Hello Friends and Family! This is my attempt at a Holiday Letter. I hope it is interesting to all.

Fred and I have had a busy year...it seemed to go quickly.

February was a beautiful weather month down here in Central Texas; I attended Kidney day at the Capitol along with my fellow members of the ESRD Network 14 Patient Advisory Board from across the state and over 200 kidney patients and professionals. I understand this made a big impression on the legislature!

March was busy for me with a reunion with some of my kidney and pancreas transplant friends in Fort Worth, followed by a trip to Corpus Christi for the Low Vision network of Texas conference and then back up to Dallas to speak at the National NKF clinicals. I felt needed and appreciated but I was sure tired out after those three events in the span of less than two weeks!

I was looking forward to a visit to Arkansas with my family on my birthday, May 24, when a very bad thing happened. On their way to come and get me to go back up to Arkansas, Mom, J and Kris were hit by a reckless driver in Temple, TX...only 60 miles from Austin. Thank goodness none of them was severely injured but the lasting effects of the trauma of going through such a terrible accident took most of the rest of the summer to get over. Insurance worries, Mom's injuries to her face and chest and all the anxiety of driving again for all of them will not be forgotten for a long while. I really think the guardian angels were working over time on this one!

Fred has been playing bass with a trio. They play mostly Mexican music but some contemporary country tunes as well; a guitar and saxophone round it out, sometimes bongos. It's a low stress gig for him.

I did little during the summer but attend my aquatics class twice a week and try to keep cool. I am still facilitating the Low Vision Group once a month which keeps me fairly busy with scheduling speakers, fielding phone calls and maintaining the data base.

Fred and his long time friend Kirby have been doing some recording of old tunes. They usually get together on Wednesday nights – boys night out. They sound great with Kirby's vocals and guitar, Fred's bass, piano and drums. They promise a CD.

I had not intended on going to the National aakp convention in September being held in New Orleans but my good friend of many years and a fellow kidney patient, aakp Board member, Robert T. Coleman was being honored this year with a prestigious award given once a year to an Outstanding volunteer of the National aakp. I couldn't miss that! So...off I went to New Orleans over the Labor Day weekend. Many pictures were taken and we all enjoyed ourselves and being with Bob.

Two weeks later the Annual ESRD conference for Texas was held in Dallas and I attended with other PAC members while enjoying the vendors and sessions.

A sad thing this year...Robert T. passed away only a few weeks after his big day in New Orleans. He had been fighting prostate cancer for over ten years and had been an excellent dialysis patient for 13 years. He was 72. He was a dear man to me and to many friends and all of his family. I will continue to miss him terribly although I know he is enjoying where he is...most definitely with God.

Another scary and heart breaking thing late in the fall: My nephew JMichael had a fall into a window glass that severely cut through his wrist requiring micro surgery to repair tendons, ligaments etc. Thank goodness his mama Kris was there to rush him to the hospital after wrapping him up and helping him to stay calm. He has been in therapy to regain the use of the hand and fingers and is doing well. The surgeon says he will get the full use of his hand back – very, very lucky and a blessing! The Arkansas trio of JM, Kris and Mom have had quite a year themselves! I am just so thankful to have all of them in one piece!

On October 12 I celebrated my 13th year with my kidney and pancreas transplants. No acknowledgement could do it justice so I just felt thankful. Marie tucker DID remember!

We had a brief but lovely fall...the usual way here in the Hill country. I didn't celebrate Halloween this year...just got away from me I guess.

Just before Thanksgiving, Fred and I did our normal Anniversary trip to Red Lobster. This year on the 13th of November we celebrated ten years. Amazing, we both agree!

Then, literally just 3 days before Turkey Day, we had to have the back shower re done. New tiles and shower pan...the whole thing. It was time and we had already been in touch with the insurance adjusters. We had the tile men replace the floor tiles in the hallway and kitchen as well. Much better. Fred had saved 23 of the Mexican tile from when he had the floor put in back in the 1980's.

Then, Christmas was upon us! While I did make a quick trip to Arkansas the day after Thanksgiving — Fred and I, along with his family, went to the Hyatt Downtown Austin for Thanksgiving Dinner so it was not much to get over!

I visited my family up in the Oachitas for a quick 8 days and then returned home to jump into putting up my tree, putting out my few Christmas decorations – I say few compared to Mom who disappeared in the tower of boxes of Christmas while I was up there! – And to worry about what to do about shopping. I conquered the Internet for some shopping and at this moment still have some local things to try and pick up.

Then, in a moment of weakness I suppose, we decided to get Bob Rose to come and fix the cracks in the walls and paint the bedroom before Christmas. He is here now finishing up and will come back after Christmas and New Year's to do the front bathroom and hallways. Yes, we always have something to do to this house! Lucky we can do it I say!

Fred has a gig with the trio this Saturday at one of the local nursing homes – it's a freebie for them.

So...as we wind down the year, I suppose we are hanging in with everyone else. With the war, the economy and the general anxiety of those around us, I believe we are ahead of most of the problems.

Love and happiness to all.

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