2010 Christmas Letter

My Dearest Friends,

Merry Christmas! It looks like we’ve all survived another year and what a year it’s been. I had been dreaming of a white Christmas surrounded by all of you but it doesn’t look like that’s in the cards for this year. Despite the number of invitations I sent out, I don’t think anyone is going to make it to my Xmas Eve Xtravaganza, I guess it’s more ham for me!

I’m keeping my chin up. I know that the elves of 1101 have been spread far and wide over the last year and I wish them the absolute best however and with whomever they choose to spend their holiday season.

I’m not afraid to admit that it’s been a lonely year for me. And yes, there have been a few rough patches. All of that is in the past however and I’m so very pleased to announce that January 2nd is the first day of the rest of my life. That’s the day I’ll be entering the Sunshine Palms Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center.

I know that many of you would have liked to have been here for what I’m calling my ‘non-traditional intervention’ but I guess that’s the sacrifice you make, choosing to live so far away. I would like to thank everyone for their encouragements, it was so nice that so many of you wrote. Here is the news of how everyone is doing.

Cindy and Chuck are doing just fabulous. They’re expecting a little one sometime in May. And they’re working on a January wedding for obvious reasons. I’m so happy to hear that they’re starting a family; I can’t imagine two better parents. I didn’t know that doctors recommend no travel during the first trimester, but they promise to visit next year.

Mitch had been living with Cindy and Chuck but decided that he wasn’t ready to be a full time ‘uncle’ just yet. For reasons related to the IRS and accounting irregularities at his last job, Mitch is currently taking some time to find himself south of the Rio Grande. If anyone knows how to get in touch with him, forward him my best.

I had thought Sally would be the first one to attend an intervention but it seems that her outreach with her church is keeping her busy. It’s been a trying time for her with so many priests accused of improper relationships with young members of their congregations but she prayed and says that God has shown her the path. She is currently working on bringing new members to Jesus.

And that brings us to Jimmy. I don’t feel right speaking ill of anyone during the holidays so I’ll simply say that Jimmy is a fine young man, we all look forward to seeing him in two to four years.

I know it may shock many of you to hear that I had a problem. After so much time alone, I decided that my two glasses of wine with dinner were keeping me from reaching my potential and a change had to be made. I invited many of you to come and be a part of that change but as we all know, life can sometimes get in the way. That’s why I sent a second invitation asking you to send me a memory of time of us together. So many of you wrote or responded on facebook that I was overwhelmed. I’m calling these my encouragements!

And so, last Saturday (no reason to wait for Christmas Eve if it’s just me!) I sat down with my encouragements and read them aloud to myself to show me just how much I meant to all of you. And it was this reading that gave me the strength to admit that I had a problem and I needed treatment. I asked myself if I was willing to accept this wonderful gift and the answer was Yes! Yes! A thousand times Yes!

When I called Sunshine Palms they were skeptical at first. In the end I had to leave out some of the details of my non-traditional intervention. I don’t think they understood that even though none of you were there, your love and concern was and I maybe mentioned a bit more than just my wine with dinner. A little white lie, in the service of the greater good, never hurt and I think once I’m there they’ll see that I’m a soul just crying out to flourish, just as their brochure promises. I’m looking forward to starting this new and exiting chapter in my life.

But that does mean that I’m going to be gone for at least ninety days. If you know of anyone looking for a sublet, please let me know.

Much love,

1101 Spruce