1998 HOLIDAY CHEER!!

From a 'Stanton'™ Clan

Hello, family and friends! It's time once again to spread the holiday joy…nice and thick. Here are some highlights from 1998. Hope you enjoy this year's Tom and Patty Show Holiday Letter, featuring Laura Keith Stanton!

Back in December of last year, Tom's new employer of 4½ months laid off ¾'s of their sales force and their entire marketing department. This lay-off included Tom, and it couldn't have made him happier. Tom was hired again at Ingram as a Vendor Sales Manager, and he was glad to be back on campus. It's a cold, cold world outside of Ingram Micro (brrrrr)! Now Tom's job is to tell his former employer and other vendors what they can and can't do on the Ingram sales floor. Even though Tom liked their idea to gain more of the sales rep's mind share by chasing live chickens around the building with bb guns, he still told them, "No". Resentful? Maybe. J He celebrates his 5-year anniversary at Ingram Micro this month. Go Tommy! Go Tommy! Tom has also been promoted to 3rd degree black belt this year. That means he can kick some serious hiney blindfolded! It makes Tom that much more valuable as Laura's body guard.

I changed careers this year in order to challenge myself. I joined Vendor Licensing Sales at Ingram Micro in June. I manage the licensing programs for Microsoft and Qualcomm. The funny part is, they're competitors on the software I sell. Can you guess what my challenge is? It's an interesting opportunity that Ingram has provided me and I learn something new every day (like how to sell expensive pieces paper over the phone and sound sincere while doing it). That 10-year plaque won't come a day too soon. It's my new mantra: "Just one more year, just one more year…." I'd retire next year, but Ingram gives me stock options and an hour for lunch. I doubt Laura could give me such an offer. Tom and I now work in the same building, same floor, and same division. Scary, isn't it?

My father passed away in February and it has led to quite an adventure. I was united with my 6 half sisters and brothers that I thought I'd never meet. All these super people live in San Bernardino County and I attended my first Keith Reunion in July (nope, there wasn't a barn dance and there weren't any dueling banjos. L Maybe next year). Since then, I have gone on a cruise to Ensenada with two of my half-sisters and had a blast. It's been a fascinating experience because I learned new (and shocking) things. Skeletons? In July? Good thing Tom had the smelling salts!

Laura has been a kick in the pants (this is meant as a good thing). She is doing a bang-up job (literally) at growing up. There's this biting thing that we're a little concerned about, especially since she started growing teeth. She's had 6 stitches already, above her left eye, and we almost dressed her up as "Baby Frankenstein" for Halloween. As a matter of fact, she fell just hours after we had the holiday photo taken. You're looking at the last picture ever taken of Laura before she became Scar-Face! Based on the martial arts training she's going to get, I already pity her first date. Especially if she doesn't grow out of that biting thing.

We hope this letter finds you in good health. We hope the letter finds you, period – you know, snail mail and all. It's so…archaic. Keep in touch! Electronically, archaically, whatever!

Happy Holidays, Tom, Patty & Laura Stanton

P.S. Check us out on the web: https://members.tripod.com/~TOMANDPATTYSHOW/index.html

Our Email address is: TOMANDPK@aol.com (we're not just a street address anymore!)