Dear Friends from all over the world,

Tis the season for caring and compassion. Maybe the “poor people” word can be used at this time, even by politicians. Jan and I both have the problem of caring too deeply for all people and life in any form as we know it. We wish happiness and health to all and an end to suffering physically and emotionally. Please Santa, give us this for Christmas.

Now back to reality. Let me say that we are doing our thing in our own way and preparing for the New Year with paintings to add to the joy of those who see joy in Jan’s work. We feel that is all we can do to help this world be a better place. There are many who can volunteer to push wheelchairs but few who can paint like Jan. Creativity is still very sound in her work. I keep checking! I Joke.

When we lived in Georgia, after the kids left home, we would take three families (found by Cyndy) and provide a Christmas with food, clothing, and toys. We didn’t get to see the families, for they were to remain secret. We’d load the van full of stuff and Cyndy would deliver it. Some of the neighborhoods where they lived would hear shots every night. Some slept in the bathtub for protection. We always added books, the deliverance from the depths of poverty for the few. It was our gift to mankind. Cyndy said that I needed to learn southern foods. I’d send navy beans, white potatoes, white flour, turkey, and the like. I needed to send pinto beans, sweet potatoes and corn bread fixings, ham, and so forth. I did learn to do the latter. It would take all December to put it all together but was so rewarding for us, and I’m sure the families as well who had two rewards: the material, and the thought that someone out there cared.

Dorer Studio has had another successful year. We have worked as we wish to work and have successfully sold paintings so that there is a need to build a better inventory of great Jan Dorer work. This is underway and will continue in the spring of next year. We’ll be there with the best we can do with what we have got. That statement comes from my dad who would say, ” He does the best he can with what he’s got.” I’ve always considered that a beautiful observation without prejudice. It takes into consideration ones ability, mentally, physically, and emotionally. What more can we ask that to be judged in such a manner.

Speaking of my dad I’d like to tell a story on him. From about 75 to 90 years old he had a club with the neighborhood kids, ages about 4 to 9. It was a “good deed club”. Each kid would put in two cents a week and Saturday morning they’d all meet in our backyard and each kid would have to tell of a good deed, other than normal good things, they had done during the week. At the end of the summer they would have a party with the money, greatly added to by my parents. What an idea for all of us! My dad, Steve Dorer, humbled most people. I remember visiting and the doorbell rang. Mom answered the door and three little kids, ages 4 to 6, where there. One kid said, “Mrs. Dorer, can Steve come out and play?” Dad went to the door and said he’d be out later. Dad had a dartboard on the garage door and would play darts with the kids. He could not see well due to the retina problem. I told him of the son of a friend who lost his eye to a dart and he agreed to stop that game. Next I learned he had replaced the dart game with mumbly peg, a game where one flips a jack knife, with open blades, in the air to see if the blade will stick in the board below. Some old duffers will never grow up.

Save some time from the business of Christmas and pause to reflect on its meaning.

Love,
Gil
(With Jan looking over my shoulder)