Happy Holidays: The Persicos’ 2025 Annual Holiday Letter

Happy Holidays to all our friends and relatives, and Merry Christmas to those celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

(John) I turned 79 this year and Karen reached 81. We no longer feel like spring chickens, but I promised not to regale you with medical adventures or offer political rants—tempting as both might be. Since Karen handles the family updates, you may wonder, “What’s left for John to talk about?”

This year I found myself thinking about Jesus—not as a figure of doctrine, but as a man who preached love and forgiveness, and whose life still speaks to us in a world obsessed with fame and fortune. I mentor a high school student through a program called I Could Be, and like many young people today, his dream is simply to become famous and wealthy. I wanted to tell him that neither guarantees happiness, but how do you convince a teenager of that?

It made me wonder: Did Jesus ever dream of fame or fortune as a young man? If so, he certainly abandoned those goals. His message was humble, his life simple, and his legacy was born not from ambition but from compassion and courage. The fame he eventually gained came with a heavy price—crucifixion at 30-something is not the kind of fame anyone would choose. Yet his influence endures two millennia later, reminding us that the greatest gifts we can offer the world are still kindness, forgiveness, and love.

So, as we come to the close of another year, Karen and I want to thank each of you for being part of our lives—near or far, frequently or occasionally, in person or through the mysterious fibers of the internet.

May your holidays be filled with peace, warmth, and whatever form of love most sustains you. And may we each remember that the gifts which matter most—kindness, connection, forgiveness, and compassion—cost nothing yet change everything.

(Karen) The year has gone very fast, our first year spending the full year in Arizona. I didn’t mind the summer heat, and John found ways of keeping cool. We didn’t like our electric bill much though. Cool air doesn’t come cheap! I continue my quilting, choir, Tucson Dulcimer Ensemble (group picture on our card), a small ukulele group and have added serving as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Casa Grande. I don’t have much spare time, but I enjoy all the things I do.

I made a trip to MN last February and the temperature didn’t go up much above zero. I decided from now on, I’m visiting in spring and fall. I’ve become an Arizona wimp. In June, John and I took a train trip from Maricopa, AZ to Portland, OR. Trains are such a civilized way to travel. We had a tiny compartment, a dining car, an elevated observation car and even a narrated guide for part of the trip. After spending a few fun days in Portland, we flew to Anchorage, AK. John’s 50^th state to visit was OR, and my 49^th and 50^th were OR and AK. Highlights of the trip were participating in a “No King’s” march in Talkeetna, AK and taking a small plane ride to the side of Mt. Denali where we landed on a glacier and played in the snow.

I made a second trip to MN with John in August. He attended his annual retreat at Demontreville Retreat Center while I went to stay with Kevin and Megan. Kevin bought a new home this summer which has a large garden level apartment. Megan has the apartment while saving for a home of her own. It was fun to see them both together and run up and down the stairs between the two living spaces. After John’s retreat was over, we spent a few more days in the Twin Cities so I could spend some time with Susan and Juli. I brought Susan a Korean themed quilt for her birthday, and it was fun to watch her discover the different areas of the quilt.

The poster on our card was taken at a church in Tucson where we had gone to attend a concert. They had facilities set up for the homeless and signs around the church campus welcoming those in need and immigrants.

The last picture is our new pet, Mikey, a 5-year-old Leopard Tortoise. He came with his name which is a nickname for Michelangelo, from Teenage Mutant Turtles. After I lost my ongoing appeal for another dog, John suggested we adopt a Desert Sonoran Tortoise. He could live in the back yard, munch on our plants and need very little care. Then I found out from a friend that the Desert Sonoran Tortoise is a digger and will destroy your landscaping and escape under the fence. Just as John was feeling relieved that we weren’t going to get a tortoise, I added we could get a Leopard Tortoise as they weren’t diggers. I found one on Facebook marketplace as the family who had him were going to move to a cold climate and needed to rehome him. Then we started learning about the care and feeding of a Leopard Tortoise. First came a heated doghouse for John to build. Then we needed specialized food, supplements, soaking tubs, hiding spots, UV and heat lamps for the indoor terrarium, and more. But, we do enjoy him. We do believe he will outlive us though.