Annual Report - End of Year Letter : Jim and Elayne Mayrides

Happy New Year. You folks are doing great work to keep our XUnicef moving and working with good features. Much appreciated.

I am sending our annual letter for possible publishing on your pages. It includes a photo of all the members of our immediate clan.

Sending sincere regards and hoping that you and your team keep on chugging along. All the best.

Jim and Elayne

Dear Family and Friends, December 2024

We hope that you will enjoy a happy and holy Christmas, and a New Year filled with love, laughter and happiness. Hopefully 2025 will be a banner year for every one of you.

We are closing in on our third year here in Walnut Meadows. We are pleased because we are exactly where we need to be at this stage of our lives. We are surrounded by friendly neighbors and quiet nature. We are very near to medical help if needed; our bank, supermarkets, other stores and a Planet Fitness gym which we try to visit two or three times a week.

Jim is completing his 2-year term as elected President of our Community Association, a wonderful social club. He was supported by a 9-member Board of Directors who were fun to work with. WMCA is an excellent outfit of some 190 members interested in having fun and celebrating life.

Elayne has been the club’s First Lady involved with hospitality for our monthly meetings as well as volunteering on our Welcoming Committee to introduce new residents to the WMCA. She also volunteers as a member of the Nominating Committee and our Choir. Both she and Jim joined Pinocle groups and miss their Bridge exploits. We played in Shuffleboard and Bocce tournaments and are slowly getting the hang of these activities. Elayne loves to garden and constantly produces new ideas for how we utilize our one-floor, no stairs modular home.

Son Drew lives 2 miles away from us in Hatfield. He works full time in a nearby Wawa store and covers the cold room. Wawa is a very good company to work for. He was able to pay off the cost of his new 2020 Honda Fit. He lives in a modular home on a quiet street and upgraded both bathrooms and recently his kitchen. He has settled in nicely.

Martin and Susana still reside in Lexington, South Carolina. She teaches Spanish inclusion with a specialty approach. Mart works in a car dealership and checks and certifies the used cars being traded into the business. Alex has married a beautiful woman, Victoria, and they have moved to Columbia, SC and are expecting a child in a few months. Victoria is a nurse, and Alex works in cyber security. Steffan graduated from university and is seeking work in the field of Dance, although currently works in a clothing store. The clan is quite excited about its new arrival soon.

Nick and Verlinda are still in Telford, about 15 minutes from us and Drew. Vee is closing in on retirement from her work as a Counselor. Nick works as a painter mostly in buildings of the Mennonite community retirement homes. Dylan graduated last year from Montgomery College in Art. He works in the interim with his dad painting also for the Mennonites. Michael graduated with a degree from Penn College of Technology and began his career as a welder. Both he and Dylan are often available to help us when some muscle is needed.

Mo and Eva Maria live in Miami and work as Consultants on health-related issues in the Americas mostly. They manage a non-profit organization to assist women suffering from cancer. Emma will be 13 this coming April. Besides great school grades, she is an up-and-coming golfer, piano and soccer player. She is tri-lingual and becoming quite a senorita. Lucy is 8 and is studying in a French school. She loves the piano and is full of fun.

Ben and Kira are in Virginia and becoming empty nesters. Ben works in cyber security and Kira is looking into the possibility of becoming a nurse. Jessica graduated from Virginia Commonwealth with honors in graphic design and is living in Richmond, VA. Noah was accepted to William and Mary University and is undeclared as a freshman.

Ana Teresa (Tessa) is happily ensconced in a company which covers flights to evacuate people requiring urgent or special medical attention. Her daughter Sofia (Fia) is tackling her schoolwork and turns 11 in February. They reside in a neat townhouse in Davie, FL. Fia has become a hip-hop dancer and is quite good. She benefits from the love and care of two Moms, Tessa and Rina.

It is interesting to note that 4 of our grandchildren are now able to join their elders to enjoy an adult beverage. It makes us wonder where all the years have gone. Speaking of years, we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary in the Spring.

Our political situation proves that democracy works. It will be an interesting time for all of us as we watch and wait for what will be brought to bear for everyone.

Our address is:
22 Chestnut CT E,
Harleysville, PA. 19438

and phone numbers: Elayne 484-888-3770 and Jim 484-467-4112.

Our best wishes to everyone!

Jim & Elayne