10/10/2024
Subject: Thank You for the Birthday Wishes (and Surviving Hurricane Milton!)
Hey everyone!
Wow, what a birthday it’s been already! First of all, a huge thank you for all the warm wishes. You really know how to make a person feel loved—even when the weather outside is a bit, shall we say, dramatic!
I fell asleep last night to the soothing sounds of heavy rain and howling winds, courtesy of Hurricane Milton. At 4:30 AM, it felt like I was in a live-action disaster movie with the freight train special effects rolling right over my house! I woke up to find the power out and my yard resembling a scene from a yard sale gone wrong. The only real casualty was my wooden fence, which decided to take an unexpected trip to the neighbor's yard. Sorry, neighbors!
Now, assuming the power returns (and Milton doesn’t decide to make a comeback), I’m planning on celebrating my birthday this Saturday with family and friends. I’ll be firing up my new Pit Boss cabinet-style smoker grill—yes, I finally upgraded from my trusty old charcoal grill! Get ready for a barbecue feast featuring smoked chicken, ribs, and sausage. Think of it as my way of saying thank you for the birthday wishes, and also as a way to distract you from the fact that I’m now 59 (but still feel like 29... until I step onto the pickleball court, that is).
So thanks again, everyone! Stay safe out there, and I can’t wait to celebrate with all of you soon!
Cheers and (hopefully) smoky goodness ahead!
Jim Reetz
