We hope 2000 was a healthy and happy year for you all. Looking back a year, its hard to believe that everyone was as concerned about Y2K as they were. For the start of a new millenium, not much seems to have changed. But then, when ever I start writing a holiday letter, I always think that not much has changed. Then the more I think and the more I write, the busier the year seems.
We were able to visit Sandy's parents in Cass City for the 4th of July, attend the Welter Family reunion in New Jersey, and spend a week at Lewes Delaware with Andy's parents. In October we acted as tour guides for Sandy's parents, Stan and Melva, in Las Vegas.
We are still big race fans, and went to NASCAR races in Las Vegas and Indianapolis, and saw CART and sports car races at Mid-Ohio sports car course (near Columbus Ohio). Sandy is as big of a NASCAR fan as ever, and was quite happy when Jeff Burton won in Las Vegas. Andy took his aging Eagle Talon out onto the race track again this year for several driving courses. In spite of a few mechanical problems, the Talon performed admirably.
Andy is still an avid rock climber, and was able to climb at a new area in Tennessee (Obed, and Clear Creek), and climb in Red Rocks Nevada during both our March NASCAR trip to Las Vegas, and our October trip with Sandy's parents. But don't believe people when they say that Las Vegas is a desert... Andy was snowed on while climbing in March, and rained on while climbing in October. Andy was also able to climb in New Mexico when we visited our friend Mitch. This year's Christmas photo was taken on that trip, and is of the Brazos River in New Mexico.
Sandy's parents are doing well, Melva still writes a column and proof reads for the Cass City Chronicle newspaper. Stan keeps busy fly fishing and golfing. Sandy's brother and sister in law, Mark and Shelly are still living in the Los Angeles / Thousand Oaks area. Our nephews Drew and Spencer are in 2nd grade and kindergarten. We enjoyed backyard camping with them in Cass City in July, and are looking forward to some sledding when we get together for Christmas.
Andy's parents, Charlie and Helen are also doing well. Helen is in her last year of teaching before retirement, and Charlie still manages to keep him self busy in retirement. They just bought a shiny new red Saturn, which is the first brightly colored car we remember them ever having. Must be a mid-life crisis. :-) Andy's brother Chuck was recently honored with a police officer of the year award from the Baltimore Sun, and is in training for a mountaineering trip to Ecuador in January.
In the coming year we hope to visit many of our friends and family that have moved throughout the country, especially in various western states. We wish you all continued happiness in 2001, and hope to be able to keep touch with you both in person and on the Internet.
| Or visit our home page at www.the-welters.com |