September 2023......Family, New and Old Friends: all are a Blessing

Labor day weekend we had planned family outings to 2 lakes, but it was stormy. We settled for Korean food and bowling (I could still do it after 25 (?) years!)on Monday and soccer and football games (wins for BYU women's soccer and football), after a barbecue on Saturday.

The interesting green men band of UVU at soccer game

Simon, Grammy, Lucie, Fernanda, Emily, Evie, Marc and Hannah

                       With Marc and Fernanda on a walk in Daybreak

My daughter Julie served a mission over 20 years ago in Switzerland, so has enjoyed "Swiss Days" in Midway, Utah. Despite the rain we enjoyed the ambiance and activities (all her kids are great climbers!)

The Covert Family (with Julie on the right end), almost 40 years ago nearer the beginning of our friendship, in Palo Alto, CA. 

Ludwiga Covert picked me up at San Jose airport and I was on my way for several happy reunions with mostly Palo Alto dear friends.

I hadn't been back since last September. Markus (between his parents, is a Stanford professor and bishop [as was his dad Mike] of the PA Foothills ward which I attended for 50 years before I moved to Provo

I was so busy having fun I mostly forgot to take photos....

After an afternoon with former book group (50 years of lively discussions) at Nanci Thomander's, I attended a potluck with about 20 moms from our kids' former elementary school days. After many had left I remembered to get a photo: Cindy Flynn, Lynelle Morten, Diane Reklis, Miriam, Sue Allen (who hosted me), Shari Burkoth, Judy Faltz, Helen Gracon (hostess).

                                 
   Friday morning at the Oakland Temple with friends

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I flew down to Calabasas in southern California for the memorial service for Don Absey, the 94 year old father of my sister-in-law. He was a navy pilot, became a policeman at 65, a docent for the Reagan library. He was an amazing and fun/funny husband, father, grandfather, friend, story teller, theater, music and theater buff. Having lost his own father at age eight, he was constantly bringing home other kids in the same situation...so compassionate and caring of others and so missed.

I was able to spend a little time with my 4 living siblings (Irene, Brion, Roy, Elaine). We lost our other sister Eloise to ALS a few years ago.

My nephew Kevin and niece Lisa with Lisa's mom Irene, Lisa's husband Mike and their 2 cute grand kids. Below: us siblings with Roy's wife Julie Absey, who gave a beautiful eulogy for her dad Don. 

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After a wonderful Sunday seeing more Palo Alto friends at church, in their homes, and at the Allen's home ("empty nesters"), and sharing my adventures/life since retirement (first is clearer, 2nd more inclusive)...

           

                                       With Jean Gong, 97 1/2
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I flew to Portland for a reunion with 17 Whitman College girlfriends (class of 1965), beautifully planned and led by Helen Oswald, Judith Cederblom, and Bette Luke at Gearhart, on the beautiful Oregon coast.

We hiked,walked, talked and spent a few hours at the fascinating Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, gateway to the Columbia River, which forms the border between the states of Washington and Oregon. We toured the lightship Columbia. (If this is too much history for you, skip it). I was fascinated!

Carolyn,Nina,Heidi, Judith,Ann,Marilyn,Wendy, Bette, Laurie, Miriam

                  During WWII after Pearl Harbor, the ship Astoria...

Until World War II, officers in the US navy were required to wear full dress uniform for special occasions at least

US marines took flags (signed by Japanese family and friends as they went off to fight) called Yosegaki Hinomaru, as souvenirs from the bodies of fallen Japanese combatants. Many veterans later realized these flags might be the only tangible evidence of a beloved family member lost in a war fought long ago.

            Silt, sandbars and dredging......

               We enjoyed the town of Cannon Beach, 

            and the estuary near our rental house where most of us stayed.

Top row: Bette, Sally, Heidi, Helen, Ann, Chris; second row: Becky, Miriam, Wendy, Marilyn, Laurie; bottom row: Judith, Nina, Kathie, Carolyn, Julie

    Another photo of the WWWW's (Wild Wacky Whitman Women)...

And a wonderful picnic and walk along the cliffs of Cannon Beach with Lighthouse "Terrible Tilly" in the distance

Miriam, Carolyn, Ann. Judith, Laurie, Heidi at Ecola State Park

Haystack Rock is a landmark

After a fun final dinner Kathie Kimmy drove me back to Tualatin (Portland) for an additional day. We visited the Dahlia fields with rows and rows of spectacular dahlias of every shade, each with a name....

Oh, what a beautiful world many of us have, though we are constantly reminded of those whose world is in shambles: natural disasters, war, poverty, famine, abuse, corruption, and tragedies imaginable and unimaginable. May we keep our fellow human beings, animals, and earth in our thoughts and prayers and do what we can to alleviate suffering by at least being more aware, kind, forgiving, compassionate.