The Possley Annual Friends, Family and those-we-only-do-Christmas-cards-with-anymore Letter.
2007 with George and Liz PossleyHappy New Year, everyone!
I’ve been retained at great expense to write a synopsis (oh, it’ll be extra for use of THAT word) of our year. And if that sentence sounds familiar, you got our letter in 2004 and have a fantastic memory. You know what they say: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”.
Here’s what we did:
In February, we flew to Cleveland, Ohio for the Conference of Delegates Past and Present. In October of last year I was elected Delegate to the General Service Conference of AA and this conference in Cleveland was training for the actual conference. Liz went along and we enjoyed touring in Akron, Ohio where we visited the birthplace of AA.
In March, we flew to California to visit Jim and Kathy DeKeyser in Orange County. Again, as in a past visit, we had a fantastic time visiting the San Diego Zoo, the La Brea Tar pits, Venice Beach, and Catalina Island as well as attending a performance of “Wicked!” at the Pantages Theater on Sunset Boulevard. Though I was not too excited about the prospect of attending the play, IT BLEW ME AWAY!! We enjoyed spending time with Bill and his girlfriend, Dan (and his cool new GPS) and Nick and his son Andrew who were also visiting from Texas.
April was a very memorable month in good and not-so-good ways. On the 14th, Liz and I celebrated 34 years of marriage. On the 20th we flew to La Guardia airport in New York City to attend the 57th General Service Conference of AA. While in New York, Liz attended three Broadway plays and visited the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and other sights. I was pretty much tied up with the Conference from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily but did manage to see one Off-Broadway play and ride the subway and the Staten Island Ferry. Upon our return home we learned of the tragic death of Liz’s younger brother Paul. A trip to Iowa for the funeral ensued.
May was also a fantastic month. We attended the Area 75 Spring Conference in Madison where I delivered my Delegate’s Report. On May 23, our first grandchild, Conner Gregory Nelson was born to my daughter and son-in-law Theresa and Robin Nelson in Madison. Liz and I were able to drive down and see Conner just a few hours after he was born. On May 25, we left for Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin for our annual camping trip with the Wolfert and DeKeyser families. That night, I received a medallion commemorating 20 years of continuous sobriety at an AA meeting in Door County. We had a good group and as usual had a great time being with good friends and enjoying the wonders of Door County.
In June, we attended a tailgate party at a Milwaukee Brewer’s game celebrating the retirement of Steve Moore, a good friend whom I worked with at Cedar Grove Schools for 26 years.
July was another busy month. I spent a weekend camping at Bayshore County Park on the Bay of Green Bay with my friends from work at St. Norbert. On July 21, Liz and I attended a Milwaukee Brewer game with my siblings and their families. I booed Barry Bonds until I was very hoarse. That didn’t work out too well when I had to cantor in church the next morning. Then I capped off the month by doing computer support for the Green Bay Packers at their training camp at St. Norbert. I got to talk to quite a few of the players as well as enjoy a meal of steak and lobster in their training camp dining room. Brett Favre and Bubba Franks sat at a table just to my left.
August 2007 kicked off with a most memorable PossleyFest at my brother Joe’s home in Wausau. He provided hats and tee shirts and leis to support his Hawaiian theme. We played “corn-hole”, ate a lot of food, and had a great time.
September kicked off with the wedding of Sara Wolfert and Chris Russo in Sheboygan. The following weekend, I played in the Sheboygan County Golf Tournament at Town and Country Golf Course (my “home” course) and the Irish Course at Whistling Straits. I finished “in the money” shooting a 96 at the Irish to finish in 5th place in the second flight. Two weeks later, our son Geoff married Laura Bayer in Appleton. It was a wonderful wedding and we are so happy to welcome Laura to our family!
In October, Liz and I attended the East Central Regional and Area 75 Fall Conference in Manitowoc. As Area delegate, it was my great pleasure to welcome AA friends from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin to my home district in Area 75. On the 27th, we went down to Iowa where we attended Liz’s 40th high school class reunion. We had a nice time visiting about two dozen of her old classmates.
On the 9-11 of November, we attended the East Central Regional Forum in Arlington Heights, Illinois. It was a weekend where AA members get to meet the staff from the General Service Office as well as trustees of the Fellowship.
December brought Conner’s christening on the 2nd and a visit to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin to participate in the “Relly Reunion” a gathering of cousins on my mom’s side of the family. Both were chances to enjoy the blessing of family.
Here’s what we are doing:
1. Liz is the coordinator of the Software Learning Center at Lakeshore Technical college in Cleveland, WI. She enjoyed painting a lot of personal Christmas ornaments for the family this year. .
2. I completed my 12th year as Student Computer Support Specialist at St. Norbert College. My department was re-organized in July and I now have a new boss to my unabashed DELIGHT! I have been cantoring at Blessed Trinity parish in Sheboygan Falls and even get to play my guitar occasionally. I sang with the Classic Choir for Christmas and also with a 4 part quartet. I got a nice solo to start one of our songs on Christmas morning.
In conclusion, Liz and I have been happy and healthy during the past year. We both enjoy our careers and delight in our family, especially that new grandson! My pension from teaching is coming in and I could retire any time but just don’t want to yet. Liz still likes it at LTC but there are days when it looks like she’ll hang it up before age 65. Life is good. God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams. Speaking for myself, this has been one of the most wonderful years of my entire life!
We send our sincere wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful 2008!!!
- George and Liz Possley
