Connie & Jack Hopkins Web Page
212 Cromwell Ave - Tarboro, NC 27886
Telephone 252-823-2980

Dear Family and Friends,

With only days before Christmas, it’s time to review my calendar and reminisce. Since I never found the time or energy to write in 2009, I will attempt to cover the past two years. I’m sure I will forget some things and have insufficient space for much, but no one and nothing is ever omitted in my heart.

Though plagued with medical problems and resulting treatments in 2009 and 2010, I feel lucky to be alive and am now feeling almost normal. I give thanks to God and to all who called, visited, sent cards & emails and prayed for me.

Mother was with me until June 2009 and a big help. In April 2009, doctors determined her aortic valve to be functioning well enough to leave it be. She’s now home with her dog, Max, and cat, Sophie. Even thought her balance is off and her memory is failing she is able to remain in her home.

I’m happy to say that Uncle BF, Mother’s brother, is doing really well since bypass surgery in July 2009. Uncle Otis, her other brother, has been in and out of the hospital these 2 years but continues to plug along. Aunt Rachel continues as the Belle of Spring Arbor - involved in everything!

We all enjoyed the Jefferys, and Sue Mossman (an honorary Jefferys) beach week in June 2009 and in 2010, all of our Jeffreys family from Maryland rented a place and joined us at Topsail. Though shortly after my unplanned helicopter ride to Duke, I made it to the beach in 2010 too. Couldn‘t miss it!

Our July 4^th Family Reunion was well attended in 2009, but because they had just been with us at the beach in 2010, only Bill and Carol joined us in Tarboro. Hopefully, everyone will be available to attend in 2011.

In April 2009 my friend Beverly Sessoms and I opened a booth at Riverside Mill in Weldon, NC, striving to sell antiques and collectibles. We truly loved the experience but with the economy and our health issues, we closed in October 2010. Now we are enjoying Watercolor workshops and painting together as often as we can. Beverly really has the talent and I have a good time trying.

Baron, our beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sweetly went to rest May 29, 2009. His little heart gave out after 8 ½ years of loving us and our hearts were devasted. We still have our, now 8 year old, Bebe, but she and we were so lonely that in August 2009 we acquired two more Cavaliers, Pal and Doc. Bebe still takes all their toys and chewies but she and we love them so! Our dogs truly make us better people.

Sadly, we loss two dear lawyer friends in these years: Perry Jenkins in June 2009 and Jimmy Keel in January 2010. Both were much too young to leave us and are truly missed.

In September of both years the 4 beach buddies, Judy Silveri, Sue Mossman, Rene Long and I, were able to make all or part of our Myrtle Beach week. Here’s hoping in 2011 we will all be there, all week!

October 8, 2009 the Jefferys family welcomed a new baby girl, Issaca. The proud Mom & Dad, Jason (Lannie & Sue’s son) and Jessica have a real cutie on their hands!

In November, 2009 Fernando, Cecy and Fernandito arrived for a visit. Fernando stayed only 2 weeks, leaving the USA on the same day his father, General Edmundo Vaca, who had been in a serious decline, died. He was a dear man and family to us.

Cecy and Fernandito stayed until the end of January 2010 so Fernandito could attend school and learn as much English as possible. He became quite proficient and we enjoyed them so much. Cecy was a great help to me and learned a lot of English too.

In March of 2010 Sue & Cam Williams, Judy & Tony Silveri and Jack & I set sail aboard a Nor0-virus plagued Celebrity ship and lived to rue the day! Judy & Tony remained healthy but were pretty much abandoned as Sue & I both were in bed for days and Jack was moving about slowly; however, Cam, was in critical care, on life support, within days of returning home. He developed encephalitis and scared us all to death. Thanks to our gracious Lord, he is now doing well. We’ve since visited with them several times in Sun City, SC and they have also visited with us.

Since August 2009 I have been involved with a local TV station, WHIG, doing a show with Sandra Smith, the station’s manager, called “Girl Talk”. It’s been lost of fun and you can see it on live stream on the internet on Monday nights at 6:00 PM and maybe Thursday’s at 11:30 AM. I think a few of the shows have been archived so you can see them anytime. This is the same station Jack does his “Jack & Company” show, which is also available for viewing on the internet.

In October 2010 we were happy to have Bill Lamb visit us, looking so well after his by-pass surgery earlier in the year.

November 2010 Jack and I stopped in Jacksonville, FL to spend an all too brief time with Louise & Gifford Grange and Sally & Bert Roselle, Jack’s lifelong buddies, all with near together birthdays. We were on the way to Jack’s FSU alumni weekend where we once again enjoyed the company of his Lamdi Chi Brothers and their spouses. Then on the way home, we enjoyed a reception in Madison, Florida to honor Sis Hopkins, Jack’s Great-Aunt and former Madison resident, who owned and operated the local Sis Hopkins Inn, was a local artist and art teacher. We donated 10 of Sis’s beautiful paintings we have enjoyed in our home for years, to the local history museum for safe keeping and tribute to a lovely lady.

On the way north we stopped in Sun City to visit Sue & Cam Williams, enjoy a short boat excursion with their son Matthew and new daugher-in-law, Rebecca, and visit with Cam’s brother Jeff. Jack McGann, our DC friend, and his brother, Tom, who were in the area, also joined us and the Williams.

Jack is currently developing our personal website at www.jackhopkins.com where you can read this letter and keep up with us all year. If you have a email address and I don’t have it, please email it to me for next year.

This Christmas all will be quiet around the Hopkins. John is on call, so he and Becky will be arriving to celebrate the holidays on or about New Year’s Eve. George too is on call so we are expecting his arrival, along with his friend Laura and our grandson, Justin, on or about December 27^th. That means that Corbin, Mother, Aunt Rachel, our friends, Gladys and Herb Greenberg, Jack and I will be the Christmas crowd. Even though the group will be small, it is the spirit and remembering the reason for the season that’s important.

To all our family and friends and especially those who are recovering from surgeries, facing surgeries and treatments, dealing with health issues yourself or that of a loved one, missing family or friends who have passed away, I pray that your 2011 will be happier, healthier and more prosperous than ever. Keep your faith in the Father and feel His love through His Son, whose birth we now celebrate.

Merry Christmas & love to all,

Connie & Jack Hopkins