Poor Tom went all the way to the Laundromat for no reason. Usually, they’re open on holidays, so who knows why it was closed today? He’ll have to do the laundry tomorrow after work. At least he got a good workout.

We’re in the midst of a very quiet Christmas. I only heard one loud stereo go by. No dogs today or yesterday. They must’ve taken off with them somewhere. Every minute I don’t have to hear from them is heaven to me! I like to sweep to music, but I like to write to silence, so as soon as they do start up, I’ll turn the sound machine on.

As I told Tom, I decided I wouldn’t be able to resist sending Doe and Art a postcard just so they can stew over my being right under their noses. I was thinking about the radio interview and said to myself, you know they won’t hear it or hear about it from someone they know. Now if it were about me getting into some kind of trouble, then of course they’d hear it. So I thought I’d write something like:

Hi folks,

Being right next door to you after winning a blues festival cruise (I just keep winning) I couldn’t resist saying hello. As the grand prize winner, we’re sailing Holland America’s Westerdam from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Grand Turk. Gotta do a radio interview upon returning on the 14th, don’t know what station. I’m no Blues fan, but we’ll have tons of fun! Been happy, healthy & wealthy. Leaving Oregon for California this summer!