Cohen family yearly recap for 2008

Rebecca and Amanda at Sophia Fahs camp







The Gray/Cohen/Farmer/Dassatti clan in Charleston

Deb and Rebecca at their first Jet game (Amanda and Brian on the other side of the camera), and Brian, Rebecca and Amanda ready to cut their Christmas tree

Dear Family and Friends, December 2008

It seems like just yesterday I emailed everyone the Holiday letter for 2007. However, it’s 2008. How time really does fly. We started off 2008 with a cruise in February which left from Charleston, S.C. to Mexico, Grand Cayman and Key West, with all seventeen of us (Gray’s, Cohen’s, Farmer’s, Dassatti’s, and Brian C. and Brian D.’s moms. We (except for me) took a train from Penn Station to Charleston. I flew down (because I had to work) and stayed the night with our friends the Fairchild’s (Judy Drew Fairchild, Reggie and their three great kids Emily, Katie and Ted). We all met up the next morning and then headed out to sea. Like always, a “Gray” family trip is an adventure. Upon our return we all enjoyed a lovely lunch hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Drew (Judy’s parents) and the Fairchild’s. It was great catching up with everyone.

In April, we headed to Florida to take the kids to Disney. We started out in Palm Beach and were joined by our good friends from home, the Barish’s. We also got the opportunity to see my Aunt Dottie and Uncle Wes and enjoyed a lovely dinner at their home. It was nice to catch up with them and to find out what was happening in all my cousin’s lives. We also had an opportunity to see Brian’s friend David Garoogian and his family. We then headed up to Orlando, where I did one day at Disney and flew home (again to work) and Brian and the girls stayed down there for a few more days. They had a great time and we are looking forward to going back in February 2009 (this time with the entire Gray family).

I am pleased to announce that at the end of the school year, I received tenure from Hauppauge School district as a speech therapist. I am thrilled to be working there with terrific colleagues. The summer was spent relaxing, and the kids attended camp and again we all went away to Shelter Island for the week. In August, Brian and I celebrated our 15^th Wedding Anniversary. Who would have thought the tall LI blond and the short dark haired boy from Brooklyn would still be incredibly happy after all these years? Brian planned an unbelievable trip to NYC. We stayed at the Waldorf (which is one of the most elegant hotels I have ever been to), ate at delicious restaurants and saw Broadway shows. It was wonderful to get away close by, and just enjoy ourselves. He is a master of planning surprises.

The fall was spent going back to school. Amanda is in the 7^th grade, and she continues to be involved with Girl Scouts, plays tennis, and is currently an oompa loompa in the upcoming school musical “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. Rebecca is in the 4^th grade and has an unbelievable teacher this year, Mr. Mecurio. She also is in Girl Scouts, dances and continues to play the piano and now has taken up the flute. Brian is still at Fidelity in Huntington, dealing with the Wall Street mess and trying to calm customers fears.

October was a busy month for us. All the Gray grandchildren, minus the 3 youngest, went to the Museum of Natural History with their respective dads and actually spent “A Night at the Museum” - they slept under the GREAT BLUE WHALE!! How cool is that?!? It was a gift to all of them from Grandma and Grandpa Gray. Next my dear friend Allyson got remarried to a wonderful man, Matt Barish. A lot of parties and festivities took place before the wedding. It was a fun yet tiring month.

Christmas was spent will everyone coming to our home and the laughter never stopped!! The next day we all went to Bethpage Page Restoration Village to do a candlelight tour. It was a beautiful evening, not too cold and it was wonderful to see the old town lit by candlelight, and we actually sang Christmas songs in the old church. My dear friend Valerie flew in from MN and spent the weekend with us. It was relaxing and fun to catch up on old times and make new memories with her. Well, tonight is New Year’s Eve. We are off to attend another party (with the kids). I wanted to finish this letter in 2008, and just barely did it! However, the editing part will be in 2009. We wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!!!!

Love,
Debbie, her editor Brian, along with Amanda and Rebecca.