A Christmas Letter from Judy & Rodger Donahue
(click on photos for a larger view)

Dear friends and family,
If you were on your roof top any time this
year you’ve already heard that Rodger’s
cancer is under control. We hope this
period of grace will last for many years.

My garden is my universe.

• This year was a banner year. A friend built a big
arbor behind the summer kitchen as we call
the metal building in the back yard.
I have grapes, raspberries, hanging baskets,
and a montana rubens clematis that
covers all the roof with pink.

The same friend built a tall sturdy
arch/arbor with two benches that I can
drive my tractor through to a hidden
garden I am building. I have a cl. Cecil
Brunner on one side and a cl. New Dawn
on the other. Come sit with us and look
out over the pasture, corn fields and
woods. You won’t see a single deer. I
told you this is paradise.

I belong to two Red Hat Groups just so I
have something fun to do while Rodger works.

Here I am as a Huntingburg Red Hat Honey.
I kinda look like Mole. But I party like Badger.
Rodger says I drive Like Toad. All I know is
it all feels good to be me.

I’m turning over the 50th edition of the
Judy Fay Christmas letter to Rodger.

Judy has given me the privilege,
nay the responsibility, oh further nay,
the obligation to add the male
prospective to our Christmas
communication. At first she was going
with Chelsea,

but I pulled the politically correct card
and pointed out that Chelsea, although a
sensitive and caring pug, was female and
for that reason and that reason alone, ( I
did start a murmur campaign about her
lack of typing skills), it would be hard for
her to represent the male viewpoint. I
would be a better choice, even if I lacked
her sensitivity skills.{Chelsea wanted to
be paid. Ed}

Where to start? Judy probably
failed to mention she has become a
leading light in our church’s health
ministry, and out reach worker. I have
no privacy. The house is filled from dawn
to dusk with elderly ladies coming in,
bending down on one knee, (something
to see in itself) kissing her ring and
requesting favors from Mrs. Don of the
church.

She designed and made 27
costumes for the church Christmas Play.
As the applause rolled out all I could hear
was “ Forget the actors we want to
see the costumes again.” Of course
once I was escorted out, the noise
did die down somewhat. She did a
great job.

To me, Judy’s other yearly
highlight was teaching the ladies of
the Huntingburg Red Hat Honey’s
how to fly kites. Although I believe
some of the credit goes to me as I
had been suggesting that all these
ladies go and fly kites for years.

There they were on the bluffs of
the Ohio River, walkers and canes
flying along with their kites. The
manager of the Overlook
Restaurant, was glad for the
entertainment of the his lunch
customers. He was also relieved
there were no broken hips. Kite
Runners note— It was so much
fun!

Chelsea told me she has had a
satisfying but uneventful year.
Which, she says, is the way most
dogs prefer it. She takes me for
walks two or three times a day. If I
do a good job walking and
observing traffic she will sometimes
share a dog biscuit with me. Her only
complaint is having to be left behind in
solitary while we made several short
trips. But since we felt properly guilty
upon our return she forgives us.

My biggest change is teaching High
School. I started substituting this Fall
and I love it. There are some classes in
which I am sorry I don’t have my tear
gas and handcuffs. That only makes the
good classes and most are good classes,
that much better. I enjoyed being a
Parole Agent and didn’t think anything
would ever touch it, but teaching does. If
only the principal weren’t so strict about
my being on time.

Rodger and Chelsea watch TV

Chelsea waiting for Rodger to come
home.
{Editorial aside----Rodger
can’t bear to take Chelsea to the
vets for boarding so before each
trip I have to take her by myself.
Now she simply won’t get into her
‘house’ in the van unless Rodger is
also in the van.

By the time he gets out again
she is securely zippered into her
traveling house and escape is
impossible.

We’re driving down to see
Rodger’s brother and sister in
Alabama for New Year’s and
Chelsea is not invited. ( Maureen
has a white Poodle, Pooh who
refuses to breath the same air as a
Pug.)

I’m not looking forward to
driving a dog whining 99 verses of
Dead Dog Walking all the way to
the vet’s by myself. But I can do
it.}

Hope everyone reading this has
had or will have as great a year as
we have.

Our best wishes of the
upcoming year to you,

Judy Rodger and Chelsea