Greetings from Grand Rapids (the cold snowy midwest) ... sigh.  It seems like only yesterday I was writing last year's Christmas letter.  As every year passes, the waist expands a little more, the IRS gets a tad richer from my escalating involuntary financial "donations" and the crabgrass of life appears to be shifting to the neighbor's yard.

Well ... my company's recall of me back to Michigan from Seattle has been a more pleasant experience than anticipated.  A flashback at warp speed ... sports (as usual) had it's place: won a softball trophy and a tournament or two (my errors and

superb batting average (that is a joke) contributed greatly to the team's gradual rise to fame).   I've always lived by the rule that it's not how good you are, but how good you look that really counts!  Skiing locally isn't at all like Seattle (I've become spoiled) but Aspen in late February looks promising.  My racquetball (along with my youthful stamina) has seen better years but it still keeps me in shape.

Surviving last New Year's Eve (a major accomplishment), Fourth of July yacht parties in Saugatuck (a resort town on the southern tip of Lake Michigan), Fort Lauderdale at Spring Break (lots of extensive sightseeing to be done on the beach during the day and pursuing some of those sights at night) were a few of my early '83 adventures.  Halloween Costume parties as a "trout" ... won me second place at Millie's Palm Beach Cafe (a downtown "off the wall" drinking establishment), "Kamikaze" parties at my condo, and numerous happy hours with fellow Lear Siegler employees fulfilled my yearly party quota.  Have you been practicing your "caps" Jeff ?

Social functions included many plays at the Grand Rapids Civic Theater, Chuck Mangione and Neil Young concerts at Western Michigan Universary and professional comedy at the "Wit's End" with a select group of female companions.  My career and the responsibilities (and money) that goes along with it still retain the realm as my major satisfaction in life.

Still to come ... a future of good times, good friends, Michelob Lite and Happy Holidays!  This is my wish to you and all dear to you for the upcoming year ... Merry Christmas 1983!

Sincerely,