THIS Christmas 2022
I’m writing this letter from our ocean-facing hotel room in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The beach is right outside our balcony window! While at home, I had trouble sitting down and getting the Christmas letter written before leaving. It was a busy month as it was, and getting out of town for any amount of time can be challenging. I’ll be visiting for two weeks, so extra hard!
We're in South Carolina for Christmas!
Steve and I flew out two days ago - we're spending Christmas with our families this year. First stop; Steve’s mom, Monnie and his sister, Rhonda live here. Yesterday, I got to see Monnie’s new place (she moved here in Fall of 2021). She got an apartment on the first floor, which is handy as she still has her cute little cockapoo, Bella. It’s a brand new over-55 facility, with many bells and whistles. The amenities are amazing. Very classy, beautiful place! So happy for her. Steve’s cousin, Tammy who lives just outside Charleston, drove up to have lunch with us – great to see Tammy as I hadn’t seen her since her daughter’s wedding in 2018. We have plans to see Rhonda later this week. Got a Christmas variety show and other touristy things planned. We’ll see how much really happens though, as it’s been rainy, windy and colder than expected! Although yesterday, Steve and I made it onto the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel (ferris wheel). 187’ above the ground – I loved it! Steve, not so much. Lol.
We’ll spend time through Christmas morning here, then we’re driving the rental car about four hours inland to Anderson for our second stop – my parents Angel and Roy, and my sister and her family (Darrel, and her two boys’, and their families). Two Christmases on Christmas - Lots to do and see!
2022 Happenings
Let’s see. What’s happened at the Marvel house this year? Well it didn’t start out so great. Steve and I both had covid in January. Steve’s case was much worse than mine, lasting longer, with longer side effects. Then in February, I broke my foot stepping on Bronn’s chew bone. That was hell for me, in many ways worse than the covid because it lasted so much longer. My podiatrist told me it could take a year or more to be fully healed. Even now, it still gets sore if I do a lot of walking on it (like at airports!).
It didn’t snow much last Winter in Reno-Sparks but we did get a few inches Thanksgiving week, and again last Christmas day – that was pretty cool getting snow ON Christmas. It snowed once this fall, a few weeks ago in Sparks and was still hanging around just before we left town due to it being so cold. Below 20 at night, and less than 35 during the days. Steve complains about the cold sometimes, but I like it! Click the images below to view in larger format.
Visitors
We had some visitors this year. Monnie visited in March for a week or so. Eric and Jane stopped over for a dinner out while at Jane’s family reunion in Tahoe. Our old Brentwood neighbors, Mary and Dan visited for lunch with their dogs. Bronn was so over the moon to see dogs he wouldn’t calm down and we had to put him in the bedroom until they left. My bestie, Kim, came up for a long weekend in July. She hadn’t seen the house since she drove up with me with the pets. It’s changed a lot since then, with all new flooring and paint, new appliances, and real furniture! The only home improvement I can think of this year, is the new kitchen sink – Love it! Click the images below to view in larger format.
Trips
We took some trips this year too, though not all of them together. We had planned to both go to S. Carolina in the Spring, but after breaking my foot, only Steve went - he got to see his side of the family but wasn’t able to make it work to visit Anderson. So we’ll get to see my parents’ new house for the first time together later this week.
On his way back from a business trip to Minnesota, Steve and I met in Las Vegas (yes I flew, it’s a 9-hour drive to get to the bottom of Nevada from where we live!). We went to a Shania Twain concert hosted by Steve’s cousin Wesley. Wesley and his husband Adrian go to Vegas all the time to see shows – lucky dogs!
I made the annual pilgrimage to Carlsbad, without Steve again, like last year. Stupid work schedules. My time in Carlsbad was different than last year; when I needed to unwind so badly after the crazy stress of selling and buying homes, packing, moving, etc etc. This year I guess I wasn’t so stressed out, and it felt a little lacking and a little boring. Steve and I made a pact, we’re both going in 2023 come hell or highwater.
Steve made another trip back East (Maryland) to see niece Jade and Dan get married. Her brother (and our nephew) Seth got engaged this year to Molly, and they’ve set a date for 2023. Congrats to them!
The annual notary conference I help put on was in November. It’s technically virtual but I like to see my colleague so drove down to Modesto (CA) again. There were quite a number of speakers and attendees in town (at airbandb’s) that it was like we had our own Mini-Conference with out-of-town attendees and speakers. Got to do some in-person networking with dinners.
