Christmas has come and gone at lightning speed and it’s now time

to ring in the New Year. I absolutely refuse to have a New Year’s

resolution because it only causes me to not do what I need to do.

PPP

As I write this, I am thinking about our family’s upcoming polar

bear swim we have planned for Christmas Day. We are going to jump into

Mom and Dad’s pool on Christmas; but I’m not sure how many of us will do it.

I fully intend to have a cup of coffee with a shot of whiskey waiting for

me when I get out!

PPP

I again want to thank all the great people who have been supporting

my fund-raising efforts. Several people (including some I have not even

met) donated to my latest bake sale cause. I admit the sale was kind of a flop

that day, but it depends on how you look at it. I did meet some great people,

including some from Russia, and enjoyed having Lucy help me. But

there weren’t very many tourists out that day and it was a cold one. My sweet

parents took my leftover baked goods and crafts down to my sister Judi’s and

displayed them and managed to sell everything to Judi, Mom, Aunt

Janeen and my dear Nana.

PPP

I actually managed to do the 14-mile walk and was not even sore. I

kept moving all day and resisted the urge to take a nap but did get a bit on

the grumpy side, but I finally fell into a much needed deep sleep that

night. Our next walks are 10-, 12- then we go up to 16-miles. A fellow walker

told me to go home and soak in Epson salts to ward off any pain.

PPP

Brian made my birthday really special for me this year, as did my

family. I got some really great gifts, but having my friends and family close

is the best gift of all. Brian took me dancing, bought me two bouquets of

flowers and a stuffed bear and also took me in for my first tattoo! I

mentioned to him that I had been thinking about a tattoo for a while and since I

was turning 45 maybe I should go for it. Next thing I know he has driven

me into Seattle and there I was with a Gumby tattooed to my back. So

now Gumby goes everywhere I go!

PPP

Bert and Lee Briggs just celebrated their 50th anniversary and a very

nice party was held for them at the Mount Si Senior Center. Their family

went to a lot of work to put this on and it was a great success. One of the

nicest things about these events, besides seeing people stayed married for so

long, is seeing old friends we don’t get to see often. Seeing Lynn

Simpson brought tears to my eyes because I have really missed her since

she moved. Happy Anniversary Bert, and Lee!

PPP

Sparky never had any lost love for poor old Molly but does seem

exceptionally lonely since it has become a one-cat household. The minute I

step in the door he clings to me like putty and when I go to bed, he howls

once the lights are out. So he crawls into bed and gets under the covers and

I wrap him in my arms and sing him to sleep. Then I fall asleep to the

sound of a contented purr.

PPP

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.”

PPP

It happened this week: At midnight of 1908, the first New Year’s

ball was lowered on the Times Square Building in New York City, the

solid gold sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen was discovered in

1924, and my Mom’s home state of Texas became the 28th state in the Union

in 1845.

Please submit items for the Snoqualmie News Notes to

Donna, P.O. Box 604,

Snoqualmie, WA 98065

or e-mail Ballou1@earthlink. net.