The dreaded Deal Christmas letter 2025!
A quarter of a century in, we are diving into technology to let you know all that's been going on with us this year while cutting expenses for printing and paper! This year lots more of the same, and some that's all new.
We both hit 70 with health issues, Ef more than Jack (of course). We both started the year with the human metapneumovirus, which had us coughing for weeks. Ef got hospitalized because her chest x-ray showed a blood clot in her lungs. She was put on Eliquis. Then just before our Jamaica trip, her left knee gave out, but she managed to limp her way around the resort, spending most of the time snorkeling or relaxing in our hot tub. When we got home, the knee worsened until she couldn't stand up. Off to the hospital again, this time with another blood clot in the leg. They switched her to warfarin, which requires a weekly blood check. This meant putting off knee replacement, so she spent a lot of time with the walker, and we even arranged for a temporary commode set-up. Jack joined the sick-bay list in June when he tore 2 tendons in his rotator cuff, but he finally got to see a surgeon who recommended physical therapy, which worked wonders! He still can't hold a horn up, so he had to give up his paying gigs for Christmas. Meanwhile, Ef took the time to get her trigger fingers and carpal tunnel issues surgically fixed on both hands. With any luck, a new knee will come in '26.
As I have said all year, it was a lot easier being 20 in the '70s than it is being 70 in the '20s!
Despite the health issues, we did more traveling than usual. We did our annual week in Jamaica, where we finally got around to using the hot tub at our suite. There's nothing like sipping rum punch while you sit in a bubbling tub! We got back to camping in Ithaca, but this year was special as we we were joined by our son Buddy and his son Leighton, who is about the same age as Buddy was when we first discovered this state park. We offered to take our granddaughter Eliana, but she was busy with theater camp. Leighton learned how to build a campfire, how to enjoy a root beer, and how to build a dam. We spent a day at the Cornell Ornithology Center too. When we came back to the cabin, Ef relaxed in a chair awhile, but she had just gotten up for a drink when BAM! a huge dead limb from above smashed into her chair! We were barely home from camping when we flew out to Seattle for the Science Fiction World Con, where we stayed with Jack's brother Ed and his spouse Gerry, who took us to visit some of the Cooper's hawk nests Ed monitors and to "circumnavigate" Mt. Rainier. The mountain made several appearances just for us! The most astounding thing of that trip was Ef's ride on a robot wheelchair who trundled her through the airport right to her gate.
Jack spent a lot of summer days at the Kings Road Brewery, where he settled in with the dogs to people watch and chat with the locals. He even got filmed there to be part of the Downtown Haddonfield advertisement. Ef spent time at the gym's pool doing physical therapy for her knee and at Buddy's pool just chillin'. Her third novel released, and she had several short stories published in various anthologies. She also helped edit the program anthology for the Horror Writers Association's Stokercon, which she then attended with her publisher. When her health didn't get in the way, she did a few book fairs and signings in the area. Jack, meanwhile, sang with the Master Chorale at the Haddonfield UMC, where he's still digging his gig as the bass player for the praise team. He even got himself a brand new bass. Gerry and the Deals also did National Play Music on the Porch Day at the end of August. Jack's enjoying recording a CD with the Keith Rounds Band, who also played our summer party. He did a ton of work on the back yard as well, pulling out useless bushes and invasive plants. We added an extra wall to the garden, great for more guests to sit! We lost the wonderful Japanese Bloodgood maple just before the party, but we did finally get it replaced, and Rory decided that the new tree required his presence and has claimed that garden for his own. We also replaced the living room furniture with automatic recliners in anticipation of knee replacement surgery, and we moved Ef's computer station out of the shadowed corner. Then Jack put in a liquor cabinet for his Scotch and bourbon collection.
Our big love is still playing with the Golden Knights Alumni Corps. Jack marched the St. Paddy's Day parade up in North Jersey. We both competed in two I&E competitions, where Jack took first place in each. Ef was just there for comic relief. Jack also marched the Elks parade in the sopping rain on the Wildwood boardwalk, and that evening, Ef shared drum major tasks with Richie Jones and Tommy Ashby, two of the greatest DM's in drum corps history (squee!).
Along the way, we took the time to see Evil Dead: The Musical twice! Jack hosted his annual Magic Tournament in January. Ef, Lindsay, and Liz attended the Poe Speakeasy, a gothic hoot! Jack participated in the church's Trunk or Treat event. Both of us marched the No Kings demonstration locally, carrying the original No Kings documents~The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
"But, Ef!" you say. "Where are all the pictures? We love the pictures!"
I haven't forgotten you. Here they are in video form! Enjoy!