Well, I had to make some changes to my original image at the customer's request. The signal flags read "Happy Holidays". Their logo, normally located on the stern, is replaced with a wreath bearing their name.

I have not painted the image for my personal Christmas cards for this year and as busy as I am right now, I may have to settle for store bought cards. I have one news magazine (in progress) and two newsletters to complete before the end of the year for the USCG Auxiliary. Of course, my own holiday activities and a 4 day Caribbean cruise later in November are on the calendar too. (The cruise is also an Auxiliary fellowship event.) It is why I mentioned earlier that I may not have a lot of time to spend here in the upcoming weeks, and I miss you when I am away.

My friends here have become important to me. While I have never met any of you, the personalities that you each project come through and it is that to which I connect. Jerri's warmth and Fredo's wit come to mind first, but they are by no means the only ones here. There are the very many of you who helped me through those awful weeks after my son died this summer (too many to name- my friend's list is a bit long). Believe me when I tell you that your support was invaluable to me. I felt your compassion and sympathy; I felt cared about. Now, when my responsibilities keep me away, I miss you very much! I will visit as often as I can.