Use present simple, present continuous or present perfect. hello nancy it (1) (be) time since my last letter to you. i (2) (still/work) at abs and the company (3) (do well). this is very fortunate as many of my friends (4) (lose) their jobs. our savings (5) (take) a disastrous dive because of the economy. i (6) (know) the situation everywhere is difficult and i (7) (be) happy i still have a job. my friend michael and his wife georgia (8) (now, live) in virginia. michael (9) (finish) studying massage therapy. he (10) (run) a small clinic in partnership with another woman. he and georgia (11) (look) for a full-time job, though, as they (12) (lose) money also. as i say, many people (13) (have) a hard time now.

It (1)  (has been a long) time since my last letter to you. I (2) (am still working) at ABS and the company (3) (is doing well). This is very fortunate as many of my friends (4) (have lost) their jobs. Our savings (5) (have taken) a disastrous dive because of the economy. I (6) (know) the situation everywhere is difficult and I (7) am happy I still have a job. My friend Michael and his wife Georgia (8)  are (now living) in Virginia. Michael (9) (has finished) studying massage therapy. He (10) (is running) a small clinic in partnership with another woman. He and Georgia (11) (are looking) for a full-time job, though, as they (12) (have lost) money also. As I say, many people (13) (are having) a hard time now.