Christmas 2012

May the joy and peace of the season remain throughout the coming year!

Dear friends and family,

This has been another year for RV travel. Our favorite place was North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway. Bud, Dixie (our golden retriever) and I went in early spring to see the wondrous profusion of mountain flowers. We loved the high altitude coolness of the forest-clad mountains and the awesome vistas. The camping and hiking was so much fun we returned to the mountains and surrounding areas in late summer. We spent a few days at Georgia's spectacular Tallulah Falls and North Carolina's beautiful Davidson River Campground. Friends we've known for years just happened to be at the Davidson River. It was great to visit with them.

Other trips included camping with friends at Sapelo (GA) Hunting Island (SC) Goose Pasture (FL) the Florida Caverns State Park and many one day canoe trips on local rivers.

Since I hadn't formally meditated in 20 years I wondered if I was crazy to sign up for a three-day silent meditation workshop at North Carolina's Southern Dharma Retreat this summer. It was both challenging and rewarding. To my surprise I loved the silence. I felt a deep contentment and peace on the third day. My heart was so open and joyful tears dotted my cheeks when I saw Bud and Dixie. He said I looked radiant.

Bud's civic, hunting and conservation activities have continued to keep him busy. Although he served as a director on the High Falls Towaliga Watershed Alliance Board and water testing committee and on the Environmental Protection Division's Rivers-Alive-Program Advisory Board he's going to discontinue doing them next year. He's also going to cut back on leading cleanups on local rivers for the Georgia Wilderness Society and the Rivers-Alive-Program. He turns 70 next year. He says it's time to relax. He'll continue to serve as president for the new “Friends of High Falls State Park” (GA) organization.

Wishing you all the joys of Christmas and many blessings in the New Year!

Much love and warmest wishes,

Bud and Niki