Happy Holidays 2024!

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“I know there's been pain this year, but it's time to let it go

Next year, you never know

But for now, Merry Christmas”

-Ed Sheeran


Was listening to Holiday music today and this line struck me as a great way to start this letter.  I imagine 2024 was

like that for you, as it was for us.  But for now, Merry Christmas, and let’s start this letter!


Hope you enjoyed the holiday fill-in-the-blank quiz, and it gave you something to
contemplate while waiting for your phone to charge, or while taking that break from
your many holiday parties or guests.
We’ve included the answer key in case you are one of those people you can’t get the
thought of not having the answer complete out of your head. 


As you can see from sleuthing our puzzle, we tried to squeeze as much out of (or into) 2024

as we could.Thanks to some friends' weddings, we were able to visit Phoenix, Roanoke, Canton, Charleston, PhiladelphiaStacie and Jed jointly officiated one of those weddings, and Jed officiated another 2. 

It’s a very special thing to be trusted with such an important part of a friend’s life. 

Bob, no Gina, & the gang, May 4 - Canton, OH
Heidi, no Bailey, & the gang, June 22 - Roanoke, VA
Bree & Gibby, no gang, September 28 - Charleston, SC


We sprinkled in a few trips to Las Vegas and NYC, and we’re looking forward to being in LA

with family to end the year. 

We helped 2 people named Tom celebrate their retirements, as we look forward to a day

where our traveling and our fun are no longer interrupted by work.

Congrats Tom!

This guy retired a while ago, but it's our version of a name drop.


Globally, we were able to take a trip to Dublin, Galway, and the Cliff of Moher, and pick up

some delicious Irish whiskeys. 



The famous Temple Bar




That Guinness mustache!
















We also returned to Africa for the first time in 11 years.

Morocco had such beautiful scenery, delicious food, but it was the culture and the

religion that will stick out to us.  We learned so much about Islam from the wonderful people

and guides we had.  This was the trip we were supposed to take in 2020, and the way it

turned out, with a de facto private tour with a personal guide, Ayoub, it was worth the wait!

Spices of Marrakech
The Markets inside the walled city

Hassan II Mosque
Leather curing and dyeing in Fez




Shukran, Ayoub!





We also were able to see many of you this year, but not all of you.  We always love continuing to find ways to fill our time and our lives with your friendship. 
For now,  we will leave you with wishes for an adventurous new year and a quote from the Dalia Lama that we just recently found:



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