Christmas Questions (and a few answers)

Occasionally I would get a card with an inserted letter from a friend or relative with a year’s recap of their world.  Kind of like a blog.  So here goes mine:

2025 was a good year for the entire Grass Family.  The clan is healthy and prosperous - but very busy each raising their 4-person family.  Carol and I spent the month of February on our Palm Springs, CA trip - we LOVE it out there.  Tons of hiking, dinners with close friends, several good books, and just spending 24/7 in a beautiful warm spot; rather than huddled inside my sunroom in Pennsylvania with a blanket, while it was in the 20s and 30s most of the days.  And the February 9th Eagles Super Bowl stomping while we were out there was the icing on the cake.  We got home just in time to open the pool, for Carol to plant all of her flowers, and to get prepared for a summer full of weekend family parties, and surprise midweek visits from the grandkids to swim while their parents worked virtually from the patio furniture.  I even squeezed in a retirement party in late July and had over 50 people in my backyard for the afternoon.  A good time was had by all.  And then off to the beach in August for our family vacation in the Outer Banks.  It’s always our favorite week of the year!

Carol and I try to take at least one trip a year.  Last year it was Tuscany.  This year we stayed in the country and went to Utah in early October.  We visited all 5 National Parks (Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands) in 8 fun packed days, with tons of hiking and great food.  I’m including some pics below.  But if you’ve never been - you HAVE to go to experience it yourself.  The pics just don’t do it justice.  This is one beautiful country, and I can’t imagine there are many more spectacular vistas anywhere in the world… than there are in Utah.

Then back home for a quiet Thanksgiving (this was our off-year, where the families spend Turkey Day with their in-laws.)  It was just the 2 of us but we roasted a 12lb turkey nonetheless, and there was plenty of football viewing by a fire - and tons of leftovers.  A whole lot quieter than the normal 18 person get-together.  A quiet Thanksgiving is underrated!  All 18 blades of Grass will be here tomorrow for Christmas Day, and it will be anything but quiet. 

We’re continuing our Grass Family Christmas Tradition with some charitable donations in lieu of fancy gifts (grandchildren are the exception - if you can’t “spoil” them a little on Christmas, then when?)  This year’s charities are The West Chester Food Bank and Main Line Animal Rescue.  We can all use a little more charity in our lives… and one can’t forget the animals.

How am I doing personally? 

It’s a huge change to have worked so long and now to be retired.  But it’s a good change if you approach it properly, and I think I have.  I keep myself busy, work out 5 days a week, read a ton, listen to classical music all day, and try to stay connected with my social circle.  I’m convinced that personal connections are very important for both mental AND physical health (see my recent blog post HERE on happiness and what makes a good life).  I spoke to one of my good friends on the phone yesterday and she said that “I sounded chill.”  “Chill” is a very descriptive word… and fitting for how I feel.  I no longer need to worry about selling 2 stores too close to one another.  Nor the gown that was promised on a very close wear date.  Nor the first week of calling for appointments after a soft collection the past season.  Or a good account not returning my phone call.  WAS IT SOMETHING I DID?!?!?!  

I had great bosses over the years who did NOT micro-manage me.  That being said, I spent close to 30 years trying to make sure that they were happy/satisfied with my work and performance.  I also worked on straight commission, with 100% of my expenses “on me”, with no guarantees about what my income would be for the coming year… nor even the current month.  With 4 sons playing sports at the club level (including ice hockey), a nice home with a “nice” mortgage payment, 2 car payments, and 4 college educations in the near future… there was always some level of uneasiness about money; and especially in the early days: How was I going to come up with the money for the current month’s bills?  I never received a salary (paycheck) in 30 years and I’m sure a straight commission job weighed on me.  Now I have a guaranteed income each month which allows me to maintain the lifestyle that I’ve been accustomed to while I was working.  So yes… I imagine the word “chill” was quite appropriate.

In closing I pray for “peace on earth” and “good will to men.”  If you say those words too fast you can miss the point.  I’m going to slow down even further this year and embrace those words...and the gratitude I feel for the people, places, and things in my world.  Life is truly a blessing.

Peace and Love,

H