I almost didn’t make it; a few days before I was to leave, my arm suddenly started aching, for days I couldn’t even use my arm, even to get dressed. Nothing. Then as suddenly as it came, the pain left. I found out a couple of weeks later, at my follow-up appointment with ortho that I had something called “calcific tendonitis”. Have you heard of this? I hadn’t either. It when a small blob of calcium the consistency of toothpaste releases (for unknown reasons) from a tendon (the calcium forms from an injury or trauma to the site, from as far back as years and years). The tendon it releases from becomes a hot mess, inflammation causing all the pain. Apparently, the time frame it took on me was common enough to diagnose easily just by looking at the xrays taken when I went to urgent care. The ortho guy could see the little loose blob of calcium in my upper shoulder area. Learn something new every day!
Lastly, Steve flew to Las Vegas for a Raiders game in their new stadium with friend Zack. He said the stadium was pretty amazing and had a blast at the game.
Nephews
Speaking of nephews, my sister’s son Kyle married his sweetheart, Kelley this year. They’re still living in the house they bought last year (or was it the year before?). Christopher and Taylor’s son Renly turned 1 in October; can’t wait to meet my little great-nephew! He looks just like I remember Chris at this age. I’m looking forward to seeing all of them later this week. Click the images below to view in larger format.
Friendships
Margie, Kerri, Laura
Friends should never be taken for granted! And good friends are harder to make as you get older. I was lucky to meet Margie last year, who lives right across the street.
A gal who graduated with me from high school and who has spent most of her post-high-school life in the Pacific Northwest moved to Reno this year. We've gotten together for coffee and meals a couple of times.
In this photo, you'll find all three of us, attending a holiday shop'n'sip! What fun!
Steve’s band, Public Eye
Public Eye playing Pleasanton's Concert in the Park
Compared to 2021 (which was still covidy), Public Eye played quite a bit in 2022. They played in Pleasanton (CA) on average about once a month. Steve had to drive three and a half hours each way, and sometimes he drove home afterward! I was more comfortable when he would spend the night at his drummer’s house; not worried about him falling asleep at the wheel. I couldn’t have done it, no way!
Working
Steve is still Director, Service & Parts at the same place, but midway through the year, the dealership was sold to new ownership. Now called Corwin GMC-Buick-Izusu. Same headaches, different people I guess.
My Nevada notary commission started January 2022 (good for 4 years just like CA). But I haven’t done much with it. For the 8 years I was a notary in CA, I handled hundreds of real estate loan document signings per year. I only did one of these types of signings the whole time in NV so far, and a couple of notarizations for friends. I never even finished the notary website, although finishing it is still on my to-do list. I haven’t pursued it because I got way busier with my website design side of my business. In January, a website design friend retired and distributed her clients amongst pros she knew handled Website Care Plans (like me!). I ended up with 11 new clients and it definitely amped up the amount of time I spend at the computer. Plus I’m still designing sites for my clients, and adding them to my Care Plan business too. Much busier than I was a year or two ago, and I thought I was busy then. Sigh.
Pets
Last year, we lost Nintu in November. This year, we lost Sammy in November. Sudden and acute kidney failure; came out of nowhere. We thought he was the healthier cat compared to Blanca. You just never know. We moved to Sparks with three cats, now we’re down to one, Blanca, and of course we still have our giant German Shepherd Bronn. Bronn is 5 and a half, and hit 105 pounds this year. 105 pounds of pure muscle. Everyone who sees him says he’s the biggest German Shepherd they’ve ever seen. He really is tall, and long, and the absolutely sweetest dog. Click the images below to view in larger format.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
Have a peaceful and joyous season!
If you’d like to read any of the previous online Christmas letters:
https://www.kerrimarvelservices.com/xmas2021/
https://www.kerrimarvelservices.com/xmas2020/
https://www.kerrimarvelservices.com/xmas2019/
https://www.kerrimarvelservices.com/xmas2018/
As always, we wish every one of you Health, Wealth, and Happiness in the coming year. And Peace on Earth, of course.
With love, Kerri and Steve
and the Pets; Bronn (5.5) and and Blanca (11)
Drop us a line anytime - We'd love to hear what you've been up to!
Kerri: kdmarvel@gmail.com / Steve: steve_marvel@me.com