My goal in this post is to wrap up 2016 before 2018 starts. I know. I'm cutting it close. I hope to do better next year. I've allowed life to interfere with fun (mainly writing this blog) for far too long. Enough of that. Let's get going.
November Part 2
Back in Grosse Pointe after leaf burning in paradise, life resumed. Next up was a baby shower for our daughter Cathy, to be held at the Grosse Pointe Farms park clubhouse.
A grand time was had by all. Here are a few pics. First, the setting.
The festivities.
It must have been a fine shower, as the results were excellent. Here's a shot of the payoff (and a little sneak peak of what my 2017 story will look like). Little Ian.
The family closed out November quietly, tending to pre-holiday chores and prepping for another Michigan winter. We had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving at Nancy's brother's home in Ann Arbor with David and his bride Barbara and their two sons Brian and Matt. As both of our girls were with us for the dinner, it was a rare gathering of the four first cousins who share so many memories of the past, especially from Avon Rae, the family cottage in Ontario that I discussed in an earlier chapter of this chronicle. It was a fun day for all. Below we have from left to right our daughters Christine and Cathy and nephews Brian and Matt.
For comparison, here is a pic of the four of them enjoying a typical breakfast at Avon Rae in 1990. The fifth person in this pic (on the far right) is my son Ted, the fifth cousin and a frequent co-conspirator in this infamous little gang.
Back at the homestead, Coco practiced for the coming holidays with what I would call in dog yoga terms her "basted turkey" position. Tough dealing with such a hyper dog.
December
OMG. I made it. The last month of 2016. The Burk family had a fairly typical December in 2016. Shopping, snow-blowing, shopping, a little dental surgery, and - a little more shopping. Because of my high regard for others, I will spare you pictures of me with my jaw swelled-up from scary people using power tools in my mouth. Just know that it was all planned and turned out well. And Robyn, our family dentist, is not the scary person I was referring to. So all is well there. We decorated.
Put the tree up in the family room.
And most importantly, both Christmas cacti bloomed.
We attended our customary Music Night Christmas party, this one at daughter Cathy's new house. It was Cathy and Matt's inaugural Music Night hosting event, breaking into the distinguished hosting rotation. Here are some pics from the party. First, among the boys present, Jim Wyatt and I wrestling with a technical issue or two.
Dave Dyle enjoying our plight.
And Joe Villeneuve and John Danckaert ignoring the whole thing.
Among the girls, this august gathering of long-standing group members. From left to right Linda Crandall, Laura Forest, bride Nancy and Lydia Villeneuve, no doubt discussing the virtues of red and black outfits.
The customary refreshments.
And this rare Music Night group shot, taken by our photographer Quinton. By now, you should know them all.
Christmas Day at the Burks was a fine gathering of our extended family. Santa was generous.
And the company was complete, with from left to right at dinner Nancy, daughter Christine, myself, brother-in-law David, son-in-law Matt, nephew Matt, sister-in-law Barbara and daughter Cathy. Present but not seen was little Ian.
The day after Christmas, as has been our custom for the last several years, Nancy and I headed off to Florida to spend time with my mother. We stayed through the new year and had a grand time. Here are a couple of shots from New Year's Eve. The girl with the fancy green neck piece is Lola, my mother's constant companion.
All in all, it was a very fine year. And a pretty active one. I'm finding living in my retirement groove very rewarding, offering just enough of the recurring, predictable pleasures to compliment the unforeseen ones and to overcome the occasional challenges of passing time. I recommend it.
Talk to you in the new year.
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