Dear Friends, Family, and Co-Workers,
Happy holidays to everyone. We hope that this letter finds you well, warm and wonderful. It's been quite the year, and we would like to take this moment to update our loved ones on what the Lindquists-Mark, Donna, Mark Jr. and Javier-have been up to in 2004.
To quickly answer the question that we're sure is on everyone's mind concerning Mark: Yes, the rash has started to recede. Though it has puzzled doctors since April; the strange blistering red blotches turned out not to be contagious. And just as mysteriously it started to spread from his stomach to his face and hands, the rash has receded back to a small spot above his naval. The Lindquists pride themselves on good health, so it goes without saying that this comes as quite a relief.
Our lovely wife and mother, Donna, spent most of 2004 traveling Central and South America for her new job. We joke that medical pharmaceuticals are so expensive because they have to pay for all of Donna's trips to Columbia, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Haiti and, oddly enough, Cuba. We miss her dearly when she's on the road, but she calls home everyday. What a treat that she's back in the kitchen for Thanksgiving and Christmas. But as soon as the New Year arrives, Donna says her employers are sending her to Hong Kong, Thailand, and the scenic poppy country of the new Afghanistan. What a worldly woman and a great mother!
Also, we like ask our friends and family that if they receive subpoenas regarding Donna's income tax situation, please consult our own family attorneys before answering any questions on record.
Mark Jr. (or as he likes to be called: Susan) plans to use his holiday vacation to hit the books, so he can finally get through the eighth grade. We're confident he won't make it three years in a row. Let's all cross our fingers. Mark Jr. says he likes Home Economics the best and wants to grow up to sew dresses for overweight women. Now that's a little guy with a big plan! We'll just have to see if Santa brings him that paisley fabric he's wanted for so long.
We would like to take this opportunity to ask you to please speak with discretion concerning Mark Jr.'s swim team incident. It's over and done with. Our family and the victim's family have all moved on after much hard work in counseling and the courtroom.
As most of you know, Donna brought a beautiful blessing into the family after one of her trips to Columbia. Javier turns three years old on Dec. 27. Or so the paper work says. We've officially adopted him and love him like any other Lindquist. He's a tough little guy that didn't have much of a chance in the poverty-ridden shanties in Bogota. But the good Lord brought him into our lives and we hope to provide him with a healthy and happy home. Santa might have a soccer ball waiting for him under the tree this year. Mark plans to enroll Javier into an intense soccer training camp next June. He might seem a little young for that kind of thing, but you know how much Mark wants another athlete in the family. And Donna does claim that Javier's dad played mid-field for a Colombian traveling semi-pro team before he went to jail where he was unfortunately tortured and executed. Donna says he had the most muscular legs she's ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Let's hope that doesn't skip a generation.
The Lindquists would like to extend our warmest wishes and happiest thoughts to all our friends and family for the Holiday Season.
