2001 News
Already?
In some ways, it seems like it was just last week that we put together our last Christmas letter. In other ways, I cannot believe all the events that have happened all happened in a single year! Whether we are ready or not, it is the Christmas season again and time to catch up on all the news, so without further ado… The News from Netherhall.
Jim & Jeanie
Jeanie started a new job at the beginning of the year delivering the Charlotte Observer newspaper. About 2:30 every morning, she begins her deliveries to about 300 customers. Jim is holding his own at the new Wachovia. Since First Union and Wachovia merged there have been many to lose their jobs, so he is thankful to be a part of technology (where there have been very few layoffs). Mostly Jim and Jeanie have been Mom and Dad again this year. The job of helping four young ladies get ready for adulthood is not a task for cowards. We are blessed with terrific girls though and are honored to get to be their mom and dad.
Jim is still involved with documenting his genealogy. You can view the family tree by clicking here and he has scanned many family photos that you can view by clicking here. Please Please Please share your family history stories, photos etc so that everyone can benefit.
Angela Danae
Danae is now halfway through her junior year studying Early Childhood Education at Appalachian State University. She and her fiancé, Mark Ogren, have set the date. They will be married this July 28th. Mark is in the Navy and just finished his first patrol on the USS West Virginia submarine. They won’t be with us this Christmas, but will be spending a few days with Mark’s family in Nebraska. As much as we will miss them, we are happy for his family since they rarely get any time together.
Melody Grace
Melody moved back home this school year. She decided that she needed to be closer to her mommy and daddy and don’t think for a minute that that made us sad. She is halfway through her sophomore year at UNC Charlotte and is doing very well majoring in Finance. Although she started the year out living at home, she is now in an apartment near campus. This gives her some freedom and privacy, but allows her to come home often. She will be away from us this Christmas too. Her boyfriend, Mitch, is in Michigan and she is visiting him for the holidays. We really enjoyed the time he spent with us this past Thanksgiving.
Melissa Erin
Erin is now a senior in high school and still at the top of her class. NC State University College of Engineering let us know that they would be proud to have her as a student. She loves singing and writing poetry and is Vice President of the Dead Poets Society at school. This year she has been the weather girl for the morning announcements. She also volunteered with the school drama club and appeared in their production of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. She has just been cast for the play, “Rumors.” A year ago, she and dad started reading The Hobbit together and continuing with the Lord of the Rings, they are halfway through the last book. She and Dad had no idea that a major movie was in the works when they started, but they are sitting on pins and needles waiting for it. In fact Erin just announced that her Christmas gift to Dad is to take him to see it. So we know where they will be on opening night. Erin and her boyfriend, Justin (going on two years), go out on dates as often as they can. They are discovering the life-long conundrum of balancing making money with enjoying it.
Leah Kathryn
Kathryn is doing very well as a sophomore in high school this year. As a part of the Dead Poets Society she has performed on her guitar for several events. She and Erin have really gotten close now that they are the last of the Anderson ladies at home. She and Dad were the Christmas decorators this year. They went together to get the tree and worked diligently hanging lights around the house and yard. As usual, Dad (who is terrified of heights) held the ladder while Kat climbed up to hang the lights on the house.
Other News
It has been anything but a quiet year in Charlotte. They say that one day we will miss the noise, but that’s hard to believe right now while we are in the middle of it. With a wedding and a graduation planned for the coming year, it is looking like there won’t be much rest anytime soon. We hope for you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.