Hey Sis

September 25, 2003

Hi Sis,

Well, here is the journal.

Pouring back over the days in Italy made it alive to me again. What a wonderful time. Il Basso and the surrounding towns and countryside was unforgettable. Then, that time we were able to spend in Rome…who knew?  People ask me how my time in Italy was and as often as not I really can’t talk too much about it. Words are inadequate. I sort of wish I could be on vacation with love ones in beautiful places all the time, but of course that ain’t possible. I’m just grateful that we can do it some of the time. Thanks for all you did to make it possible. As in THANKS.

Little Cray has had a tough time recently. He’s had pneumonia for almost a month…in and out of the hospital. They are still trying to figure out why he gets pneumonia so much and feel now it has to do with the fact that he aspirates his food when he eats. He’s had some seizures lately too. Today up at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital he’s undergoing some tests in an attempt to figure it out. Suzy and Larry seem to be doing pretty good considering everything. I know they are very tired and I’m sure they are very discouraged. Little Cray’s development continues at a snail’s pace. Thankfully he’s very happy most of the time. I’m not sure what I think about angels…but I think he is one.

Concerning Thanksgiving and Christmas it’s looking like this…

At Thanksgiving Jeri has eight of her family coming…Carrie, Monica, Steve, Austin, Paige, Ernie, Lupe and little Ernie. Suzy was thinking about coming down for a couple of the days but because of space she has backed off on that idea.

At Christmas, Jeri and I are feeling that we need to keep that time as free as possible because of the Cray situation, maybe even going up there to relieve Suzy and Larry for a few days. We’re unsure but we want to keep our options open. Actually Mikey and Stacie just called and they are wanting to come up for two or three days…I put them on hold…sort of waiting til we can see how Cray does in the next few weeks. Also, Jeri’s brother, wife and little girl are wanting to come…they’re on hold too.

Concerning the possibility of you visiting…I hope you are OK with waiting til after the first of the year. We could select a time when things aren’t so busy and the Cray situation isn’t so unsettled. You need to know that I look at the times that we are together as times extremely important to me…and I think they are for you too. I would like for you to come at a time when things aren’t so jammed and/or up in the air.

Well, that’s it for now Sis. I love you and can’t stop thinking about the time we had together this summer.

By the way, for the last few Saturdays, Jeri and I have been going to the Union Square Market each Saturday morning…shades of you and Ruthie at Boggie Creek Farm.

Love you,