As we look back on our year in 1997, it's hard to believe so much happened in twelve short months. Around this time last year, we were debating the choice to bring a French exchange student into our house for a few weeks. We decided to take the plunge and welcomed Claire Guérandel in late February. She came from Caen, in Normandy, along with eleven other students from her school. We had a good time showing Claire the local sites and playing "parents" for a while. The time passed quickly and soon we were saying goodbye to Claire.

The next few months passed relatively uneventfully, with Doug and I doing the normal stuff like bowling on the Church Fellowship League, singing in the choir, attending our various committee meetings, and of course working at our jobs. We played on our softball team again for our fifteenth year. Fun to see all our graying hairlines!

In late May we grew concerned about severe weight loss in our cat Oscar, so a visit to the vet was necessary. The initial diagnosis was diabetes, so Doug and I had to learn how to inject insulin into a cat. Wheee! The month of June was consumed with trying to stabilize his dosage and fatten him up again. After a lot of trial and error, his blood was re-tested and the diagnosis was FIV, the kitty version of HIV. His prognosis is grim, as there is no cure. But for the time being, he is well and happy. We have opted for quality of life rather than quantity.

It seemed life would return to its regular routine with the onset of summer, but one Sunday in late June threw those ideas out the window. Mom fell and hurt her leg, and it was hurting her more than a simple bruise should. The decision was made to take her to the emergency room, where they confirmed a break in her left leg, which would necessitate a stay in the hospital and nursing care upon release. While Mom recovered in the hospital, Julie, Tom and I scoped out the nursing home options, bringing Dad along to approve the final choice. On Independence Day, Mom entered the Tacoma Lutheran Home in north Tacoma and has been there ever since. We feel grateful for the good care she receives there.

Mom's fall came a week after seeing Jon ordained as a Methodist pastor. He and the whole family were here from Kansas City for the event, which was a very joyous occasion for us all. Amazing to see the kids after only a year or so of absence! What growth!

Our family expanded this year when Erin and Tom formalized their union on August 9th at Bethany. Family members came from afar; Uncle Jim, (Dad's brother), and cousin Ann (and Ken) Chirhart came from the Midwest, and Rochelle and Mark Short popped down from Seattle. It was wonderful for me to meet Ann; I was too young to have known her before we left New Jersey, and was quite interested to meet another "Short" girl.

In September, Doug and I wanted to get away from it all, so we headed out to sea. We took a week-long cruise on the MS Windward, from Vancouver BC to Los Angeles. Mmmm, what a great time! The only blemish was one day of rough seas, but the memory of that is fading. We certainly didn't starve! After arriving in LA, we stayed with Doug's brother Tom for a week, helping him move a few things into his new condo and listening to cool live jazz at his rehearsal band sessions.

We were home only a week before flying off again, this time destination was New Orleans. We spent a week in the French Quarter with our friends Wes Stanton and Kathy Bogue, exploring all the sites and eating more food! Our favorite spot was the Café du Monde, where we had their specialty, café au lait and beignets. Once again the time flew and we were home all too soon.

This fall has been back to the routine, which has its comforts and keeps us busy. We hope all those we love are well and happy, treasuring their families and friends as we do.