In advance your charity is requested: I don't believe I've ever had so much to report in my annual Advent letter, but partially because of that, I've never had so little time to generate the letter. It's already two weeks later than I normally send it; if I don't get it out now, you won't see it until well into next year. So, here goes:
LAST YEAR
THE BEST PLACE
Every year's vacation trip seems to get better - no exception on the Australia-New Zealand visit last winter. Particularly in Sydney and up at Surfers Paradise (so aptly named: where else do bikini-clad meter maids work only at putting coins into expired parking meters?) the people were all beauts. So impressed was I with the quality of life in Sydney that I've begun investigating the possibility of emigrating there (once, that is, the current world economic crisis passes). Driving through New Zealand gave me the most spectacular scenery IOve ever witnessed. Coming back by way of Tahiti, our plane developed engine trouble there; the resultant 8-hour delay enabled me to renew acquaintance with a Tahitian musical quartet that I'd met three years before. great pictures
TRANSITION
Many challenging new dimensions to my job in personnel: production of a cook-training audio-visual presentation that found me in Milwaukee several times; Company assumption of turnpike restaurants in Oklahoma and Illinois that had me "touring" the expressways of each state for a few weeks; design and implementation of an award/recognition program for our operating managers; beginning the formalization of the hierarchy of our plant management, highlighted by an intriguing visit of our commissary in Queens; work on the Company's affirmative action program; initiating payroll deduction capacity for our greater Boston employees for United Way; getting a Company night of fund-raising for our local educational TV channel; appointment to the American Hotel/Motel Assn's employee relations committee which led to meetings with the group in Chicago and at Hilton Head NC.
telphone
Help. Blood. Love.
Money.Caring.Skills.
Fund-raising has become almost a second career to me: working on Brown Phonothons in Boston, Providence, and New York; appointment to the Boston Ballet Society's board of trustees so I could lead a subscription drive for this year's ballet season; representing United Way to several local restaurants and hotels; the beginning of work with Cecilia Society (a choral group), as they gear up to raise money for their 100th anniversary next year.
People
working
with energy.
You might recall that I've always done my annual trips via Pan Am; you're doubtless aware of that line's financial distress. I expect you aren't aware that the difficulties are due - not to management inefficiency - but to our government's discriminatory policies which profit the foreign carriers at the expense of our national lines. Thus the Pan Am employees have begun a program of educating the public to the true situation. I guess it's largely self-interest that I've gotten involved in their program; selling chances on a TV set; arranging a reception; promoting the line to travel agents, and so on. The employee campaign, in no way management directed or controlled, has raised thousands of dollars for putting educational ads in newspapers. Ironically the effort has led to a boost in morale among the employees, even though severe layoffs have been necessary; it's inspiring to see employees can do for their company when they become aware that company and personal objectives are identical. So, I encourage you all to fly Pan Am whenever possible; let me know if you have any complaint about the line.
a checkup
After six years at the jail, the time finally came this summer for me to have an unpleasant event there: I "fell" down some stairs. The resultant injury to my lower back necessitated absolute immobility for two weeks, then walking on four legs for a month. Also, the doctor has barred me from running outdoors for a year, and directed me to swim daily. Though it's the most boring thing in the world to do lap after lap in the pool and around the indoor track at the YMCA near home, the regime should prevent any permanent damage to the back.
Jessica was away for the summer again, visiting with her grandparents in Brussels and vacationing with her cousins in a little town near Milan; I don't know if it was all the pasts, but she grew like a weed this year; her Italian sounds to my untrained ear authentically Milanese. School continues challenging and exciting to her; she hopes to supplement her vocal and instrumental work with a return to ballet lessons this winter.
incomparable
Work with a pre-release program for offenders had led to an inspiring first: a job mart for ex-offenders, attended by thousands of former offenders and staffed by representative of two hundred firms: the 125 jobs immediately gotten at the fair will save over two million dollars of welfare and incarceration money each year.
journey
After family get-together on Christmass Eve and jail in the morning, I'll be off to Rio, thence to Johannesburg for a few weeks wandering about in South Africa; New Years Day on the beach of the perfect wave in Cape town (of 'Endless Summer' fame); then a week recharging my batteries in Durban; short visit in Nairobi, then home via a visit with relatives in London. town west of London
If this note arrives too late for your news to be added to your Christmass greetings, I enjoy anticipating your letter waiting for me on my return to Boston in January. Also, your travels might bring you to Boylston Street; I thrive on unanticipated visits from the four corners. Boston
for Christmass
I trust you're finding it as challenging as most everyone I know to try to keep income ahead of outgo in this ridiculous economic situation. In fact, less gas means more walking; higher food prices lead to more creativity in the kitchen; bleak bottom lines incite fascinating innovations at work. I'll close with genuine best wishes for a holy Christmass/Hanukkah and a confident New Year.
1975.