Our Long & Winding Road

 I know I began with a post about family over the holidays, but there's more to tell.  :) After dropping Lucy off at UMiami and putting Zoe on a plane back to Boston, Rali and I drove to Melbourne, FL, and spent 4 nights with my Dad and stepmom, Carole.  As I said to them at some point, a needed calm enters my heart when I get the chance to spend some time with them.   My dad had planned out all the meals - which were delicious even when he played the role of the cranky diner cook! We read books, took walks, watched TV, did a puzzle, and fully relaxed.  A highlight was going to the clubhouse with Carole to meet the other Lakes of Melbourne hookers.  Yes, Carole is the lead hooker; in fact, she has both recruited and tutored quite a few other women as they developed their craft.  Rug hooking, people.  Get your minds out of the gutter!  Goodness.  If you want to see some of Carole's incredible work, check out these pics !

Christmas always allows us to spend time with family. First, we celebrate Wigilia, a Polish tradition, on Christmas Eve with the full Pietraszek clan.  Santa provides a stand-up comedy routine while passing out gifts to the youngins, the adults duke it out in a gender-split Yankee Swap, and then all sit down to enjoy a meatless meal of soup, fish, pierogies, and other delectables.  Since the girls have been able to drive, Aunt Maryanne has moved the start time up so that Rali and I can leave before the meal to return for the Christmas Eve service at First Church; when Zoe and Lucy were younger and the start time was later, Rali missed out on Wigilia and I missed out on her Christmas Eve services.  Sadly, COVID struck my cousin Annie and made her parents hosting the whole family impossible.  We were still able to celebrate Wigilia this year, though, since my in-laws (Jean's parents) invited us down to RI where their sons and their families were staying for a few days....

It may not be the best picture of either of us, but both the setting - South Beach, Miami on a Tuesday afternoon in January - and our smiles serve as proof that we are, officially, both on sabbatical.  Truth is, we've already had some fun adventures!  More to come . . .