Chow Down Right: 2023 Hogswatch letter

Season’s greetings, y’all!

2023: Honestly never saw this year coming.

Cindi and John had planned to date a while, take some time off work to occasionally visit each other, and ultimately she would move to Omaha just before we married in October. Well, that didn’t happen. She was not allowed to take time off work – even unpaid – for even one extended weekend a month, so she gave notice and moved here in January. We found a house we like, and made our union official several months early, so that she had no gap in health insurance. We are mailing from the new address, so we hope you didn’t throw away the envelope.

We still had our wedding on Halloween, with John’s son Arthur officiating, in our own backyard. A small gathering, but still quite a bit to get ready for. Halloween seems to be a “thing” for our family. Robin & John, Arthur & Anita, and Cindy & Randy were all married on Halloween.

And (a new) life goes on. We’ve joined a couple of book clubs – one for science fiction/fantasy, and one for mysteries. We’ve found a couple of local D&D games. And, of course, we’re “playing house” (as John calls it), learning how to be partners. It’s amazing to be friends for so long – since college. We were friends because we were so alike. To advance the relationship has been healing for us, following the loss of our spouses.

John participated in three separate shows at the Lofte theater – Doublewide, Texas, the Lofte Variety
Show, and A Doublewide, Texas Christmas. This is the first, and possibly only, Christmas show John will ever do.

John was also contracted to narrate an audiobook: Kingshire Falls, by Steve McElhenny. Soon after finishing that, he received another narration offer, with promises of sequels from both writers. Retirement (in 3 years!) may not involve door-greeting at Wal-Mart after all.

On that subject, Cindi is not officially retired, but has been taking the time to allow her knee and heel to heal. The gel and steroid shots seem promising, and we’ve found a fabulous orthopedic insole that completely alleviates the pain from her heel spur. Hey, we’re senior citizens now, so we’re allowed to talk about medical stuff.

We attended Cindi’s hometown all class grade school reunion in Navarre KS, thrown because the building has been converted to a community center. Alumni from several decades attended. Cindi knew almost everyone; John knew no one, but everyone seemed nice and the food was good.

Cindi has enjoyed moving back to the midwest – after 40 years – and she is, shall we say, over-exuberant about snow (John hopes that wears off sooner than later). It’s strange living with someone that spent so much time in Phoenix. She wanted to turn the thermostat to 80 in the summer. She had to take light sweaters with her because AC was too low for her in most public places.