December is upon us. As we begin to receive your cards and well wishes, we realize the standard that you set for us to respond with yet another inspiring Christmas letter about our stellar year.
Well forget it because inspiring letters are not our style, here is the truth from boot camp Sara and Kari a la St Nick. We will bullet-point them to make them easy to read and even easier for us to write.
We trained all year for Ironman Wisconsin – blah blah blah – very sick of Gatorade, Cliff Bars and Goo – thinking hunger strike would be preferable. We were amazed that some of our family came to cheer us on during the race. May be they didn’t believe that we would actually do it!
Sara won again in our family and some how pulled off qualifying for the Hawaiian Ironman again in Oct 2006. Apparently she didn’t get enough of the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-miles run, and is paying good money to do it all again in Hawaii. She welcomes any visitors to help cheer for her, as she will really need it!
Kari began puking at mile 16 of run and took the medical motor coach to the finish shortcutting Sara to the finish line.
California weather was boring and predictable so we traveled to beautiful Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin so we could experience humidity and onslaughts of mosquitoes while camping out the Gilles back 40. All this sacrifice for the Gilles 50th wedding anniversary ho down. Who knew those old fogies could party like that?
The Highlight was a play written by a no-name playwright Veronica Gilles, acted by a group of clumsy inexperienced actors fumbling through their lines. Reviews are mixed from the play’s way-off Broadway debut
Sara made yet another trek to the home country in November under less festive circumstances. Mike Thomas, head of the Boy Scouts, basketball coach, Indian Guide leader, Head Camper, excellent husband to her sister Anne Marie and great father to our 4 nieces and nephews was called away to that great campfire in the sky. He was an inspiration to us all and is missed very, very much.
With poor planning and protection Sara and I have taken on another member to our family this year, yes you guessed it another bike. A sleek new black carbon Calfee triathlon bike that basically rides itself replaced the aging Waterford.
This year we have cheered many of our friends on to completing Ironman races or adding to their families including another niece that came along for us complements of Sara’s brother Steve and his wife Lisa. Welcome Molly!
Sara has managed to keep me from selling any of our real estate holdings, and I started an online business selling, would you believe, sewing machines? We are still working towards early retirement. It’s not that we don’t love our jobs, but that we would love to spend more time with all of you. With any luck you will be sick of us soon!
Happy Holidays and Best Wished for yet another beautiful year….
Sara and Kari
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