Suzie's Christmas letter — December 2004
Dear Family and Friends,
It's December 11th; the cards are addressed and stamped;
all that is left is our annual letter to bring you up-to-date with
the Scotts, so here goes...
2004 was our year for real estate! We closed on the
sale of our 8th Street house in Manhattan Beach. That has now been
torn down and construction has started on something new and VERY BIG.
We also sold some commercial property in Manhattan Beach. Then we purchased
a house in Hermosa Beach that abuts for about 3 feet at one corner
with the Baxter house. And as that was not enough we were able to help
Chris and Tracey with the purchase of a brownstone (actually I think
it is a limestone) in Brooklyn just one block from where they had been
renting. I have never signed my name so many times in a year as I did
in one 3-month period.
Our new house will be a good retirement home and currently serves
as a guesthouse for those who are willing to rough it a bit. We have
been tackling jobs such as fireplace repair, exterior paint, yard clean-up,
mold removal and the like. The only major work other than interior
paint and carpets will be a re-do of the kitchen. It is nice to know
we have plenty of time to really think out what will work best for
us. In addition to four bedrooms, family room, and living room there
is a garage large enough for six cars as well as plenty of storage
space and best of all a room that will become a wine cellar (this is
already filling). While most of the furniture will come from our condo
in Pittsburgh it currently has beds in all the bedrooms so do know
you are always most welcome. There is a large back yard and a koi pond
that has been under siege by the local raccoons.
This year Michael and I did more wine exploration with a trip to San
Francisco for the ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) Festival.
This was four terrific days of learning more about zinfandel, tasting
a lot of zinfandel and socializing with hundreds of other zinfandel
lovers. In September we made our annual trek to Napa with the Millers,
the Steitzes, and Chris and Tracey. We rented a beautiful house on
the hill above the Silverado Trail which had a wonderful view of Napa
Valley. We tasted wine, had many terrific meals, visited new-to-us
wineries, hottubbed and rested. What could be better?
Suzie & Michael in Botswana |
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In
June/July we were in Botswana and South Africa where we had a
marvelous time! Our guides were terrific, the wildlife plentiful,
the scenery and sunsets spectacular, the food outstanding and
our companions delightful to travel with. We followed the safari
with a few days in Cape Town. This is a beautiful and vibrant
city and we must return. In the small world category we ran into
our friends the Schnaids from Los Angeles on top of Table Mountain.
We drove along the coast and into the spectacular wine country
(more tasting). A perfect trip as it made us want to go back
for more!
We had planned this trip to include my sister Wendy on a short
break from her Peace Corps duties in South Africa. She was
not able to join us when the PC doctors deemed rotator cuff
surgery to be of immediate importance. She arrived at our new
Hermosa house in May and was finally able to return to her
post in early October. The surgery went well and she feels
great. She was dutiful about her recovery and is the doctor's
star patient. While in Hermosa she tended to our new house
changing locks, weeding and cleaning the garden, clearing the
garage, playing with and babysitting for the Baxter kids. A
perfect tenant! |
She is currently working on a project called Camp GLOW which she describes
here: Camp GLOW counselors from the rural communities will focus on
activities that nurture an increased sense of self-esteem and that
augment the GLOW campers' ability to act outside the constraints of
gender expectations, a factor known to enhance the prevention of the
HIV spread. GLOW will assist young women in developing life skills,
such as the capacity to make responsible decisions about their sexuality,
as well as the abilities to protect themselves from HIV and to share
their knowledge about HIV with others. If you want to learn more go
to here web site at www.scottsonline.org/wendy or the Peace Corps site
at www.peacecorps.gov.
We also had several brief trips to New York and have even slept in
the new house. We also visited former Gerber (our condo) residents
Susan and Steve in their Philadelphia townhouse in the fall for a couple
of days with the Millers. We miss Susan and Steve but discovered just
how quickly we can get to Philly for periodic visits and that is certainly
a fun city to explore. Just before the Botswana trip my car was stolen
and I am now on the waiting list for a Prius so that I can be a better
participant in the ecological movement. This year we lost our dear
cat friend Max who succumbed to the complications of old age. We miss
him but white deaf cat Sordito continues to keep things lively.
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This year Ella turned 5 (had a wonderful
cardboard box fort party and in September started kindergarten
at American Martyrs School in Manhattan Beach. Scott turned 3
and in September he began at the preschool at American Martyrs.
Not to be left behind, Kevin became the new AM principal after
several rewarding years at St. Columbkille School in Los Angeles.
On March 31 st Sean Theodore Baxter was born in the morning at
the UCLA Hospital and in the afternoon Kevin successfully defended
his thesis for his Doctor of Education degree at USC. In May
we all celebrated his graduation. What a spring!! Kim is a busy,
nurturing mom, wife, daughter and friend to all. |
Chris and Tracey continue to enjoy New York and are
working hard. They are now becoming home renovators and seem to be
having fun with all that must be done. The house is early 1900's and
full of charm but has undergone several transitions as well as the
effects of time that have brought them many challenges. They do have
a guest room and we now have a key so New York seems a bit closer.
Michael
and I continue to do well. He works long hours but is still enjoying
it. Wine, TIVO, his GPS and computer continue to keep in busy when
not at work. I am still doing yoga and volunteering for the Sierra
Club. I get to Hermosa Beach as often as possible to be with the Baxters
and see family and friends. We are blessed by our friends and family
and thank you all for being part of our lives. Keep in touch!
Michael and I hope this finds all of
you well and that you will
join us in our wish for peace in the New
Year!
Love, Suzie and Michael
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