Dear Family and Friends,
Now that the Blazers arena has become the Moda Center, I
think it is time to sell the naming rights for various parts of the house.
Elizabeth’s room could become Red Bull Arena. We think Red Robin or Disney
could be a natural partner for Dan’s room. All my ideas for commercial partners
for Ruth have just gotten me in trouble.
The big news for Elizabeth (age 20) has been her Labrador
puppy, Finn. 12 pounds when he came home at the end of September, he is 45
pounds now. He’s a growing boy. When she took Finn the dog to meet Star the
horse, the horses had to educate Finn that horses are not great big long nosed
dogs. We always like it when she brings the grandpuppy home to visit. Ruth
calls her for an emergency puppy visit whenever I start talking about getting
my own dog. This requires a trip from Corvallis, where she is completing her
junior year in Animal Science at Oregon State. She may have spent the summer studying Physics, but at least
she got to Disneyland in the spring.
Dan (age 19) came home from Wichita this summer after
completing what would have been his senior year of high school, and says “I
like home best.” He stays busy as his job coach, Brian, takes him to volunteer
at Oregon Food Bank, Clay Street Table, and Potluck In The Park when he is not
in school at the Community Transition Program. Dan and Brian go swimming and
bowling each week as well. Whenever Dan displays the natural teenage boy talent
for belching, we try to pass him off as a Tuvan throat singer. He misses all
his friends at Heartspring whenever he thinks his parents are too strict.
Ruth is eager for me to get the annual letter out so that
her fan base will know that after the 2013 Multnomah County Fair, she is once
again the Sage Queen of Multnomah County. She also won the blue ribbon for
brownies, and has warned that I may not disclose her secret family recipe
during her lifetime. She continues to enjoy her Book Club, or is it a wine
dinner club? She pursues her bucket list item of spending at least one night in
every county in Oregon.
When I refer to myself as the economic engine of the
household, Ruth suggests a tuneup, but I continue to work for Kaiser. Retirement
eligibility looms, but seems a cruel tease. We do buy lottery tickets as an investment vehicle. I
continue to play bass for Jazz Sunday at church, and am now playing with the
EVJQ. 2014 will start a new photo a day for a year project. I went to my first
PAC-12 football game with Elizabeth and Uncle Walter.
Ruth is The Godmother, and I am The Guardian. Ruth enjoyed
seeing her godchild walk the graduation stage at Stonehill College in May. I am now Dan’s guardian, with all the
privileges appertaining thereto.
We enjoyed visits and visiting. Family and friends came from
New England and California for visits, and we enjoyed East Coast visits to our
families.
We hope that the New Year finds you and yours happy and
well, and brings you much joy. Y’all come see us now, y’hear?
Pat, Ruth, Elizabeth, Daniel, Star, and Finn
503-295-2665
