We have made it into 2025. Hoping everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Winter has just begun. Parts of the country are getting snow and others very cold weather. Maybe the weather will calm down a little, but we don't know for sure. Hope everyone got everything they wanted for Christmas and lots of great food to eat. Family time is for Christmas, and we hope everyone got to see their family even if they do not live close by. Let's all get ready for a good 2025, as it will pass us by faster than we want it too.

Chat room 40-up is alive and well. We chat twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday nights at 8pm Eastern Time. We all enjoy the time we are able to chat together. We miss a few of our regular chatters for one reason or another. A couple of them are having trouble trying to get in or stay in the room. If you are having trouble getting into the room, contact either Truckr or myself. We will be glad to help you and see that you are able to chat with us. For others, please take a little time out of your busy schedules and join us in chat even if you cannot make it every week. We miss all our chatters when you are unable to join us. Make a New Year's Resolution and plan to join us in chat at least once a week or no less than twice a month. Join us and you may want to come in our room more often.

See you in chat very soon. Don't forget to contact us if you need any help.

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SOME IMPORTANT NEWS FROM BETHY

As the year winds up and a new one begins, I am left thinking about what a whirlwind of changes this past year has been for myself and my family. Within the last year, I’ve decided to return to school for my master’s degree, applied and got accepted into three universities, and I have successfully completed my first semester of grad school with a 4.0 and I’ve made wonderful friends in the process. My three boys who are still at home are doing better than they’ve ever done in school and just life in general. Stability is really relieving and so very welcome! Natasha’s therapy business is booming and she’s had to start a waiting list for popular time slots.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my family and I went to Louisiana to visit NOLady, Obi and their families.We had a wonderful time and we’ve come up with some great activities for all of us to do while we’re in the New Orleans area in May of 2026.Speaking of… before we know it, it’ll be May of 2026 and our big gathering will be happening. This is your friendly reminder to start saving now!We have several activities planned that we hope everyone can partake in during our gathering The activities we’ve planned as a group are: a swamp boat tour, a riverboat cruise and dinner with southern cuisine (dinner is an additional cost and is optional), exploring the French Quarter in New Orleans, and a tour of thousands of acres where you get to feed wildlife right from the back of the trailer. If there is interest in other activities that I haven’t listed, please reach out and I’ll see what I can come up with. Other activities I can arrange for folks could include but are not limited to: ghost tours, plantation tours, museums, etc. There is also an aquarium, insectarium and zoo in the greater New Orleans area that are also options for folks to visit. I will be working on lodging accommodations in the coming months.  If you have any specific requirements, please let me know as soon as possible.  One request so far has been that the place we choose will accommodate pets.

I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season and that you’ve had a chance to spend time with those you love and care about. here's to hoping for wonderful, prosperous new year everyone

 ~bethy

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A MESSAGE FROM GIDGET

Lots of things have happened in 2024, some good and some not so much. It's good to let go of the not so much and look forward to 2025 with hope. Some people have endured much tragedy with the fires, floods and winds. I wish them all a better year. Truckr and I are blessed to be here in Arizona enjoying the sunshine and our new home. We're looking forward to visitors this Spring - a host couple will be here in April and Beth (Annshanks) is coming as well. Also hope family and others will come.

Now it's time to start saving for our 2026 Gathering. I know it's going to be a wonderful time to get together with all the chatters.

Happy and prosperous 2025 to you all..

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A MESSAGE FROM BRUCE

Well here it is January 1st, 2025. Where the heck did 2024 go? As I remember 2024 was an interesting year. Just don't ask me what all happened during the year .  

 Not much going on here in AZ except all of the snowbirds have returned. We have to be careful when we go out on the roads, even just to Walmart as they have forgotten how to drive here in Bullhead. Sometimes it gets really scary!

I am in the middle of my usual round of Dr. appointments. So far they haven't really found any real problems so far. Still have a couple of tests they want done. Hope that's it as my January calendar is starting to fill up. At least January11th is open as we are going over to Laughlin, NV to take in a show.

Hope everyone had a great New Years eve whatever you choose to do. Then we will see what 2025 brings us.

Bruce

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TO JOIN US IN CHAT,

Simply click here.

A screen will open. There will be a box with 3 spaces. The first space asks for your Nick. Delete the "guest" nick in this box and put your nick in. The second space has our server listed. Do Not do anything with this space. The third space asks for a channel name. In this space, type #40-up. Next you will see a button marked "LOGIN". Just click the Login button, and you'll be in the room.

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For comments, questions, or just to pass the time of day, contact Gidge or Truckr