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hen I have my own children, I won’t make them write newsletters. I promise.
Craziness. Our house is insane. If Gramps was still alive, he’d be sitting at the dinning room table, stirring his coffee with a knife, shaking his head as he repeated Y’ain’t gotta go to no movies.
Mom has had quite a year. She was selected as Teacher of the Year in her school district, was on a cable TV show that ran many times every day for many days and works on a special technology project in her district. Besides that, she takes awfully good care of us. A French TV producer thought the Homework Helper Web sites that Mom and Grandpa have were pretty cool, so he brought a crew here to interview and pester us for two days. They interviewed Grandpa sitting by his pool and followed Mom to school for an entire day. They even took shots of Dad working in the kitchen. Some people will believe anything. And Dad. Well, he closed his business, got a job, quit his job, opened his business. And the year isn’t over. Role model. Between his adventures, he arranged for another GREAT ski trip. If only he would learn to ski beyond the Sesame Street hill. Anyway, 17 of us went to Lake Tahoe for four days. Big house, pool table. 
Jeff and Jessica, his girl friend, went to Oregon for an extra ski tip. I was in school. Jeff worked for Aunt Holly at Parties by Panache until Thanksgiving, when he left for a two-year program at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. We miss having him here, but he loves what he’s doing. Sometime in February Dad went to New York for a short business trip. He saw Aunt Michele and Uncle John and they took pictures with Flat Albert. Don’t ask. During the summer we headed eastward. (Check the list!) Mom, Dad, Jeff and Jessica started in Baltimore, split up (couples) and |
Gretchen Isabel Katie Jesse Nancy Ken Cheryl Levi Patrick Ken Maxine Philip • Sue Betty • Jim Theresa Jim • Doris Carol • Mark David Matthew Audrey Angie Connie Fred Bill • Ruth Dorothy Donna Dorothy Mike Joanne Sean Mary Clair Kevin Lisa Jennifer Kyle • Emily Kathy • John Jody • Aaron Jim • Vicki Steven Beth Anne Michele John Mike Cook Ginny Jamie • Chris Meggan Scott Gordon Helen Nicky Ryan Charlie Diane Brandon Cory Denise • Jim Brian Spanky Anne Alana Jonathan Karla • Burl Jenny David Douglas Bess • Marg Cindy Trish |
  headed in different directions. Mom and Dad to western Pennsylvania to visit friends and relatives; Jeff and Jessica to New York for site-seeing. I arrived a few days later and we met in Rifton. Aunt Michele, Uncle John and Jeff made a great meal!! We visited the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. Then south to Greenpond. Our one day stay with the Cooks was much too short. On our way to Washington DC there were a few quick stops in our old Pennsylvania neighborhood. I pretended that I remembered. It made my parents feel good. Anyway, we finally arrived at Georgetown University for my week in their International Relations program. I met very bright people from everywhere you could imagine. And I learned I should read the newspaper from time to time. I returned home just in time for our water polo trip to Hawaii. It was a blast, though I don’t remember how well we did in the tournament. I just remember our coach not being especially pleased with our performance. Usually he is easy-going and sarcastic, an adult male behavior that I have extensive experience with. So we get along fine. Life guarding last year at local pools wasn’t especially exciting so I worked as a hostess at a local restaurant until the end of the summer and, I am proud to say, earned enough to pay for my Hawaii trip. I also work parties for my Aunt - every few weekends. Over Labor Day weekend, while Mom and Dad were at Mammoth and Jeff was working (remember his ski trip), I went to Lake Havasu with my friend Melissa and her family. And I finally water skied! This fall Mom, Dad and I visited colleges in Washington and Oregon. Last month we hit a few local schools. Dad says education is over-rated, but he sure enjoys these trips. When he and Mom returned from a long weekend in New Orleans, Jeff got gifts. I got a Tulane brochure. Ma passed away in January. I miss her wisdom, experience, inspiration and strength. We all do. And I miss having someone around who thought I was precious and perfect. We send wishes for a holiday season filled with love and warmth and a great 1998. 
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Julie and her buddy Nicole
Honolulu
AUGUST 1997