THE NEWSLETTER 1985
Away back in 1938, Les went to work for Exxon, used offset printing a lot, and came out with his first Xmas card/newsletter. From 1942-46, the war years made it impossible, but from 1947 on, the series has continued unbroken. Now, at 47 years, we are hoping we can make it to a Golden Xmas card. Right now, the chances look pretty good. Fifty years! Well, why not?
1985 was a weather noteworthy year for us. It started with a record breaking 13.5" snowstorm that isolated us for several days. Here in the Sun Belt, throwing snowballs is a rare experience, and so are blocked roads with schools and businesses shut down by Old Man Winter. Springtime came along in due time, and the rains came too...lots of them. 1984 was a drought, but 85 was a soaker...50% over normal. Everything in the garden flourished, including the weeds, and Thelma was busy, busy, busy. But she sure managed to fill the pantry shelves with canned fruits and vegetables!
Les kept busy too with a chain saw. We took out several of our big willow trees, then lots of big logs turned up in San Antonio near "230", so the woodpile just kept on getting bigger all the time. Now, when a cold snap comes along, we can really enjoy our fireplace. With well over two cords stacked up, there should be enough to last us for several
?ears... or more.
That hauling from town started out with the old '77 Chevy station wagon. It did the job until August when a radiator hose broke suddenly while at expressway speed. The engine was ruined beyond repair, so now we have a '82 Chevy El Camino pickup with camper top. And it sure has been kept busy.
Many families have two homes...town and country. Since our marriage, we've gradually shifted from San Antonio to Bulverde. Les used "230" for some time as a business office, and it's been handy several times during our hospital stays. But it wasn't used enough to make it worthwhile, so we decided to clear it out, renovate as needed, and sell. What to do with all the contents? Well, we needed space, so we got a local contractor to erect an 18 x 25 stone and stucco shell at the end of our driveway. Before we knew it, the project had grown into a beautiful combination shop-office-spare garage, and with enough furniture so it could be a spare bedroom if necessary,
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In town we managed to sort out what we wanted to keep, move it here, trash lots of accumulated junk, and donate many useful items to various non-profit groups. It was a lot easier than sweating out yard sales! It went on the market in September, a buyer came along in October, so unless the financing falls through, we can relax with just one house. Anybody who has ever moved from one house to another, knows the headaches and heartaches of reestablishing the home, but until you have to consolidate two homes into one, you haven't yet learned how many problems can turn up and what difficult decisions must be.
We had lots of welcome visits this year. Sis Wiegley came down from Buffalo for a week in March, and Doris Eggleston made it in April, just about the time our new shop was under construction. Bob and Melba Truly were here briefly during the summer, as were Gerry Tagle, John and Dana Barry. The prize visitor though, was Danny Barry who came over from Beaumont for 2-1/2 weeks. Teaming up with Les in all the many jobs here and in town that had to be done, he was a tower of strength, and the extra muscle power in time of need was a real godsend. Best of all, though, were the short periods our three little granddaughters, Reagen, Jinny, and Jessica spent with us at various times. Grandparenting is one of the prime joys of maturity.
This was one year we did no traveling ourselves, but it was in the family just the same. Lynn Bledsoe received orders to Neu Ulm, Germany, and reported for duty there in mid April. Chrystal and Reagen moved in with Lanie temporarily, then joined him in mid June, when quarters became available. So now, a trip to Germany is on the 1986 agenda. We are both looking forward to it! Ann makes regular trips back to Ireland to see her family there, and after school was over in May, she hopped aboard a plane enroute to Eire, to stay until shortly before school reopened in August.
Folks in their middle age know all about the menopause. We seem to be learning about the geriatric equivalent...the geriopause. Sometimes we feel energetic and full of pep, other times it's hard to get anything accomplished. From a medical standpoint, though, Les got a lot of ?dental restoration work done, and while we both have our share of aches and pains, they are something we learn to live with, just like all of us who are earning our senior citizen diplomas.
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Let's hope we have lots more years ahead of us to enjoy a pleasant way of life and watch the
grandchildren grow up.
ADDRESSES
Route 3 Box 3191 OR P.O. Box 33
Bulverde, TX 78163
(512) 438-2912
THE EGGLESTONS
