Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2017 - Christmas Eve

I'm sitting in a darkened room, lit only by the light of the fire, wondering how any year could have flown by so fast. It's Christmastime once again on Pentoga Road.

Where to start?

Mom had a brush with eternity in March when she had several feet of her colon removed. The operation went well, but her heart decided not to cooperate. In the end, all turned out well and as Mom says, she's the only one of her close friends who doesn't use a walker with which to navigate. In fact, Mom walks one mile several times a week on an exercise machine.

We were extremely saddened early last summer to have to say goodbye to our best four-legged friend in the world, Brutus. It's something I haven't talked about and probably won't. Let's just say that we miss my big, fat, goofy, buddy more than words can express. 

Now for the truly joyous news!

Sargie and I were married in June. After spending the first five years of our relationship making certain that our union was God's will, not simply what Tom and Sargie wanted, we decided it was time.

On June 17th, Yooper Brother Mark officiated as Sargie and I became united in marriage. We haven't looked back since. 

Also, on June 17th, we celebrated Mom's 90th birthday. Not wanting to steal any thunder from her big day, Sargie and I waited until the first of our (estimated fifty) guests began to leave before we asked them to stay "just a minute longer" to witness our marriage. It was a surprise to everyone, our sons and friends included.

After seven inches of rain fell during an early summer storm, this year's garden was a flop. In fact, I had to replant more than half of the garden in late June and most of what was sown didn't make it. We mined coal in the garden this past summer.

Our sons, all seven, and their families are doing well. The grandchildren are growing and are busy, just as children should be. 

Sargie has been busy with the Vision Center this past year. She's worked more hours than ever and we're looking forward to the day that she'll be able to retire. With a new manager and a new coworker, the possibility of Sargie cutting down to working four days a week has surfaced. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

I play in my shop most days turning bowls and doing scroll saw artwork. I've had opportunities to sell and market some of what is made, but honestly, it's more fun to give everything away. There's not enough money to buy the joy of creating something beautiful from a salvaged piece of firewood. Being able to share it is a privilege.

The biggest news of all this year is a true miracle. I've been given the gift of sight.

After corresponding with a renowned research scientist from the University of Wisconsin and a leading ophthalmologist in macular degeneration on the West Coast, I began near infrared light treatments for the advanced dry macular degeneration I've been suffering from for the past several years. Since there is no FDA approved treatment, I began this therapy on faith alone as my vision had declined to the point that the simplest daily tasks were becoming difficult. In other words, I had nothing to lose. 

I know my personality had changed. I drove very little, only went fishing four times last summer, and even gardening was becoming a chore, not a pleasure. Yooper Brother Mark and I failed to float the Mighty Brule River once last summer, let alone enjoy it throughout the warm months as in the past.

The blurry, dark, area that had obliterated my frontal vision has disappeared and as Dad used to say, "I'm hitting on all eight cylinders." Believe me when I say that I'm the luckiest person I know.

So it's a Christmas message of gratitude that I convey this year.

The joy of having one's loving mother, the gift of sight, and most importantly, the miracle of being able to share life with the most beautiful and loving woman one could wish for. As long as I have my Sargie, I have everything.

I speak for both of us when I say Merry Christmas to all. This time of the year has always been special, but it seems a bit merrier and certainly, brighter, this year on Pentoga Road.

With love,

Sargie and Tom