Me and my family
NOW in South Carolina!
(It's August, 2024) We loved Colorado - exciting and extreme. I lived there since 1995. Now, we have moved to the foothills in South Carolina - welcoming and warm.
We have landed in the little town of Landrum - called one of the pearls of the Carolina Foothills, along with Tryon, NC, Columbus, NC, and Saluda, NC. We are finding it beautiful and welcoming.
Tenzin is now a 6th grader at the Landrum Middle School and a member of the Landrum Cardinals 6th grade football team. He is meeting immense changes in his life with impressive poise and courage. River is attending the College of Charleston for an education in Business. He is getting acquainted with off campus apartment life. Christina and I have just begun the challenge of growing our businesses in a new community. She is seeking the right studio space to offer her unique talents in Massage and Somatic Therapy. Her website is resonantlifehealing.com.
The "Colorado Byrnes"
Dear loved ones, January, 2019
This may just be our first-ever family letter, so I’ll stick to basics. Here’s what we’re up to…
Tenzin Jude(6) is a thoughtful, enthusiastic kid with a clever sense of humor. He passionately and noisily plays matchbox cars and trucks, and makes remarkable mathematical computations for his age. River (13) continues to be a happy and well-liked kid. He rises to new challenges and responsibilities in school, home and athletics with grace and enthusiasm. This past year, he has loved time hangin’ with friends in Carbondale’s great little downtown and excelled in lacrosse, football and basketball.
Tenzin takes after his brother, and they have a blast together. They never cease to invent new games that involve catching footballs and physical contact. Tenzin may get hurt or feel offended in the process, but he quickly recovers to face off again with his playful, if dominant, great big brother.
While the boys seize each new moment as an opportunity for fun, Pixie and I try to be mindful managers of all of our lives. We have chosen a Waldorf education for them through grade 8. The rich curriculum has the deep intention of nurturing free-thinking individuals. May our children grow up to live joyfully and make special contributions to their communities even when faced with the immense new challenges of our changing world.
Pixie (Chris) offers her “Mindful Massage” therapy to a grateful clientele out of the Carbondale Acupuncture Center. Her practice has been based there for 15 years now! Her work is successful and rewarding, but taxing -- so taxing that we just got a hot tub! Oh, life is sooo hard; )
I continue to cherish teaching piano and guitar students out of my home studio. I am the Music Director for Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist. I also work at our children’s school as pianist for Eurythmy classes. I entertain at senior communities regularly. And, every March, I “keep the tradition alive” as I perform fifteen-plus Irish shows back in New Jersey.
Now… It’s 2019, and We’re already home from a wonderful Family Holiday with Dad /Pop Byrne in Tequesta, Florida. River’s Waldorf experience will soon culminate with his presentation on Physical Therapy and his class trip to Seattle. In August, he will start at the public high school in Carbondale, and Tenzin will begin 1st grade at the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork. And so our lives stream forward…
May blessings of health and joy be yours in 2019! Love, Jimmy, Pixie / Chris, River and Tenzin
“The Challenge today is to convince others of the value of truth, honesty, compassion and a concern for others. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.”
– Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama
P.S. Our recent family picture was taken at the “gateway” to our beloved backyard. (We bought our home in April, 2017.) That’s Lila in the middle. We hope to have a litter of Australian Shepherds in July! Mt. Sopris (12,966 ft.) is in the background. Each of us is holding something that brings us joy. Can you spot the… guitar, the coffee, the yoga mat, the basketball, the football, the Lamborghini…?
Aaah!!
It's hard to believe - just two Autumns ago we hiked with a backpack to help Tenzin along. Now... he runs like the wind and tackles like Von Miller.