Another year, already! As we write this, we're already in the
space between Christmas and New Year, so for many of you its too late to wish
you a Merry Christmas. Still, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and incredibly
happy new year. This was a good year for us, and the big news of the year is
that somewhere along the way there became an us: Joan and Davis. Many of the
years best things are things we did together: music and friends and cycling
and work and a very loving satisfying ongoing evolving relationship.
The evolving "we" made this note a bit confusing to
write, as coming together involves an odd mix of I and we time, so we'll present
the rest of this note as a kind of a dialog, labeling pieces as "Joan",
"Davis", or "Both of us" as seems appropriate.
- Joan
- The year started, for my third time, in Jimena in southern Spain with a
week of chamber music (with Jane's "Musical Passages"). I'm improving
with more practice, which makes playing the piano a joy. I stayed with Jane
for several days after the end of the official music week. There was some
more playing, some just hanging out together, and a lovely trip to Cordoba.
- Davis
- For me, the year started on a depressing note. Joan was in Jimena and I
was trying to enjoy "the last" Christmas that I'm likely to see
my whole famiily together. It was a great family holiday in many respects,
but I was in a sort of nowhere land. This would be the last significant time
in a house I'd lived in for sixteen years (the longest I've lived anywhere)
and I didn't really have a replacement address yet other than my dorm room
in Oswego. Joan and I were more than good friends at this point, but I was
still saying "friend" rather than girl friend.
- Joan
- There were several trips to and from Oswego (where Davis teaches in the
Communication department of SUNY/Oswego), including two to hear him perform
in the college/community orchestra (he's a violist). There was a Valentine's
Day dinner dance (waltzes!), and then an end-of-year concert (Stravinsky).
- Davis
- Teaching was one of the years real high points for me. As we end the year
I've just finished my third semester of teaching at Oswego. The last time
I'd taught full time was in 1981, but I had missed the joy of teaching during
my twenty year stint in the computer industry. The joy of teaching, for me,
comes in multiple dimensions. First, I really enjoy working with students.
While there is always room to get better, and I've improved a lot this year,
there is a real thrill in seeing my students master key ideas in communication.
Second, there is nothing like teaching a set of ideas to force you to confront,
challenge, and refne those ideas. It really has been a wonderful year.
- Joan
- The beginning of July found both of us at Colgate College in Hamilton,
NY, where SummerTrios was held for the second time. There were numerous acquaintances
from last year, and some new ones. Good playing (at least enjoyable for me
who was playing not listening). I didn't do quite enough towards helping Summertrios
with computer things, but Davis and I did attend an envelope stuffing event
at Lily's in the fall.
- Davis
- One of the most wonderful things about being with Joan is her wonderful
and growing collection of friends. Another is her love of music, a passion
I share. Summertrios combines the two, and I loved the opportunity to be a
spectator as she took the stage to perform with and for her friends. We've
also started to play duets together. My skills on the Viola aren't quite up
to Joan's at the piano, but we've had a wonderful time trying out several
pieces for piano and viola. Who knows. Maybe we'll get good enough to play
one of them for other people this year. My youngest son, Sam, also shares
a passion for music. This year he transitioned from a high school musician
playing in ten ensembles to a Penn State music major playing in four.
- Joan
- Elaine, from London, visited during the summer (always a pleasure). Davis
ran ethernet into the back bedroom (now also a study) so it was a well-connected
visit. Bookshelves are planned.
- Davis
- Joan brought an Elaine into my life. I brought one into hers. Interestingly,
the two Elaine's share something in common: both are well known for their
work in Ethics. Joan's Elaine is well known for her work and book in the area
of business ethics. My Elaine has also written several books in the area of
ethics and involved me in her research on "Ethics Across the Curriculum"
this year. Joan's Elaine helped me understand the nature of publishing contracts.
A large portion of my year has been devoted to a book on communications media.
Joan helped my Elaine find information and expertise on cancer when her husband
was diagnosed mid-year. Cancer also touched my brother-in-law this year, and
once again Joan was there to help wherever she could. I am happy to report
that all patients are doing well.
- Joan
- I have begun to meet Davis' family, as he has mine. We were in Maine briefly
in the summer to collect his repaired Honda, in Boston, and then Maine again
at Thanksgiving. The latter is the Foulger family traditional annual Christmas-related
get-together. It even included skiing; I believe that it has been over 20
years since I last did that, and find that lots has changed including the
shape of the skis. Lots of fun.
- Davis
- Skiing makes winter wonderful, and I'm pleased to report that the Thanksgiving
skiing at Sugerloaf USA (in Maine) was outstanding this year. Thanksgiving
is one of a small number of holidays that brings most of my family together.
This year my parents, sisters, nephews and nieces all made it up to ski and
eat turkey together. My son's Sam and Devin also made it up, and Devin brought
his girlfriend Lisa. Joan had met most of my family already, but this was
the first time she got to be at a family "event". Everyone agrees
that it was a fantastic weekend; one of the best ever.
- Joan
- There were also a few trips associated with conferences (Davis working,
me touristing): Seattle, New Orleans. We did a few days of hiking in Seattle,
and some wandering around in New Orleans.
- Davis
- I returned to teaching, at least in part, because of my continuing research
agenda, which is focused on communication media. Teaching is a "publish
or perish" business, and a lot of my effort this year was focused on
writing papers for conferences and publication. Joan has been wonderful about
coming along, joining in, and enhancing the experience. I always wind up meeting
people at the conference because she's along. After the Seattle conference
she introduced me to her favorite outdoor store, REI, where I bought a pair
of hiking boots and socks. The next day we took a shot at climbing one of
the mountains facing Mt. St. Helens. As it turns out, late May was too early.
Roads were closed. Trails were snow covered. But we found a place to park
and a road to the top that was being cleared, and started out anyway. The
snow was pretty scattered when we started. As we approached the ridge that
(as best we can tell from the map) would have taken us around to a view of
the Mt. St. Helens caldera, it was perhaps twelve feet high to either side
of us. While time grew sufficiently short that we didn't walk that last ridge,
it was a really beautiful climb. I'm looking forward to finishing it someday.
-
- Joan
- This year Davis and I had Christmas dinner in New York with Tim, Jackie,
and Steve (you can see us at http://briefcase.yahoo.com/joandyer).
I have been learning some new skills: knitting socks (having been prompted
to start knitting again because of a fund-raising auction for Tim's Choral
Arts Society) and riding a bicycle! I'd always wanted to do the latter;
my mother was convinced that I'd get hit by a car in Brooklyn and so I never
graduated from tricycle to two-wheeler. But Davis has been an encouraging
and patient teacher. The longest trip has been down the bike path along
the Hudson to Battery Park. There's one hill I have never managed to pedal
up...maybe next year!
- Davis
- Time just seems to fly by when I'm with Joan (and her socks fit great).
She helps me with so many things, including my occasional down moments. While
I still live in Oswego, Joan's place has become my second home and primary
mailing address. Its been a wonderful year, and the growing range of things
that Joan and I are finding to share (bicycling being the latest) promises
to make the coming year even better.
There are some other signal moments for me to report as well. My daughter,
Rebecca, graduated from the University of Michigan this month. My oldest son,
Devin, will be marrying Lisa in March. Another major family get-together.
I love it.
- Both of us
- May the coming year be one of joy and peace, followed by many more of the
same.
