Christmas 2004

Another year has come and gone, and so has another large appliance. As you know, our oft discussed propeller-imitating mashing machine left our home last year. Her replacement, a quiet, efficient, and gentle front-loading washer presents quite a problem as I pen this letter. Without the cantankerous old girl, I’m at quite a loss for a staid salutation. Indeed, I could speak of her mismatched partner—the dryer. Faithful to the end, this machine dried quietly and efficiently all her days—but that makes for a very boring story. The dryer departed our home this year to make way for a match to last year’s front loading washer. Both have performed their duties in an excellent manner (for which I am grateful) but that makes for a dull Christmas greeting. We pray that 2005 will grace us with a significantly entertaining equally banal topic.