"Yes, Mrs. Gilmore," Juanita replied, as she entered the room carrying a stack of holiday-related mail.
"Oh for goodness' sake! Catalogues, catalogues…nothing but…haven't they noticed that there isn't a single trailer park in this zip code?"
Emily pushed the pile of mail away, only to be captivated by the glossy exterior of a very luxe vellum envelope. Intrigued, she reached over to fetch it from the pile.
"The Moores" headlined the return address, carefully rendered in calligraphy.
"Why, Catherine Thurston Moore!" Emily delightedly exclaimed, carefully opening the letter. Slipping the equally heavy vellum from the envelope, she opened it and began reading.
"Dearest Friends and Family,
Welcome! Welcome to the first edition of the Moore Family Christmas letter!"
Aghast, Emily dropped the letter. A Christmas letter? A FAMILY Christmas letter? From a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution? "Maybe we really do have trailer parks in this zip code now," Emily mumbled, continuing to read in spite of herself.
"Well at least she used the best stationery and it was beautifully penned, not one of those laser printer abominations," Emily informed Juanita, who was still patiently standing by Emily's chair. "I'll have to check with Vivian and Bitsy; maybe this is one of those modern things to do, and if they're doing it, I don't want to be left out…"
---
Four days later, Juanita answered the doorbell.
"Delivery for Mrs. Richard Gilmore," the messenger proclaimed. "Will you sign?"
"Si."
"Juanita, is that the delivery from the printer?"
"Yes, ma'am…"
"Well don't take forever, bring it in here…"
---
Dear Friends and Family,
Welcome to the first edition of the Gilmore Christmas letter! I am delighted to share with you all the wonderful events that have blessed our family this past year.
The Year 2006 was as usual, a wonderful year full of charity benefits, tennis gatherings, golf outings, fine wines, vacations and thriving business adventures. However, this year, we also had some truly hard times (my devastating surgery) and very joyous times.
Richard's business continues to do extraordinarily well! His success led to his appointment as a PROFESSOR at Yale! Richard so enjoys mingling with the young people; nothing makes him happier than to know that others are benefiting from his vast knowledge and experience. Along with his career, his golf game continues in fine form, and luckily this allows me to spend most of my time devoted to the many charities I am involved with. And I hope I can also spend some time advising the other faculty wives!
Along with my new role as Yale faculty wife, I sponsored the Cotillion for the Fall Season. One simply can't begin early enough to stress the finer points of living to today's young people. Besides sustaining the local chapter of the DAR, I have been very busy making sure that my tennis game continues to thrive. Richard and I also took an extended vacation to Europe this summer, where we enjoyed visiting our many friends. As the grandparents of an active Yale senior, we also attended the many activities that Yale sponsors for the parents and grandparents of its students.
When not spending time with our pursuits, we enjoy significant time in New York, where we became patrons of the wonderful artist Kiki Smith. We are so thrilled to have discovered her!
However, all my charitable work almost was for naught when my eyes were butchered by an eye surgeon who I shall not name. (But suffice it to say that Adelina Parker is no longer part of the Orchestra League.) Fortunately, Richard was able to negotiate a handsome settlement, but that did not come close to ameliorating the tragedy I suffered. I was unable to drive myself! And competent hired drivers are even more difficult to find than household help! All this right before our trip to Europe!
Of course, the light of our lives continues to be our lovely granddaughter, Rory. As you may recall, Rory took a leave of absence from Yale last year to undertake a management internship with the DAR. She effortlessly transitioned from this internship back to Yale, where she immediately became the editor of the incomparable Yale Daily News! We are proud of our granddaughter and equally proud of the new science building, the Rory Gilmore Astronomy Building! I'm thinking of commissioning Kiki to do a portrait of our Rory--there's so much wall space inside there!
Rory continues to do well at Yale and is on her way to graduating, summa cum laude no doubt, this spring. Socially, she's still seeing young Logan Huntzberger, and has enjoyed several visits from him ever since he took on his new business venture in London, England. She enjoys an abiding friendship with the former Miss Honor Huntzberger and served as Maid of Honor at the wedding of her childhood friend, the recording artist Miss Kim Lane.
All this reminiscing of weddings brings me to the most important news, that concerning my daughter Lorelai Victoria. The year began with Lorelai engaged to Lucas Danes, a Stars Hollow restaurateur. She had planned June 3 nuptials, selecting a divine original Monique Lhuillier creation. Unfortunately, custody issues with Mr. Danes' child from a previous union prompted Lorelai to wisely reevaluate her choices, and it is thus that I am thrilled to say that Lorelai Victoria Gilmore is now the blissful Mrs. Christopher Haden!
We are so happy that Lorelai and Christopher finally tied the knot in the romantic village of Giverny, France! Their private ceremony in a most picturesque chapel included a beautiful dinner, complete with the finest assortment of local fromages and a chocolate mousse that apparently was to die for!
Rory, as you can imagine, is the happiest I have ever seen her--so wonderfully thrilled to finally have the family she always needed and deserved. She is delighted to be a half-sister to Christopher's daughter Georgia Haden, who resides with her mother in Paris, France, and is looking forward to having a real sibling or two now that her parents have married.
So the Gilmore family had a wonderful year, as usual, and we are looking forward to an even happier 2007. Life is perfect, and we'd like to share our good fortune. Perhaps we'll see you at the dedication of the Rory Gilmore Astronomy Building, or socially along with the Christopher Hadens.
With fond wishes for a Happy New Year,
Emily Gilmore
(Mrs. Richard Gilmore)
---
"Ooh, that's really pretty paper," Liz crooned as she leaned across the diner counter.
"Geez, Louise, Liz. Cover up; your brother doesn't want to see those hanging on the counter," TJ interrupted.
"Grandma's written a Christmas letter," Rory mumbled, somewhat embarrassed, quickly crumpling the letter and stuffing it into her purse.
"Christmas letters! I love those! Hey, maybe I should write one, eh TJ? Aw, Doula, have you had enough on this side?"
iNext: Liz's turn.../i