Tuesday, 29 Jan 1985

Dear Mom and Dad,

Have you thawed out yet? It sounds like a good year to be away from the States. It has finally returned to being a normal, pleasant winter here now. I think I told you in my last letter that we had had several days of below freezing temperatures and about an inch of snow. Today the sun is shining and it is probably in the upper 50's outside.

We finally got the Christmas tape and a letter from Diane yesterday. No one talks to us any more except Bill. Have you all turned into a bunch of snobs or something? Nevertheless, we enjoyed the tape. The kids were excited to see Jeremy crawling. He looked quite proficient at it. Your landscaping looks good. Have you planted any bulb flowers?

The name of the tune on the music box should be on the bottom of the box. At least it was when it left here. I can't remember what it was now.

I got a letter from Cliff Ganus, III, saying the Chorale was going to be touring Europe this summer. They were looking for former members to go with them. I wrote and asked if they could change their plans and come to Naples on the tour, but I imagine it is much too late for them to be rearranging their itinerary. I doubt they come down this far south, but it would be nice if they could.

I got your letter yesterday, too. I was beginning to think everyone had frozen in Arkansas. We hadn't heard from anyone in so long. We also got a letter from Michael's parents. They have decided to come here again in September instead of March. The weather will be better then, but Angelique will be in school. That may tie us down some.

Diane said they are planning on being here for two weeks now. That sounds better than the one week they had originally planned. We're excited about their coming.

We all seem to be well at the moment. Michael is working from 2pm - 8pm today. I'm taking the kids to the NATO base tonight to see Walt Disney's "Jungle Book." We've never seen it. The kids love to go to a movie and get popcorn.

I'm leaving Monday, 11 February, for the Northern Italy Shopping Trip. You probably won't hear from me until after I get back on the 16th. Maybe I can write a short letter while on the bus. I plan on getting a lace tablecloth in Venice. It will be fairly expensive, I guess, but I want one very nice tablecloth anyway. I may never have the nerve to actually use it. Other than that, I don't know what else I'm going to buy that whole week.

My neighbor, Ann, just got back from Egypt. She brought me back a very pretty brass plate with pyramids and a sphinx on it. Now Michael has the fever to go to Egypt and Israel. He won't go without me and I don't want to leave the kids for two weeks. They are not exactly the kinds of places to take kids. I'm not sure who's going to win that battle. We could always wait and go in several years when the kids are a lot older, but it would be twice as expensive to go from the States as it would be to go from here.

As you can see, I am trying to learn to use the word processor on this computer. I'm not going to guarantee that all or even most of my letters from now on will be computer typed, but you'll have to admit, this letter will be easier to read than my hand written letters (that is, if I get this to print out as I want it). Michael helps with the printing part. I wouldn't know where to begin to run the printer. Actually, it does most of the work itself after it is given a few simple commands. I haven't learned how to command it yet.

I am including one of Angelique's current drawings. The big red thing in the sky is not an airplane. That is the mama bird taking a worm to the baby bird in the nest in the tree. The other paper is a semi-cute article that appeared in one of our newsletters recently.

Love you,

Jeannie