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diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/letter.tex b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/letter.tex
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+% document
+\documentclass{letter}
+\usepackage[margin=0.5in]{geometry}
+\usepackage{multicol}
+
+% text
+\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
+\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}
+
+% graphics
+\usepackage{graphicx}
+\usepackage{wrapfig}
+
+% signature environment
+\newenvironment{sig}[1]%
+ {\begin{list}{}%
+         {\setlength{\leftmargin}{300pt}}%
+         \item[]%
+ }
+ {\end{list}}
+
+\begin{document}
+
+\pagenumbering{gobble}
+
+\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2021}}
+
+\begingroup
+\setlength{\intextsep}{0pt}%
+\setlength{\columnsep}{10pt}%
+
+Hello to all my friends and family.
+Unbelievably, this is the eighth time I'm writing to you all for the solstice season.
+It's become tradition to look back at old letters as I sit down to write.
+Today is the first large snow storm of the year, but I am warm and comfortable writing at my lovely desk.
+My Endlers Livebearer fish gave birth just a few days ago, so I am taking frequent breaks to enjoy watching the very cute fry.
+
+\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.4\textwidth}
+  \begin{center}
+    \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./death-camp.jpg"}
+  \end{center}
+\end{wrapfigure}
+
+I was lucky enough to go on \emph{many} great vacations this year.
+I'd like to highlight three, starting with the trip to California I took with my good friend Tyler over the labor day holiday.
+We flew into San Fransisco where we were graciously hosted by Jim and Tracy in their beautiful home.
+We stopped by Claire's family in Napa and Tyler's home town of San Ramon.
+We then traveled down Big Sur to a beautiful ocean-side campground near Santa Barbara.
+We visited Tyler's uncle before heading inland to spend a night among giants in Sequoia National Forest.
+Finally, we camped for two nights in Death Valley.
+We had the entire campground to ourselves (see left)!
+Death Valley was definitely the highlight for me, especially the drive through Titus Canyon and the night sky.
+
+\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.4\textwidth}
+  \begin{center}
+    \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./porcupine.jpg"}
+  \end{center}
+\end{wrapfigure}
+
+In July my good friends Claire and Ralph Till visited me for a hiking adventure in the Midwest.
+We drove from Madison to Michigan's upper peninsula, where we spent several days hiking through the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness.
+It's been years since I've been backpacking, and it was a new experience for Claire and Ralph.
+The Porcupine Mountains were amazing---very private campsites with long trails and very few people.
+For hours we hiked along the southern coast of Lake Superior, enjoying the dramatic geometric shapes of the rocky shoreline.
+Here (right) we three are---tired but happy near the end of our hike.
+
+\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.4\textwidth}
+  \begin{center}
+    \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./lake-superior.JPG"}
+  \end{center}
+\end{wrapfigure}
+
+Near the end of September Kevin and I spent a few days exploring Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.
+It ended up being a tour of many waterfalls.
+We started by camping in Amnicon Falls State Park and visiting Big Manitou Falls (highest in Wisconsin).
+We then camped in Tettegouche State Park (below), where we had our own small private beach with signature Lake Superior pebbles.
+We spent several days exploring the northern coast of Lake Superior---full of picturesque waterfalls, dramatic coastlines, and cozy small towns.
+We'll have to go back soon.
+
+I'm feeling grateful for all the joy I have experienced this year.
+I continue to learn and grow in my professional life.
+Congratulations to Kate and Steve on their marriage.
+Thanks to all who have been great friends, especially Zach, Mark, Darien, Kyle, my Bates Buds, and the Wednesday night game crew.
+
+Wishing you and yours a happy new year. Stay in touch!
+
+\vfill
+\raggedleft
+
+Blaise Jonathan Thompson \\*
+\hspace{0pt} \\
+725 W Washington Ave. Apt 306 \\*
+Madison, Wisconsin 53715 \\*
+\hspace{0pt} \\
+1-424-225-2493 \\*
+blaise@untzag.com \\*
+https://blaise.zone
+
+\end{document}
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/porcupine.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/porcupine.jpg
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diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/recipients.org b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/recipients.org
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--- /dev/null
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@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+#+TITLE: winter solstice letter recipients
+
+* DONE Alisha Nielsen
+31140 Rhea Valley Rd.
+Meadowview, VA 24361
+USA
+* DONE Bill Goebel
+2413 Calypso Rd
+Apt 2
+Madison WI 53704
+USA
+* DONE Carol & John Wright
+1550 Trusler Circle,
+Oregon WI 53575
+USA
+* DONE Claire & Ralph Till
+* DONE Collin Engstrom
+* DONE Darien Morrow and Kaitlyn Fischer
+* DONE Elizabeth Breuer
+3402 Rutland-Dunn Townline Rd
+Stoughton WI 53589
+USA
+* DONE Felix Radford
+140 Cottage Street 3FR
+New Haven CT 06511
+* DONE Justin Earley
+1830 Denver West Dr.
+Apt 2432
+Golden, CO 80401
+USA
+* DONE Kate Webber & Steve Burger
+96 Bowdoinham Rd
+Sabattus ME 04280
+USA
+* DONE Katherine Taylor
+418 Admiral Cove
+Tarpon Springs FL 34689
+USA
+* DONE Czech Family (Kyle, Emily, Danny)
+* DONE Kyle Sunden
+1009 N Sunnyvale Ln Unit D
+Madison, WI, 53713
+* DONE Marilyn Roberts
+1431 N 5th Ave
+Grafton WI 53024
+USA
+* DONE Mark and Roger
+3848 Blazing Star Rd
+Deerfield, WI 53531-9682
+USA
+* DONE Nathaniel Nielsen
+1450 Marclair Dr.
+Apt. A
+Concord CA 94521
+USA
+* DONE Nathan Neff-Mallon
+1830 Northwestern Ave
+Madison WI 53704
+USA
+* DONE Nina Halperin
+Calle Italia 157
+Dpto. 602
+Cercado de Lima 15074
+Peru
+* DONE Parker/Eckert Family
+4482 Medowlark Court
+Napa CA 95668
+* DONE Sam Price
+1010 N Dodge St.
+Iowa City, IA 52245
+USA
+* DONE Sarah Charley
+Sarah Charley
+149 Route de Divonne
+01210 Versonnex, France
+* DONE Susie & Mike Truninger
+902 W.8th St.
+Davenport IA 52802
+USA
+* DONE The Boyer Family
+1338 San Miguel Ave
+Santa Barbara CA 93109
+* DONE The Kohler Family
+5713 Dorsett Dr.
+Madison WI 53711
+USA
+* DONE The Manly Family
+17821 E Baintree Ave.
+Roland Heights, CA 91748
+USA
+* DONE The Nielsen Family
+746 Keeler Ave
+Berkeley CA 94708
+* DONE The Thompson Family
+* DONE Tyler Roberts
+2801 Western Ave
+Apt 723
+Seattle, WA 98121
+* DONE Zach Ott