The Pierce’s Holiday 2022 Letter
Jerry and Barbara Pierce wish you a happy, healthy, holiday season and a great 2023!
As we finish 2022, it is feeling more like we are getting back to normal. Thank goodness! Everyone in the family is doing well. We have even had a number of family get-togethers in Long Beach and Redwood City. We even made it to Disneyland! Christmas will be in Boise!!
The Family in Long Beach!
Part of our desire was to spend more time with the Long Beach Family so we purchased a condo in Long Beach 2 miles from the ocean. Unfortunately, it turned into Our Big Project for 2022 with the complete remodel (gut) of the Condo. We purchased it in October 2021, started the asbestos removal in January and was given the all-clear in October 2022. Read all about it in our blow-by-blow blog. Now it will be a delightful place to stay while we visit Amanda, Mel and Waverly, and a great place for Andrea’s family to come and visit!
Proof that Barbara and Jerry are crazy is that they stayed in the condo for short visits while it was under construction. There was one time that they had one (1) hose bib under where the sink used to be, one (1) toilet – the only drain in the house and electricity. (No bathtub, no hot water, no sink.) It was like camping out with a small microwave – BUT we had our espresso machine working!
The kitchen before – you could not have the refrigerator door open at the same time as the oven.
The kitchen after
Boise has decided that covid doesn’t exist anymore, so Andrea and family are back to full time school. Martin is back to a now-new work building just a mile from home.With the return to school in Boise, Barbara was not needed to help with the kids as much.
So let’s PARTY! The Boise crew came to Long Beach over spring break l) to enjoy the weather, the beach and visiting Amanda, Mel and Waverly (we stayed in a VRBO while our condo was in total remodeL.The highlight was the hot tub in the back yard, but we did get trips to the beach, a “Duffy” boat ride, a trip to the aquarium and an adventure to Whale/Dolphin watch.
Backyard fun!
We saw lots of dolphins… fun animals!
Scarlett
At the end of last year we got a bright red Tesla Y! We enjoyed our electric LEAF, but wanted a larger range and a comfortable car to drive. This year we drove all the way to Boise, charging all along the way. It was a pain! But a wonderful learning experience. Her name is “Scarlett.”
Barbara’s big adventure this year was getting her second bionic knee! She did the deed in early May and it was a much faster recovery this time! She used a “sucker” to keep the swelling down and she now swears by/at it.
Barbara has spent a lot of time in recovery and dealing with other (minor) medical aches and pains. Sitting for long periods of time is a challenge, but when you have places to go, you go!
Barbara continues as chairperson of the effort to add a “Carriage House” to the County History Museum. She also continues serving on BAWSCA – Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency as our state continues in a multi year drought.
She ended the year with a surprise covid adventure. She has recovered just in time for her international travel! Just after she left, Jerry got covid during a trip to Long Beach… Now we have all had the dreaded disease.
Wild time for recovery
At the end of 2022 Barbara headed to Europe to do “Christmas Markets Along the Danube” with her brother Keith, Sue and sister-in-law Jeanne. Jerry is not a “shopper” and decided to go to Long Beach to work on the condo, recover from covid and visit Amanda (from a distance).
It was yet another election season and Barbara and Jerry helped three candidates run for office. Two were elected and the third was within 50 votes of winning. It’s really hard to step back from local politics!
Jerry got in yet another four wonderful backpacking hikes! Photography is still a big part of all the rowing and hiking adventures that he does. He continues to work on digital cinema. He has been working on making our homes “smart” and it’s working! A friend recommended Apple’s HomeKit and Jerry has been setting up lights, doorbells, smart locks and cameras in our homes. It’s GREAT. He even wrote up what he has learned.
Jerry was very busy taking pictures of wildlife
At Point Reyes
Getting good pictures require big lenses (That’s Jerry on the right in a double with Peter.)
Birthing time in Redwood City’s Bair Island
Jerry has taken LOTS of pictures of Harbor Seals!
Long Beach Hummer
Once again our Oak Titmouse parents raised and successfully launched their 6 babies.
Six babies – 3 have hatched here
Cru, Minions, Kyle and Dr. Nefario (with pumpkin)
Analiese (7) is doing gymnastics!
Disneyland Miles (10), Waverly (4) and Analiese (7)
Amanda and Melissa are doing well and involved with all the activities of an active Four year old! So we have had a great time watching soccer, T-ball, gymnastics as well as going to Long Beach university to see a Do-wop performance. It’s wonderful to be able to spend more time with them.
Capt. Waves
Jerry’s niece Sarah and her daughter Em came to Long Beach to visit. We did Universal Studio Tours, dolphin viewing and went to the Pride Parade in Long Beach!
Andrea and Martin continue to do well in Boise. Miles is 10, is a voracious reader and has developed a love of baseball. Analiese is 7 doing gymnastics and becoming quite an artist. Wonderful drawings and figurines. We’re delighted to be able to spend a lot of time with their family too and feel lucky to be able to do this.
As usual, we wish you all health, time enough to do the things you wish, and money enough to afford them. Until we’re out of this covid business, feel free to ask us to zoom. Hopefully later we can invite you to come by and see us if you are every in our area! We would love to visit!
Barbara & Jerry Pierce
Our Emails are: Jerry: jerry@jerrypierce.org; Barbara: barbara@barbarapierce.org Andrea: andrea@jerrypierce.org; Amanda: amandaapierce@gmail.com