December, 2024
To all our friends and family,
Happy holidays from 11 Homestead Circle in Hamilton. It’s been a busy, and eventful, 2024.
The biggest “family news” is that we’ll be officially welcoming a new member 2025, as Maddi and her partner Kate are now engaged, and will be tying the knot next October. Can’t wait to get the entire family together. Maddi continues her admirable work at Hopeful Journeys with kids on the autism spectrum while pursing her master’s degree in special education. She continues to coach volleyball with a local elite program, and plays alongside Kate – a middle school teacher, Buffalo native, and a proud member of Bills Mafia – for Amoskeag Rugby (the squad had a great fall season, making it to their league’s championship game). It’s been a blast watching her playing this new sport! We love having both Kate and Maddi – as well as their wonderful rescue hounds, Alfie and Bruce – close by, and we get to see them fairly often, which is always fun.
Brynne marked her 2nd anniversary as a full-time resident of Austin, Texas, where she’s keeping the locals happy serving up craft cocktails as a bartender at the high-end van Zandt Hotel as well as a new spot, Verbena. She and her playful Great Pyrenees named Mr. Reddington (“Red” for short) are always up for company, like a visit from Grandmom this past fall (photo below). She also joined Maddi and Kate in Colorado for the surprise proposal. Brynne’s gotten into running and continues to bike, which has been a great way to stay in and shape and expand her circle of friends. We plan to visit this February, shortly after her 26th birthday, to cheer Brynne on in her first marathon. Miss that girl like crazy, but absolutely love the phone calls!
Here at home, Lauri continues to hold everything together (we celebrated 30 years of wedded bliss this summer!). While the loss of her father in late 2023 was a tremendous setback, Lauri continues to care for her family, her friends, and her Mass General Brigham patients with uncommon grace and dignity. I’m truly amazed how she manages to squeeze so much love and kindness into every day. Her faithful commitment to cycling has me concerned that when I do eventually get back in the saddle, I’ll never catch her. And at this time of year, I always delight in how Lauri transforms our little cottage into a winter wonderland. I’m forever grateful for having this beautiful woman as my partner in life.
As for the pet contingent, our mousers Molly and Izzy turned 15 this year, meaning the local mice have much less to worry about. For outdoor cats, though, these sisters are impressive. Our rescue Hobey (“Hobart of the Homestead”) is still the same lovable, goofy hound he was when we brought him home in the fall of 2016. He’s great company for this work-from-home hubby.
Though I hit the Big 6-7 in October, I’m not quite ready to cash in my writing chips. Work continues to find me, thanks to a terrific group of editors, and I still love the act of writing (looking for work is another matter, but that’s different story). I’m trying to abide by my father in-law’s mantra to “do interesting work for interesting people.” That, and striving to get back on the bike and shedding a few extra pounds (OK, more than a few) in 2025, so I can resume my favorite pastime of chasing after my wife. We postponed my planned spine surgery in early October to a later date, giving me time to trim down and get stronger. Fingers crossed.
As for the New Year, our wish is that 2025 brings us all moments of magic that we can enjoy and celebrate – from simple Solo Stove fires on the back deck to long walks on Singing Beach to Myopia polo matches to spontaneous gatherings of family and friends – all reminders of the all-important ties that bind us together. We are living in uncertain times, which of course is when our faith in one another matters most. I hope we can see you all sometime soon. Joyeux Noel!
Lots and lots of love, with big hugs and kisses,
-Brynne, Maddi, Lauri, and Brion (and Hobey, Izzy, and Molly)
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