Greetings…Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It has been about 5 years since we sent Christmas cards or a Christmas letter! The Holiday Season with our retail gift shop (The Cottage at the Market) kept us scrambling, with little time to enjoy Yuletide. That all changed this past August, when we sold our business and I retired to prepare for shoulder surgery in September. Loyd is semi-retired but staying on in the printing business for a bit longer.

January 17, 2012 our dear Mother passed away very quietly and rather quickly, as she had wished at almost 95 years old, with my sister, Bonnie, Loyd and myself by her side. We miss her so much but feel fortunate we had her as long as we did, and that she was able to meet all 5 of her great-grandchildren. Mom was a PIP!

In April we went to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and Phoenix with our good friends, Chris and Gil Stevens. We celebrated our 10th anniversary by renewing our vows at The Chapel of the Holy Cross nestled high in the red rocks of Sedona. It was really special. As a bonus we were able to visit with cousins, and my uncle in Phoenix whom we haven’t seen in years.

The rest of April, all of May and June we rented a house with my sister from our friends the Spanglers. It is on the bay in Avalon, New Jersey less than two hours from our house in PA. Lots of walking on the beach! Luckily the house survived Hurricane Sandy with very little damage, so we will be back renting next year.

In July, Becca and Tim rented a house for three weeks in Rhode Island. Becca came to us first with all four children, Nora (10), Ted (8), Pete (6), and Declan (almost 5). We did all the touristy things in Philadelphia, then we all drove to a wonderful place in R.I. called Green Hill. This is where we were able to take the family Christmas Card picture .

Jennie, Loyd’s daughter, continues to live in Jamaica Plain, MA which she loves. She has a new job at Alix Partners, a business consulting firm, in the center of Boston on the 40th floor with a great view. We just spent Thanksgiving with her at Loyd’s sister Gigi’s home in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Jessa and Matt had a darling little girl on Feb. 14, 2011 named Eliana Mildred (my Mother’s name) Wilson. She is a redhead like Jessa. We were so excited when Matt got a new job in MA with EMC Corp. and they moved back East from Denver, July of 2011. Jessa worked last year as the Youth Minister at an Episcopal Church which she continues this year along with a new job as a full-time Adult Day Treatment Clinician leading group therapy for her clients. We have been able to take care of Ellie a couple of times and feel so lucky they are closer.

In August after completing the sale of our business, we visited Maine where Loyd’s sister and friends own a house in Higgins Beach. It is an adorable beach town that makes us feel we are back in the ’50s. We also visited some old friends we hadn’t seen in 40 years near Damariscotta. That was a Hoot!

After my rotator cuff surgery in September, we rented our favorite house at the N.J. shore for the month of October. It was great R&R – walking the beach everyday and having off-season house parties!

The week before Thanksgiving I flew to Dallas to visit the Quigleys and attend Grandparents’ Day at Nora, Ted and Pete’s school. I was able to spend another day with Declan (5) and watch him play the violin. We are so excited because the Quigleys have decided to move back East to Washington, D.C. where they started almost 13 years ago. Once again, all of our family is within driving distance!

Now that we are “retired” we feel very blessed to have more time to visit our three daughters, grandchildren and extended family and hopefully come see some of you!

We wish you the best New Year ever……

Stay in touch….

We are really good at email….

You can friend us on Facebook too!

Debbie and Loyd Pakradooni

deborahpakradooni@gmail.com
loydpak@verizon.net

Click on any picture to start the slideshow…