The Harrell/Drew & Rodriguez 2025 Annual Family Newsletter

 

Politically it has been pretty much an interesting year overall, Trump has managed to upset several countries around the world with his global Tariff War, the US Navy blasting & killing the crews of random boats off the Venezuelan coast, deporting illegal immigrants, including the odd innocent bystander, and pardoning a host of culpable criminals. It should come as no surprise that President Trump has close ties to the pedophile & sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein - we wait for all the gory details to be revealed in 2026. Andrew Windsor’s reputation has already been destroyed by the scandal. We remember those stars we lost this year including Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Val Kilmer, Jane Goodall, and Ozzy Osbourne to name but a few.

There have been lots of dramatic changes in the family dynamics this year; David & Kim spent a wonderful 10 days in Mexico City in May, learning Spanish, good - apart from Kim spraining her ankle on a precarious Mexican paving stone. She also managed to break her ankle not much longer after we returned to the States on a pothole in the front garden (left by Aurora Water) whilst chasing an elusive species of bird. Kim marked her 60^th birthday this year and we celebrated with a night of tenpin bowling and afterwards dining at a trendy local Mexican restaurant. David enters his third year of work at the Denver Art Museum and thoroughly enjoys being around much culture. Whilst Kim’s jewelry business has been slow but steady, the price of gold and silver sky-rocketed - reaching $4,379 per troy ounce in mid-October 2025. She continues to teach jewelry at Metropolitan State University & at the Denver Art-Students League.

In August, Bea had a near death experience when she was the victim of a hit and run - her car was flipped over yet amazingly she survived without as much as a scratch. The car was an absolute write-off but fortunately the insurance helped buy a new vehicle, a Hyundai Kona in bright green. After years of governmental assessments, Mario finally got his Permanent Residence status (Green Card). Mario & Bea celebrated their first full year in their new home. Bea is into her 4^th year of teaching art & design at Aurora Hills Middle School. Mario continues to perform custodian services for Aurora Public Schools and has aimed his sights on a managerial position in the coming year.

Isabella studied for most of the year at Colorado School of Healing Arts and graduated with a certificate in Massage Therapy in September. She started her first ‘LMT’ (Licensed Massage Therapist) job at Somnium Therapeutics. Bella specializes in Swedish, prenatal, and neuromuscular massage, but is expanding her skill set with an externship in ‘Trauma Touch.’ Bella visited Michigan for the first time with her friend Chase from Durango. She also completed her own craft project, a silver & lapis lazuli necklace with matching earrings with her mother.

Hannah started work early in 2025 at ‘Kizik’ in Cherry Creek Mall, a hands-free step in shoe-store. She made excellent progress there and has become their lead salesperson. Hannah looks forward to being promoted to assistant manager in the coming year. As well as the two cats Hannah & Noah welcomed Clyde the goldfish into their lives and the fish thrives in a spacious aquarium. Noah & Hannah visited Wisconsin in the summer - and Noah’s sister, Lilly is getting married in July 2026.

Merry Christmas, & Happy New Year from all of us in Aurora,

Love, Peace & Joy

David & Kim, Bea & Mario, Bella, Hannah & Noah

The Drew-Harrell Annual Christmas Newsletter of 2024

And Life goes on... Kamala Harris and Tim Walz lay cruelly defeated in a massive victory by Donald J. Trump and his henchmen. We can only imagine in our nightmares what the coming year of 2025 will bring in the political world of America.

It has been an eventfully calm year. David continues to work in security at the Denver Art Museum, celebrating a 2^nd anniversary with them. David was awarded a grant of $2,500 under the Staff Development Program by the Museum to study Spanish in Mexico City in 2025. He reached the big ‘60’ in December. In May, David and Kim visited their friends, Odmar Sandvik and Deidre Smith in Bergen, Norway, and had a wonderful time there. Kim started teaching at MSU Denver as an affiliate instructor in Jewelry and silversmithing. She won first prize for a necklace ‘Tranquility’ at the Colorado State Fair. Another necklace, ‘Pink Moon’ was accepted into the juried triennial exhibition of Colorado Artists, The Art of the State for 2025. In the home improvement department, they invested in a new carpet for the basement, and since moving into the home in 2009, it has quadrupled in value.

 

Mario and Bea made a radical life commitment and bought a new house in the Del Mar district of Aurora. Mario left his work in hotel and hospitality for a promising career in maintenance with Aurora Public Schools, whilst Bea continues to work as an art teacher in middle school. Bea had her first exhibition at an art market – selling her hand-crafted pottery items. Mario has started his immigration paperwork on the journey to resident status.

 

Hannah celebrated her 21^st birthday and her 1^st anniversary with her boyfriend, Noah – she moved in with him into their downtown apartment in Denver, together with their two cats, Tiggy and Pepper. Hannah started a new job at the Denver Athletic Club, caring for children. Noah continues to study computer technology and cyber-security. 

 

Bella left her coffee industry career at Dutch Bros and started work as an associate at the 5 Star Salt Caves Spa in Denver, and she is planning to study to become a massage therapist – starting a course in January 2025. She bought her first car in May, a red Subaru Forester which she has called ‘Rubi.’ Bella also ended her position as a property manager and moved back into the family home. One of her most important achievements of 2024 was to jump start a traffic calming program (NTCP) in our neighborhood of Aurora, after Mario’s family were victims to an accident on our street. Mommy helped to get a petition signed by residents – and Bella pushed all the information through in an application to Aurora’s Traffic Manager. This will ensure that traffic restrictions are put in place to protect the rights of pedestrians.

 

Best wishes, happy holidays, and a happy New Year from

 

David, Kim, Bea & Mario, Bella, Hannah & Noah