Choose the correct option

Dear Jane,
Sorry I 1) ... for a long time but I 2) ... really busy . I 3) ... and the company is doing well. This is very fortunate as many of my friends 4) ... their jobs. Our savings 5) ... a disastrous dive because of the economy. I 6) ... the situation everywhere is difficult and I 7) ... happy I still have a job. My friend Michael and his wife Georgia 8) ... in Virginia. Michael 9) ... studying massage therapy recently. He 10) ... a small clinic in partnership with another woman. As I say, many people 11) ... a hard time now.