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Christmas Newsletter

Dear Friends,

This is the final news letter for the year and what an eventful year it has been. From February 14th when I was discharged from the hospital after a five and a half month stay and having suffered six bouts of pneumonia, I arrived home with a pressure ulcer on my tail bone. This kept me in bed for the next three and a half months waiting for the sore to close. Summer was, for the most part, trouble free and culminating with the excitement and enjoyable day of the Scottish Highland Games in St. Louis at the end of September.

The following weekend, October 3rd, Linda’s son, John was married to his longtime girlfriend, Stephanie. It was a wonderful wedding in a historic facility named the Boo Cat Club located next to Forest Park in St. Louis. Linda was absolutely stunning in her purple dress and, by far, the most beautiful woman there, apart from the bride. It was great to see this lovely young couple marry after eight years of courtship.

A week later, on Sunday, October 11th, Linda and I decided to visit the Missouri Botanical Garden, the oldest botanical garden in the country, founded in 1859. It is a veritable oasis in downtown St. Louis. Linda’s son John joined us as we walked and I drove my super-duper powered wheelchair. A good number of paths were quite bumpy and I could feel the toll they were taking on my tail bone and derriere.

The following morning Linda noticed two hard spots on my left and right buttocks which tend to be the sign of impending pressure sores. From October 12th, I spent the next six weeks in bed as the hard spots slowly diminished. Osteoporosis in my right hip and neck and frequent body spasms are some of the issues and struggles I have to endure with this spinal cord injury. On a positive note, I have regained the partial use of my right arm and fingers. Having the use of one limb, I am now classified as a tetraplegic. Being able to drive my power chair gives me the feeling of independence. Thank God I served in the U.S. Army as the Veterans Administration has provided me with an abundance of support and tools to manage my disability.

I keep my spirits up with the love and support of my loving wife Linda, my family and friends. And I feel all of my fans are included as my friends. Each day I find can be a struggle and a blessing. As always, I sincerely thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

On the subject of my recordings, remember that when we run out of CD selections, the album will only be available by downloading from my website, alexbeaton.com. The website store displays what CD’s are still in stock. My “Christmas Classics” album is only available by downloading. I know you will enjoy this album which features such classics as “Silent Night, The Christmas Song, and Oh, Come All Ye Faithful.”

I have led a very interesting life and am working on a project that has been suggested to me by some close friends. With the help of a VA volunteer, I am working on my memoirs. This endeavor will take you on my life’s journey. From my early days in Scotland, turning into a professional folksinger and recording artist at 19 years of age in London through to the present day. Being a cancer survivor and dealing with other challenges that life has dealt me, my good friend, Ron Eisenberg, suggested that a working title for my book would be “Beaton but not Broken.”

I would be remiss if I did not thank my very good friend Merv Forney. Merv designed and hosts my beautiful website at alexbeaton.com and also manages my newsletter. I love him dearly.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!!

With Love,

Alex

There are 16 comments .

Bonnie —

Thank you for letting us know how you are doing! We all keep you in our hearts and CD players, and we wish you and your family the merriest of Christmases. We love Alex!

Camilla Shea-McAleavey —

DearAlex
I think of you often, I cherish the memories of the time spent at the Sheabeen Irish Pub and all your Beatonattes. Tony always loved having you perform at the pub. I miss him dearly. I wish you the best of health in the coming year. Merry Xmas to you and Linda. Camille

Misty MacNeill —

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Alex! Great to hear from you. Wishing you well. The MacNeills

Sandra Zaninovich —

As always, best of best wishes to you, especially at this time of year. I am hoping with all my heart that 2016 will be a great year for you, as trouble-free as can possibly be hoped. You and Linda are ever an inspiration, and I want to especially thank you for keeping this site up to date, as I frequently think of you both and look on here to see how you are doing. Congratulations to the bride and groom! May they be as blessed in each other as you and Linda are.

Bernie & Maggie Dougherty —

Sending you and Linda Prayers and Best Wishes for the New Year.

God bless,
Bernie & Maggie
New Hampshie

Harold & Wanda Scott —

You are in our thoughts & prayers. We do miss you at our Scottish Festival here in McPherson, KS. You really made it a very special festival & we sincerely thank you for all the good times!

Janice Kunzman —

We, the Scots in Des Moines, Ia adored you when you played for us at a couple of St Andrew’s Dinner celebrations. The Scottish Heritage Society of Iowa is still functioning, but diminished. We have lost many members, mostly through aging or death.
I don ‘t know if you remember our group. My mother was lovely lady in wheelchair, whose mother had come from Edinborough. Both of my parents died long ago, but we never stopped being involved in our heritage. I still have several cassette tapes of your music, and my favorite is Mary’s Christ Child. No one does it better. Also, I have old photos of me my mom, and YOU at the event. It may have been 1994or 95.
Kind regards, with love and best wishes, Jan Kunzman

Michael Berry —

Well, when the memoirs are done I want to be the first to buy a copy!!

All the best and still praying for you, Michael and Beverly Berry

Janet Lane

Years ago in Gatlinburg, Tn I came across your music, I have been a fan ever since.
In August of 2015 I achieved a long held dream of going to Scotland. My husband & I joined our son & his family there to see their 2nd child for the first time. You see our son is a Baptist missionary serving in Africa. On his furlough he will be studying at the Univ if Edinburgh.
As we drove through the countryside we would play your music and I was in heaven.
LORD willing my plans are to return next year staying with my son & his family.
I was saddened to hear of your health problems but grateful you have maintained your positivity & sense of humor. I am praying for you & hope you will regain more of your abilities.
Keep your focus, Psalm 105:4
Your music is a blessing

Pat and Rita Oster —

We are praying for you and your family.

David & Liz McNabb —

Alex, Liz & I met at 1 of your performances in the 1991 Big Bear, Ca. Games, and you have had a very fond spot in our hearts ever since. Thank you for the updates on how you are doing. We will continue to pray for your progress and continued blessings.

Teresia Scott —

Alex, I’m glad to hear you are making progress and happy to hear the VA is providing tools to help in your recovery. Love your music!

Leroy Delionbach —

Alex,
Glad you are still fighting the good fight! I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2001, and had a stem cell transplant that Fall. I’ve been in remission since the following March. When you were in Aiken, SC, for the Highland Games I was the Security Coordinator. My wife, Ferris, is the wee blond elf with green eyes. We play your albums from time-to-time and speak wistfully of the trip we didn’t make with you. Take care, Leroy

Shamus —

I’ve played music for years. But it was your influence that brought my children into the world of playing and enjoying Scottish folk music. Thank you Alex and bless you for helping nurture a love of something so dear to my family.
The Wynn family.

Valerie Norman-Shaul —

So glad you have a loving wife to encourage you, four years it is hard to believe. You have been in many prayers, I keep you on our prayer list of the Daughters of the Holy Cross (Anglican) at St James Cathedral Fresno. You are truly missed, but I play your CDs and videos remembering how much you have shared with so many.
God Bless you and may He keep His healing hand on you.
Love your English/Scottish friend

John A Russell —

Was a regular visitor to the Atlanta Highland games, and Grandfather Mountain-Alex you were always a highlight for us. Still play the videos. I pray that your health will improve. My Granddaughter Heather still remembers when she was small at the Atlanta Games you picked her up and gave her a big hug and a swing around. God Bless You–Real Good!!!!!–John.

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