I did something somewhat unusual, certainly for me, this year.

On the 24th, I took a wife. After 12 years as a widower, I finally decided it was time to lean back and focus on what is really important in life.

We're both past the years of raising children, but not of enjoying the ones we have and the fruits of many years' labor. I'm not working too much these days, as the economy seems to be putting downward pressure on the need for proof of concept, prototyping, etc, and I've been trying to retire since the early '90's. I'll probably get a call from time to time to keep my fingers in it, but the work isn't that important to me any longer. Many people have retired by the time they reach my age, but I couldn't refuse the long-time customers.

I'll keep on nagging you guys not to forget the "old ways" even though they don't seem particularly vital. Back in the day, there was some concern about quality, something that seems to have "gone away" over the decades. Maybe something will happen that will revive interest in that.

Let's hope for a New Year that's better for all of us, and for all the rest of the people with whom we share this world.

RE