Dear Dewayne

January 6, 2005

Dear Dewayne,

It was great to see you and Virginia at the Reunion in October. Even though we got to chat a little, it wasn’t enough for me. And then at the end of the evening I lost track of you.

It’s sort of fascinating how it worked for you after your planned retirement. Sounds like you really enjoy what you are doing. The important thing of course is that your new position affords you enough time to get out to the links regularly.

Maybe I told you that I’m thinking of retirement myself. But the more I think about it, the more I think I will have to find a new thing as you did. With the exception of a few years in the 80’s, I’ve been a Pastor or a Chaplain now for close to 40 years. It’s been quite an adventure, especially my last 20 years here in NY. I’m giving myself two to three more years and then I’m thinking of turning things over to my Associate Pastor, the Lord willin and the creek don’t rise.

Jeri and I have been spending this week out here in the Pennsylvania mountains. We have been here many times before to hide out for a while. We stay in a little stone college in the woods, right by the Appalachian Trail. Yesterday it snowed and today we’ve had a pretty serious ice storm with the power out on the mountain and tree limbs dropping all over the place.

I hope that both you and Virginia and family are enjoying good health. So far, Jeri and I have been fortunate health-wise. Just like you play golf, I go to the gym regularly. I still love the smell of a sweaty old gym. I can just barely touch the net now, but it’s still just as much fun except for the soreness afterward. Jeri constantly tells me that I overdo it, but there’s not changing me at this point.

Great to see you Chitwood. Jeri and I send our love and best wishes to you and Virginia in the new year.

Love and Prayers,