Merry Matterhorn
and a
Peak New Year!

Wishing you mountains of happiness,
great heights of prosperity,
and new summits of joy
in 2010!

Dear Friends,

Yes, 2009 bit us in the butt, too. We had bad luck with finances, investments, contract/client losses, and a great editing/training job opportunity that slipped away from me.

Of course, a lot of wonderful things happened as well. And Ron and I didn't let a rough year stop us from traveling, including two trips to the US, plus Switzerland, France, Germany and Italy. (What can I say? It's what they do over here.)

Big news: In March, I finally achieved Dutch nationality, giving me dual US/Dutch citizenship, plus permanent membership in the EU.

We also reconnected with people from the past. Ron's family had its first-ever reunion, with more than fifty people - a great time! I've reconnected with some high school friends after 40(!) years, and I plan to hook up with them in Georgia, in January.

Gabriel and Krystle got two more businesses going this year, including their design company, Serious&Ly, plus the online side of Need Supply in Richmond. Zooey "started school" at VCU's Child Development Center and continues to be a well-of-happiness. Michael and Cristina concentrated on art and school. She completed a three-month internship at a restaurant in a castle-turned-hotel near us in Holland. Michael did a thirteen-state, three-country roadtrip, including visiting us during Cristina's last three weeks. It was a busy and fun autumn in our house! Joseph, like a good pioneer, traveled ahead of his family to San Francisco, California and secured a dream programmer job with Apple. (That makes it sound as if it were easy, when actually it took him years of self-study into the nights, often holding Oscar as he slept in his arms. Well done, JoJo!) Holly determinedly lead Oscar through those first months of tummy troubles, and now he's happy, peaceful, healthy and robustly round, like all Ricioppo babies! Zosha is a sophomore studying Dutch literature at University Amsterdam. She loves her job at the hugely popular Pasta e Basta in Amsterdam and is taking singing lessons to perform with the rest of the staff.

These are some of our favorite photos from 2009.

What to expect in 2010? Let's envision a year of greatness and hope fulfilled. We wish you good health, prosperity, the energy and resources to accomplish what you want, a safe place to always turn within, and lots of joy in your days and hearts.

Love,
Ron and Grace