December 25, 2019

Greetings friends!

Cathy and I want to wish you all a splendid wrap-up of the year, with good Christmas cheer, and of course the BIG WISH for a very special 2020…it feels like it should be a special year! We hope you fill it with magical resolutions!

2019 was mildly eventful for both of us. Our year started on holiday in San Francisco with Cathy’s brother Kent, touring the Bay Area and including a visit to the awesome Muir Woods redwood forest.

Upon returning to New York, Robert focused on preparing for his graduation recital in April, which was fun and marked the end of his four years at the New School and City College where he earned a bachelor degree in Jazz Studies and Performance, summa cum laude.

Meanwhile, Cathy has continued to enjoy her job as Career Counselor for students at Columbia University, and is happy to report that an increasing number of young graduates are interested in the field of sustainability, a job sector we urgently need to expand.

In May, Cathy “bit the bullet” and had a knee replacement, which has proven to be a great success, as she is now able to walk pain-free (and has a straight leg again!).

During the summer, Robert spent some time in London visiting his brother Martin (& family), as well as his Aunt in the delightful town of Wells in Somerset. He also managed to get to Rome in time for an important jazz workshop with legendary bebop pianist Barry Harris.

Robert continues to play jazz piano in the New York jazz scene and tries to spread the “gospel of jazz” to anyone willing to listen.

Being New Yorkers, we rarely use the car, but we did dust off the car’s cobwebs on one occasion to drive up to Portland (Maine) where we spent a fun weekend attending a friend’s wedding and exploring that friendly town.

Hope to see you soon!........................... Happy Holidays…………………… Robert & Cathy