♫ Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!
Lin-Manuel Miranda
HAMILTON The Revolution
2019 ♫ How lucky we are to have had our whole family together for Christmas! Grandson Arden, four years old, came from San Jose, CA, with his mom and dad, Becky and Jonathan. In the photo he is sitting next to Aunt Rachel and Uncle Héctor who traveled all the way from Chile!
♫ How lucky we are to have family here in Medford! Years ago, Kevin’s sister, Kelly (and Brian!), initiated Sunday dinners with our moms. We take turns cooking and are thankful for this tradition with the grand ladies.
Kevin continues as head girls’ golf coach at St. Mary’s High School. His talented team was the district and state champion again – what a thrill for the girls, their parents and, of course, Coach Klabunde!! His own game saw another Southern Oregon Championship title and two rounds where he “shot his age” (64 and 62, actually!) Woot, woot!!
Penny logs many volunteer hours and relishes her role as Arden’s “Grammie”. She flew to Denver with Kelly in May to meet great-nephew Cooper and to Portland with friend Louise in October for friend Linda’s birthday bash.
Together we made a January trip to see Elton John with Becky and then on to the desert, including a (terrifying!) trip on the Palm Springs aerial tram. Camping, hiking, backpacking (mosquitos!!), golf tournaments, the Redwoods and Black Butte rounded out the year. This fall we started going to yoga together. We feel both younger and older every class!!
♫ How lucky we are to have the Tomer family not so far away! Becky returned to teaching preschool last fall, Jonathan is still with Google and Arden attends Spanish-immersion preschool three days a week. When Becky traveled to Jordan in May, Penny stayed with “the guys” to assist with day to day living. This fall she helped pack boxes for the move into their very own house! We have had fun together almost every month: San Jose, Medford or wine tasting in Lodi!
♫ How lucky we are that video chats and texts with Rachel and Héctor keep us close, even when they are so far! After a month-long honeymoon to the southern tip of Chile, Rachel began working for Cochrane, an international evidence-based medicine collaboration. Héctor continues his work with the Navy and has added training course leader to his duties.
♫ How lucky we are to have seen “Hamilton” in San Francisco twice this year… the two of us for our July anniversary, then again in December with Becky and Rachel. Inspired and inspiring!!
2020 looks to be a challenging year for our nation and our planet.
May we each embrace how lucky we are to be alive
and do our part for justice in our world.
With love, Penny and Kevin
