Well, it’s that time of year again. This one’s been a lot harder than most for the obvious reasons, but we’re slogging through. Aside from the occasional bouts of melancholy, I seem to be handling the holiday season OK. Dani’s been on a kick to make everything festive for us, for which I’m not sure I’ve shown the appreciation she deserves. Everything slows down during the holidays as folks prepare to gather with friends and family. Right now, slowing down is sort of the last thing I want to do. But, taking the time to appreciate those who are in my life and be glad for the blessings I’ve received is really something I do need to do, now more than ever.

So, on that cheery note, I present to you the Zazueta Christmas Letter 2005. Previous years can be found here: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001.

Dear friends and family,

We’ve had better years.

As many of you may know, we lost Rob’s mom Michele just before Thanksgiving. Fortunately for her, she went rather suddenly and without much suffering or pain. Unfortunately for us, she also went without much warning. Just a month before this, Danielle lost her job of two years. With the impending end of the year and the holidays approaching, prospects have been thin, but we hope the first of the year will bring with it many opportunities. So, while the holidays this year have been rough, to say the least, we’re doing our best to make the most of it and keep our chins up. We know that’s the way Mom wants it.

So, on to better things. Our journey through life together hit another milestone. Earlier this year, we bought a nice little house in Concord. Well, technically the bank bought it and, through their gracious generosity, has allowed us to live in it for a nominal fee - our first born, both our right arms and the right arm of our second born. Bay Area home prices are just crazy.

Home ownership has required us to take on entirely new responsibilities. Anything that breaks in the house - and things do break - is now completely up to us to fix. The supervisor at our last apartment complex has stopped returning our calls. Despite this, it’s been a true joy to have a home that we can call our own. Or, you know, the bank’s. Whatever.

We also took a trip this autumn back east to visit Danielle’s brother Zack and his fiancee Aida in Virginia. Thanks to Zack’s inimitably speedy tour guide style, we saw all of the major attractions in Washington D.C. on the first day and still got to breakfast on time. Though we miss them terribly and rue the day they packed up and left us for Eastern climes, it’s easy to see what attracted them to their new home. Of course, we weren’t there during the suffocating humid summer or the chilling snowy winter so our experiences may be incomplete.

Fortunately, Zack and Aida will be here on the West Coast avoiding their snow-shoveling duties and celebrating the holidays with us. This year more than ever, we realize how important it is to bring loved ones together and let them really know how much we love and appreciate them.

So gather your loved ones close and smother them with love and affection. We don’t believe Mom ever went a day without knowing how much we loved her, and we certainly never went a day without knowing how much she loved us. That’s the way it ought to be among everyone in your life. So take every opportunity to celebrate each other.

Warm holiday wishes and love,
Danielle and Rob Zazueta