Round Robin 2003

May 25, 2003
NJKS

Dear Everybody,
It was a real treat to get the Robin earlier than usual! Always before, it has arrived in August when we are deluged with company, and there’s just no time. Hooray for the SLGs!
We are still enjoying U of M football every fall. Last season it just so happened that Jana’s birthday and Tom’s birthday were both on Gameday Saturdays, and they were each able to come to Ann Arbor to celebrate and enjoy a football weekend.
Dick and I were named Michigan Medicaid Specialists of the year at the 2002 Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program State Convention in Battle Creek. We spend a lot of time helping elderly citizens try to manage payment of their medical expenses.
I was feeling ill a lot of the time, especially over the holidays, but it’s all straightened out now. I had some internal bleeding, and had to be hospitalized and given a couple of blood transfusions. Now I’m feeling back to normal, and singing the praises of my Doctor, who actually listened to what I was telling him. This does not always happen, as I’m sure you all know.
Dick is still volunteering at the T C Visitor Center, and the volunteers (and spouses) get to go on all sorts of outings in order to become familiar with what’s available in the area. This winter the volunteer group went on a sleigh ride, complete with campfire and hot chocolate; we had lunch, a presentation, and free money at the Leelanau Sands Casino; the group toured the new Great Wolf Lodge on US 31 South among other local activities. It’s interesting to see what there is to do during a long, cold winter.
We’re still staying close to home to be near Mother. Dick got a really good workout running his snow blower this winter. Both of our close neighbors here were down in Florida, so Dick kept everybody blown out, and kept all of the furnaces running. J As long as we were here anyway, we took care of the TC image – the Bay froze over for the first time in years, and we had piles of snow, and some 20 below temps. Did you know that Lake Michigan actually freezes along the shore line if it gets cold enough? At Empire Beach, the ice was piled high. Now that spring is here, we’re also making sure that the cherry trees are blooming, and the Bay is bright blue.
Traverse didn’t have the bad weather reported by Sandy and Nola. We did have several snow days and the like, but no real storm damage.
Laurie and Chip are still flying with American, so let’s all pray that it stays solvent! They are in the process of buying a new home in Palm City about 45 minutes north of Delray Beach. That will give them a commute of one hour and 45 minutes….oh well – they say they won’t mind. Dylan is still the most delightful child in the universe.
Tom is living in San Diego as a senior scientist with Cymer Corp.
Jana is Director of Product Development with Congressional Quarterly in D.C. She just got back from a month’s vacation in New Zealand! It was the trip of a lifetime – she really had a chance to learn her way around and explore. I can’t wait to hear more about it. Did you know that in New Zealand if you order a burger, it comes with beets on it?
We are really looking forward to the Fiftieth Reunion Get-together. Everybody please bring more pictures!