That was the year that was

 January 6 was my last brother Jim's funeral at St Judes in Dewitt. On the 25 the furnace went out and we used electric heaters until 12:45 on the 29th as Vredevoogd had to order the motor but that still was a day sooner than Hager Fox could come to look at it. February 2 I slid into a car at the fork of T L Parkway and damaged the front bumper due to fresh snow. Ken Morrison finally came to fix the floors and put in the room dividers that they did not do when installed. On the 12th we attended the Anniversary dinner at St. Gerards's as it snowed 6" that day. We sat with John and Karen Philipich who also were having their 50th. On Valentines Day I had carpel tunnel surgery on my left wrist at the MSU Clinic by Dr. Clarkson. They began cutting down the trees on Dottie's property the middle of February and finished the beginning of March. On March 26 I had the right wrist surgery done at the Clinic office and again it took about a half hour. Jon and family arrived the 28th to celebrate our birthdays but his car broke down and had to be towed to Feldman's. He had to take our car to get home and rented us a car at the airport to use until his got fixed. April 1 we got his car back and visited Marilyn at Stoneleigh Hospice before returning the rental car. My sister-in-law Marilyn died the 8th so I was glad we could visit with Pat and Cheri when we saw her in Hospice. We had his car until we went to Kouts on the 18th to watch the boys Easter program. On the 13th we saw Chicago at the Wharton Center with tickets John got us for our birthdays. May 2 we went to Andersen's graduation at the Breslin Center. On the 10th we went to Jim Hauser's funeral at St Mary's and talked to Richard and Pat Garlitz. On the 17th we bought Jane's planter at TSC and got her flowers planted the19th by the garage. On the 26th we took down the front fences and planted flowers by the driveway space. The 30th and 31st all the family was in town for Jane's birthday. June 14 we celebrated Peg's 88th birthday at Lori's. Jane began getting x-rays and had her mammogram to find the cause of her persistent cough and I began my Teledoc appointments which ended in October. Eli Christian was born the 28th. We did not get down to see him until the first of August to give them time to get used to him as he was only 6 pounds. July 12 was the Alvarado Reunion and on the 24th and 25th they tore down Dottie's house. Jane had her follow-up ultrasound to look at her kidney this time. August 9-15 we had our vacation in Grand Haven at the Blue Yonder. Jimmerson's did the porch roof the 25th and after 3 attempts to file a civil suit against Tom Mullins I decided to blame myself for not checking him out first as he told my son Phil he wasn't even a licensed builder and was bankrupt. September 4 we had a 50th anniversary mass at St. Gerard's and had Father Jon B. give us and the Philipich's a blessing after mass. The 6th our anniversary party was held at Cadgewith Farms Clubhouse from 1-4 with 60 guests invited. We had a taco bar catered by Alicia's and a 2 layer cake made by Ann Marie from St Johns with marble and carrot cake. On the 19th-21st we were in Newark for Eli's baptism. Jane had a c-scan the 17th which confirmed she had kidney stones that would be surgically removed October30th. But would have to go back November 14th to remove the stent and any remaining stones. Willow was closed October 6-30th for the drain removal and new drain put in, meaning we could only go east on Willow to get anywhere. This work would continue through our backyard for weeks. We had Thanksgiving at Phil's and were there the 26-29th and Eli is now 20 pounds at 5 months. I put new tires on the Equinox before we left for Newark as I wanted better traction than I had last winter. December 3-7th we were in Kouts to help with the boys as Sharon went to a conference in Las Vegas and we could be at their church's Christmas program. We went to Eric Pederson's funeral the 11th at St. Gerards. On the 16th we went to the Mannheim Steamroller concert at the Wharton Center thanks to John. We had Christmas on the 26th at our house but Phil and Stef couldn't come. Jon got me a new computer making it possible for this post as my old one quit 4 weeks ago. A busy year with doctors and TDS mostly of his own making. I hope I continue on my road to becoming a more thoughtful, considerate and caring Christian and human being.