Dear Family and Friends,

We end this year with gratitude despite all the challenges we and so many others have faced this year.

Jocelyn says:

I started the year by joining Bellevue Presbyterian Church where I have been a parishioner for nearly 10 years. We're grateful that BelPres had been streaming their services over the Internet for years, but we are especially appreciative now. We do miss gathering in person, but BelPres has been creative and thoughtful in the many ways they've supported many families in the community during this time of crisis.

I have been contributing to the Justice and Racial Reconciliation Team since 2017, creating their resources website and sending their newsletter out twice a month. When the death of George Floyd shook the conscience of the nation, BelPres was ready with book and video recommendations, Bible study materials, and other aids for Christians who are trying to understand our role in the reconciliation process. (Have a look!)   

My contract with JPMorgan Chase ended in February (a few weeks early), just in time for the COVID shutdowns and all that entailed. Thankfully, unemployment payments and extra COVID relief money got us through the summer. Just as that financial support was about to run out, I was asked to return to Providence Health's marketing technology team for a short-term contract that will last into 2021.

During that 6-month hiatus, I connected with a mentor, David Newman, a fellow member of the National Speakers Association who I had met in 2015. David helped me begin the process of building a new business from scratch, specifically one that helps business executives organize and support their remote workforce. Remote work/working from home is expected to continue long after everyone is vaccinated since companies have figured out that it can be quite successful. I plan to launch that business in early 2021, working from home of course!

McAlister has gotten used to having me at home again after being accustomed to sending me off to work every morning. So far I'm behaving, staying in my office and warning him when I'm on a videoconference meeting. The door to his studio is in my office, and he can be seen the background! McAlister continues to create his art, experimenting with new techniques in mold-making. We're revamping his websites to highlight his new work.

McAlister says:

Merry Christmas. Jocelyn and I decided that since we are using Zoom for our other contacts (except Saturdays at the Starbucks... driveUp) that we should send our Christmas card as a digital communication too. So here it is.

We all now know about Covid-19. Like so many others it has kept us at home. Fortunately I have the studio and J has her office (with the comfortable chair). Fortunately too, her job can be handled online so she loses the commutes each way and her only problem is dealing with me all day. We DO love each other so there's not much suffering on either side.

Meridith came up here to get beaten at a couple Air Hockey games. We visited Bulleye Glass in Portland. As I promised myself, even with the way "45" has been this year (and besides my Facebook posts), I have gotten more glasswork done than I did last year. I lost some weight. I found most of it behind and around the turkey J cooked for Thanksgiving.

I've kept my membership with Pacific Northwest Sculptors, even though all their meetings are in Portland, and they called and asked me to add my studio to their list of featured video presentations. Meridith critiqued the staging as Producer, Jocelyn did the filming (see the credits below) and editing, I rehearsed and straightened the studio. Thank goodness both Meridith and J saved me from the worst of it by reminding me that I was to present a "working" studio. I think they did a great job (see it below).

https://www.glassstudiogeek.com/studio-tour

We both say:

We are doing well. We hope we get to soon extend our outside exercising that will include more than attacking blackberries and chasing rabbits.

Thank you to all of you who have sent us holiday greetings! It's so good to hear from you. We cherish our connection to you, our family and friends. We wish you all well.

With love and gratitude,

McAlister Merchant and Jocelyn "Toolie®" Garner