My Dear Friends,

As the year comes to a close, I reflect on all the wonderful gifts of thoughts and prayers I’ve received from so many of you. Your love is truly an inspiration for me and gives me strength to work at my rehabilitation. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to drive my power chair, to make my own telephone calls and to send my own emails. After seeing a speech pathologist at the VA, I’m vocalizing at home and I believe that my voice will strengthen and be clearer and, hopefully, my breathing will lengthen. If this goal is reached, it will prevent me from having to endure surgery on my right vocal cord similar to the one I had on my left in August.

I cannot express how much my dear wife, Linda, means to me. She works tirelessly every day in care-giving to my needs both personally as well as for my business. There is a required procedure of mine that she attends to in the middle of the night, so needless to say, what little sleep she does get is interrupted; don’t know how she carries on…

At a recent dinner of the St. Andrews Society of Greater St. Louis, I was honored by the President and two members for my contribution to Scottish heritage & culture in the U.S.A. and bestowed a life-time membership to their organization.

The Seaside Games in Ventura, California named the main stage that I performed on, the “Alex Beaton Stage”. The United Scottish Society of Southern California also named “my” stage after me in 2012. Linda and I are hoping to attend several Games in 2014 and will make an announcement early in the New Year.

Finally, as a reminder, the Holiday Six-CD GIFT PACK is still available through December 31st. This is a GREAT BUY featuring “Kidding Around”, “Christmas Classics”, “Road to the Isles”, “On the Beaton Path”, “The Water is Wide” and “Sings of Scotland Forever” for ONLY $35.00!! Order now to be sure it is delivered before Christmas. Already have all these? Then check out all my CD’s at the Beaton Store. I’m sure you’ll find many special items perfect for gifts.

As you may have noticed, I am out of stock on two CDs: “Beaton’s Personal Favorites” and “The Scotsman”; they will again be available early in the New Year. I am also running low on “Over the Border” and “Songs of Robert Burns”, so if you were thinking of purchasing either or both for Christmas, you might want to order now.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a year of good health and happiness…

Love,

Alex