shutdown. But, as luck would have it, we arrived in
Utah about 2 days after the government reopened! So, we were able to visit the National
Parks. If you have never had a chance to see Bryce Canyon or Zion National Parks, make the
time to do it. They are absolutely awesome. In fact, the whole state of Utah is pretty special to
visit with the abundance of scenic landscapes and mountains. You may think from the picture
of the brothers and wives, that we have all been married "forever". Oh contraire, my older
brother Will (in the somewhat, but less goofy hat) just married his bride this year at the tender
age of 67 (she is 62). First marriage for both of them. I wonder how sharing the bathroom and
other things is going to work for a
confirmed bachelor and bachelorette!!
I suspect just fine.

A weather "highlight" would have to be

"The Blizzard" that happened in early
October. Was really devastating to the
area with thousands of cattle killed,
thousands of telephone poles down,
trees and branches all over the place.
The cleanup is still on going to this day. It was strange in that where we live, there were places
on our property where the snow was barely an inch on the ground, then other places where
there were drifts over 5 feet high (like on our front porch and across our driveway). This picture
was taken from inside our garage looking out at the driveway where our 5th wheel trailer is
parked. We lost power for a day and a half, but some in the area lost power for a week or
more. We were NOT prepared for this storm at all. Did not have a good supply of groceries
when this happened, but you just hardly expect this kind of storm the first part of October. We
have since stocked up on essentials for "survival" so we will be ready for the next storm of this
caliber. There was a man in our neighborhood who was trying to get, by foot, from his house to
his wife (she was stuck in her car) about a half mile away. He got disoriented in the blizzard
(could not see 6 inches in front of your face) and ended up standing outside all night long until
daylight. Survived okay, but was real fortunate.

Linda and I continue to be involved in music

all year long. We both play in the Rapid City
New Horizons Band and really enjoy that.
Linda switched to percussion a year or so
ago. I do the web site for the band
(www.rcnhb.org) and also for the parent
site, New Horizons International Music
Association. I also play in the Northern Hills
Community Band (John second from right in
picture), Black Hills Symphony Orchestra,
the Rapid City Municipal Band, the Black Hills Brass (www.blackhillsbrass.com) and a host of
other assorted musical activities.

Guess that is most of the news from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Linda and I wish you and
yours a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
John and Linda Morgan
21619 Timbercreek Drive
Piedmont, South Dakota 57769
605-877-4587 (John) johnmorgan@rushmore.com
605-877-4586 (Linda) lindamorgan@rushmore.com