2006
This has truly been a memorable year, one we will remember for a long time.
Early in the summer we had a wonderful car trip exploring eastern Oregon. The first day we went to Portland where we spent a night with friends. The next day we headed up the Columbia River Gorge visiting water falls, museums and other places of interest. Our one goal was to show David the Oregon Trail Museum which fascinated him no end. Aside from that we had no itinerary, no destination, just a mosey around the eastern part of Oregon which we did at a leisurely pace. From Hells Canyon on the Idaho border we headed back to Washington State. The roads were almost empty of cars and the wild flowers were in full bloom. It was a lovely two week trip. Then we enjoyed a wonderful summer…until 1 August.
In the wee hours of the morning on 1 August Mary Ann misjudged where she was on leaving the bathroom and fell down the entry stairs crashing her head into the window next to the door. 911 was called and she ended up in emergency with a fractured C-2 bone, i.e. she had a broken neck. Since then she has been in one form of a brace or another. On 26 December she will go to the Neurological Center at Swedish Hospital in Seattle for a check-up. If all goes well she will begin physical therapy. It is a long, slow period of recovery but she is on the mend and is continually counting her blessings that she survived the fall.
George’s planned trip to Korea on 2 August was postponed for four days until Mary Ann felt she could take care of herself with the aid of a dear friend, Gabette. Then George took off to Gwangju, South Korea for the opening of his photo exhibit “GIs and the Kids – a Love Story.” It was an overwhelming success with a repeat invitation to Gwangju (pop. 1.4 million) for awarding the “Honorary Citizen Medal” to him on 1 December. Now, hopefully, he is done with the Korean War Children’s Memorial project.
David is still working in the university cafeteria. When home he volunteers up in the park. That is his park. He still spends countless hours working on his stamp collection which now must have over 30,000 stamps. From time to time he spends a week-end at the home of his girl friend Beth. They are best of friends but he is not planning on marriage, much to her chagrin.
Todd and his ‘significant other’ are now separated and our grandson Cyle is being adopted by a family in Oregon. We pray that we will be able to maintain contact with him. He is a such a treasure.
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