2013 2013

Happy New Year! We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and holiday season with family and friends. Apologies again this year for the belated greetings. This seems to be the time of year for lists. Mostly lists of things we all should try to do better in 2014 than we did in 2013. Heidi has one. I call it the Things I’m Reminded of Every Day (TIRED) list. On occasion I have glanced at it only to discover that it includes, in part, such merriment as fixing the faucet, yanking buckthorn from the garden, collecting the gifts our dogs present in the yard each day, cleaning my closet, cleaning my office, cleaning the garage,

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE PETERSONS

MILES IS READY TO FLY. EVAN (FRONT) IS NOT SO SURE!

Greg get’s lucky from the fairway!

THE PETERSONS

The Fern Garden Blarney Castle

• Hey, there’s a grasshopper on my nose!

cleaning up my act in general, and synchronizing the blasted garage door remote with those three little buttons on the visor of her car (call me if you’ve figured that out!). Can we talk? I mean I need to be honest here. Whenever I consider tackling a chore on the TIRED list a sweeping sense of somnolence (SOS) pours over me and simply drains my energy. I then need to recharge by reviewing my own list that I keep tucked safely in my pocket as a rapid response remedy to an SOS. I have labeled my list “Several Preferred Activities for Today” (SPAT) which includes a number of reasonable alternatives to the same old TIRED choices, such as, golf, fishing, boating, cycling, reading the paper, walking the dog, checking the mail, and sampling the beer in the ice box to ensure it hasn’t gone bad. Heidi resents the SPAT list. In fact, if I neglect a TIRED item in favor of a preferred activity, she responds with a display of profound existential angst culminating in the overreaching assertion that “nothing ever gets done around here!” That claim is, on its face, patently false as I am improving my handicap and I do bring in the mail! Nevertheless, to avoid an escalation of the list battle, I will attend to a few small tasks like moving the kids’ cast-offs (which they have graciously donated to what they apparently think is a storage facility in our garage) around just enough so Heidi can park her car. This strategy usually buys me a couple of rounds of golf but I dare not tarry too long on the rest of the TIRED list or Heidi will threaten to “just call a handyman and he won’t be cheap!” For those of you who have been married for some time and know the game of chess, you will recognize this tactic as the “Pocketbook Gambit.” The Queen understands that if she can hit the King right in the wallet he will come around faster than a hound dog with steak sauce on its tail. And so it goes. The next day the dogs and I are in the back yard, tails appropriately tucked, heads drooping, feet dragging, and I’m scooping up the evidence that confirms there is no escape from the TIRED list. I’ll pick a few weeds, maybe trim the shrubs, and perhaps, later, even match up all of my orphan socks. But I’ll be whistling all the while because I understand that the cycles of life are inviolate and tomorrow I’ll be fishing! News of the year: Emily and Vince sold their starter home and bought a place in Vadnais Heights, just down the road from us. Evan and Miles (3 1/2) continue to live up to their nick-name, the Twin Tornadoes. They love to visit Nanny’s house and seem pleased that I (“Boppa Greg”) live here too. Anna is very, very busy as a third-year medical student at the U while Dave continues to enjoy commercial real estate. We are hoping that Anna will specialize in the treatment of aging parents with advancing hypochondria. Congratulations, Maren! Now a graduate of Luther College with a Nursing degree, Maren is preparing to take her board exam and then will be transitioning from the Bank of Parents to a JOB. We’re excited! Heidi plays the role of super-nanny for the grandsons and keeps her TIRED list updated. Greg goes off to work at Morgan Stanley every day and reflects frequently on activities to add to his SPAT list. Highlight of the year: the birth of our third grandson, Lucas James Glasgow. He is the happiest, cutest little guy we know and a joy to have around. Followed closely by: trip to Scotland and Ireland. Heidi, Maren, and I spent a week driving the country roads of Scotland (a wee bit narrow!) and then toured Ireland with our good friend Eamon McQuillan, who lives in Belfast with his family. If you love the morning mist, forty shades of green, the sound of the sea rolling against sheer, black granite cliffs, and the warm smiles of a friendly people, pack your bags now and head to Ireland! Best wishes to all for the year ahead. Greg & Heidi

PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Heidi finds a Frenchie friend in Waterford

Granny and the Twin Tornadoes

Grampa John, Anna, and Dave at Big Sky

Maren walks the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland

Eamon, Heidi & Maren seaside

Lucas James Glasgow (Mr. Smile)