When last we wrote, we were residents of Martha’s Vineyard, about to celebrate Christmas at Becky and Jonathan’s home in Washington, DC. Arden was pulling ornaments off the tree and learning to walk. Rachel was on school break and Hector flew in from Chile. After that happy time, we returned to the Vineyard for almost three weeks, experienced an honest to goodness blizzard, and returned to DC to help Becky and Jonathan pack for their move to California.
We had planned to sell the car and fly home, but our road trip east was so much fun that we decided to drive west … the Biltmore Estate, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Austin, the LBJ Ranch. We saw family and friends along the way and revisited our honeymoon spot near Sedona. Our last stop was Becky, Jonathan and Arden’s new home in San Jose. They enjoy California and we love how much closer they are!
Springtime was devoted to house remodeling and yard work in preparation for Rachel and Hector’s summer wedding. In May, we introduced Kelly and Brian to Martha’s Vineyard and Boston, where Rachel received her Master of Science in Public Health from Harvard. She returned to Medford and we savored our time with her before the wedding.
Becky hosted Rachel’s bachelorette party at Black Butte. Hector took his parents and sister on a road trip from Disneyland up the California coast to the Redwoods, arriving in Medford on the Fourth of July. Jonathan hosted a bachelor party a couple days later. On July 8th, Rachel and Hector were married in our back yard.
As Becky said in her toast, it was especially sweet for the home where the girls grew up and “played wedding” to host the joyful event. Every moment was a delight and we forged a new closeness with Hector’s family. We are thankful for friends and family who celebrated with us and for the clear sky that made the outdoor wedding so lovely.
After a honeymoon to the Oregon Coast (and some very challenging packing!) the newlyweds are living in Viña del Mar, Chile. Hector continues his work with the Chilean Navy. Rachel was awarded a Harvard research fellowship and is making public health contacts in Chile as she delves into the problem of teen smoking.
We didn’t spend much time outdoors last summer because of the worst forest fires and smoke of our 40+ years in Oregon. We went to San Jose in August for Arden’s second birthday, to Maui in October with most of our extended Klabunde family and to Lodi for wine tasting in November. Kevin made two golf trips to the California desert, affording Penny extra “Grammie Time” with Arden in San Jose!
Kevin still coaches golf, but Penny has completely retired from teaching. We are blessed that both our moms are healthy here in Medford. We will celebrate Christmas with them and all the Klabunde Clan … fifteen around the table! Arden has just learned to sing “Jingle Bells”. Childhood wonder returns!
Let’s give less stuff and share more love.
Let’s be the peace we’re dreaming of.
Penny and Kevin
