As Albert Einstein said: "LEARN FROM YESTERDAY, LIVE FOR TODAY, HOPE FOR TOMORROW"

Robert & Cathy (with puffy vest - not her belly), December 24, 2025, Sarasota

2025 brought big changes to the United States , but Robert and Cathy have continued to live a full and active life, impervious to the drama happening around them. They made a conscious decision not to let bad or troubling news affect their lives, mainly because there is nothing they can do to change the way other people think.

Robert continues to play his regular Tuesday gig with the Foot Note Jazz Band, which he enjoys immensely, as well as direct his own band called Sarasota Fusion.

Cathy has been spending much of her retirement time producing fabulous quilts and fabric collages, mostly of rural landscapes. The colors are spectacular! Here are her latest works:

Created from a photo taken in Oakland , California , in 2018

Robert was thrilled to start collaborating with the Barry Harris Institute of Jazz, creating jazz courses and instructional apps. This gave him the opportunity to go to New York to contribute to the yearly week-long workshop held at The New School.

August and September were dedicated to travels in Europe . We drove around Ireland in our 30-year-old Fiat Uno, visiting Robert's relatives near Cork , and explored County Roscommon in the north, as well as a day trip to Dublin . We also visited more relatives and friends in Wales , Hereford , Dorset, London , Pisa , Florence and Rome . Here are some photos from our trip:

Bantry House , Ireland , August 8, 2025

Ireland was fascinating. We were able to stay in Robert's cousin Merrily's cottage in Strokestown. Above is an aerial view of the maze, built by Merrily, which Robert explored (with a string to find his way back!), and found some delicious blackberries in the center!

We were thrilled to welcome Robert's brother Martin and his son Leo for a 5 day visit to Sarasota , after Leo (age 10) acquired his American citizenship a few days earlier.

Robert, Martin and Leo at Lunch at St. Armand's Circle, Sarasota . October 24, 2025