Christmas Letter 2001
Copyright © 2001, By Odell & Linda Hathaway
Dear Friends,
Another year is coming to an end, and as we look back, we’d both like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. With the closing of the year, we also feel we’d like to give you the gift of ourselves, so we thought we’d take a moment to tell you about what’s been happening in our lives this year.
The biggest change, of course, came in August with our wedding. It was just beautiful, and we’re so happy that so many of you were able to attend. The time we spent with those who came was wonderful. We’re so grateful for all the helping hands and hearts that made our day so special. Our hearts and thoughts were with those who couldn’t make it.
Immediately after the wedding, we were off on our honeymoon—a cruise of the Caribbean—and we had a great time! We visited five islands and enjoyed Curaçao the most. It was our first cruise, and we know we’ll take more in the future. Our stateroom was out of this world, complete with a private balcony where we could see the ocean and every port through our sliding glass door. We’d love to tell you the food was wonderful—and when we were off the ship, it was—but on board it was less than we expected. As Linda says, “Like IHOP for breakfast and Denny’s for dinner.” But we still had a great time! When we got back, we spent a week recovering. On the last night of our time off (the honeymoon goes on and on), we visited Astoria, Oregon, where Odell showed Linda her first shooting star.
So what was the rest of the year like? It’s been a very hectic one—not all, but mostly, because of the wedding. Linda started the year still working for Southwest Washington Medical Center. With all the pressures of planning a wedding by ourselves, we decided she should take some time off and concentrate on it. Linda is now working on starting her own business, offering medical transcription services. With how fast this area is growing, there will be a big need for companies like hers.
The company Odell worked for had been in financial trouble for several years, and finally, at the beginning of November, he was laid off. Fortunately, he saw it coming and had already been interviewing. In fact, he had an interview the day after he was laid off and got the job a week later! The new company is here in Vancouver and is much more rewarding in many ways than his old one. His commute used to be 50 miles a day—now it’s down to 4. While the pay is slightly lower, the perks more than make up for it. Oregon has one of the highest state income taxes, while Washington has none. He also has better insurance, a retirement plan, and profit sharing—and this company is actually making a profit!
We did have some sad news this year. A few weeks before the wedding, we noticed that Zaphod (one of Odell’s cats) was losing weight. The vet diagnosed diabetes, and despite tests and different insulin regimens, nothing worked. He was miserable, and we finally had to put him down. Everyone in the house misses him—not just us, but Trillian, Minnie Driver, and Samantha Fox (Linda’s cats).
On September 11, Odell was getting ready for work when he turned on the TV and found not local news and traffic, but mass destruction and tragedy. He woke Linda, and we watched together through the first minutes of this new world. It’s a strange and frightening world, but at least we have each other to help us through. Odell’s parents were on a plane from Washington, D.C., where white powder was found—thankfully, all tests came back negative. Still, Odell worries that the Bonneville Power Association has an office next door to his!
Apart from that, we’re busy building a life together. Linda has started teaching Sunday School at our church, and we’re both involved in the Christmas Pageant. Odell hopes to open his own web development business as soon as he’s settled in at his new job.
Well, that just about wraps it up for 2001 and the first year of our new life together. We want each of you to know that we care about you and love you. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year—and as Tiny Tim is fond of saying, “May God bless us, every one!”
Love,
Odell & Linda
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