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| May 27, 1978 - Los Angeles CA |
It’s been a significant year. In January and February, we had a milestone birthday Not to reveal our age, but it’s the year you can buy a lifetime pass to the National Parks, and the age when it becomes socially acceptable to stop working. We did buy the pass - as well as matching luggage with a lifetime guarantee (somehow not as meaningful as when we were younger) - but retirement is a few years off. With many of our peers retiring, some younger than us, we’re reminded of when we were in high school and our friends in classes ahead of us graduated. They’re having all kinds of adventures, while we only hope they’ll want to hang out with us again when we, too, have time for leisure, coffee dates and (what we’re most looking forward to) sharing stories of adventures in grandparenting.
We’ve made good use of the luggage. We celebrated our 40th anniversary on an Alaska Cruise with our good friends Mike and Kayline (whose son Josh happens to be married to Caroline). While we’ve celebrated three anniversaries on an Alaskan cruise before, this itinerary was a little longer, allowing us to visit the bucket-list port of Sitka and the
surprise gem of Hoonah/Icy Point Strait.
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| May 27, 2018 - Inside Passage, Alaska |
Randolph took his luggage to jobs in Marysville and Salt Lake City. I was able to join him for a weekend in Utah; we drove to a ghost town in Beaver, where my grandfather was born in 1900. The luggage went to California twice - first when Randolph and I visited family in winter, and then in May to take a historic photo: my mom with all nine of her great-grandchildren. Randolph flew to Detroit for the annual safety meeting of Woods Construction.
Because of Randolph’s work schedule, we saved our long vacation for November. We flew into Raleigh to spend Thanksgiving with Lanh and Alex in Holly Springs. Alex is in his second year of medical school; Lanh is a lead at Starbucks and going to school online. We explored the area (Duke Chapel is a must see), and even drove three hours each way to see the Seahawks play the Panthers in Charlotte (at about one-third the cost of a game in Seattle)! The next week, we rented an RV with two goals: To see if we’re RV people; and to explore a bit of the South. We visited good friends in rural North Carolina, where Randolph tasted the local delicacy, livermush, and then drove to the Billy Graham Conference Center in Asheville (whose chapel is also gorgeous). But the highlight to the trip was a guided tour of Andersonville Prison in Georgia, where my second-great grandfather was a Union POW during the Civil War; very moving to know how 1/16th of my DNA suffered there. We did conclude that we could be RV people, but didn’t really care for the unit we rented.
Regrettably, our travel during the first half of the year was dampened a bit by a painfully failing knee, which was replaced in August. I scheduled the surgery when Caroline was on summer break from nursing school so I could have my own personal nurse the week after surgery; she did a great job. After three knee surgeries (two in 9 months) this was my quickest recovery.
We’ve had some losses this year. Lap and Lara parted ways. We are grateful for the years Lara was part of our family, and pray for them both as they moved forward. We also said goodbye of our sweet black lab, Sienna; Josh and Caroline lost their cat, Razmir. Both were older rescues so we knew our time with them would be short, but there now are empty spots in our homes. The net number of animals in the family remains at five: Lanh and Alex adopted a retired greyhound, Rey. Ian and Kaitlin got the boys a golden retriever puppy, Bailey.
Always a highlight of the year is the annual Seattle Hydrocephalus Walk. This year’s featured speaker, 8-year-old Reid, did an excellent job; after cutting the ribbon to start the walk, he practically ran the course - something unthinkable before he had a couple of breakthrough surgeries at Seattle Children’s Hospital to improve his leg function. (Google “Reid Watkins” and “On the Pulse” to read the story.) Of course, we’ve also been blessed this year by the milestones of his brothers, 6-year-old Cohen, our soccer star, rock hound; and 4-year-old Jensen, who seems to delight in everything and everyone.
Nate and Stephanie continue to pursue parenthood through foster-to-adopt. We’re hoping their current foster child remains in their home long enough for us to meet her; she sounds delightful. (I’ve always wanted to crochet Barbie clothes, and she’s a fan.)
Lap had a job transfer closer to home at the new Costco in Bonney Lake, where he’s the membership manager. Caroline finished her first year of nursing school, is vice president of Portland Community College’s Student Nurses Association, and also a member of the board of the Oregon SNA, helping to plan the state convention which will take place at PCC.
Randolph continues his work with Woods Construction and had the best year of his career. This year he was foreman on most of his jobs. Because retail stores want to finish construction by the holidays, he has a bit more time on his hands in November and December. But he’s already got his schedule beginning January 9.
I’ll mark my 39th year at World Vision in May, and am determined to make it to at least 40. Very excited about our new CEO, Edgar Sandoval. While I’ve cut back my involvement at the district level, I’m still active in Toastmasters and am about an inch away from earning my Distinguished Toastmasters award. We’re still at Faith Church, where I’m involved in the meals ministry and the occasional photography gig.
We are looking forward to all that 2019 will bring - travel, family, work, and friends like you. We wish you every blessing in the new year.
Merry Christmas,
Randolph and Sheryl
