December 18, 2014 . . . one week to Christmas!
Our annual reflection on the last twelve months comes with a modicum of bittersweet…
One year ago today, Kevin’s dad, Les, had a stroke, and passed away within a month, on January 17th. Death is never an easy thing, but with all his family here in Medford for Christmas, everyone had the opportunity to bid loving farewells. Mom is doing well, though losing your life partner after 67 years is a challenge. We had a wonderful remembrance celebration for Dad in early August, where this family picture was taken. Family and friends from near and far, including Dad’s only remaining sibling, Aunt Betty, and her family, gathered to enjoy Dad’s displayed artwork, and to share in the pictures, memorabilia, and stories of the life of Lester William Otto Klabunde. We all miss him very much.
The rest of 2014 may pale in comparison, but the circle of life continues. Kevin’s mom, Eadie, has lived in a vibrant and lively senior living apartment complex near us for almost four years. She seems to continually school her neighbors in the art of winning pinochle hands and bingo cards! We look forward to celebrating her 90th birthday on January 12th.
Penny’s mom, Rosemary, also lives nearby, spending most of the year in Medford and a few months at her home at lovely Black Butte Ranch near Sisters in Central Oregon. Between quilting, knitting sweaters and prayer shawls, attending church and watching her beloved SF Giants and LA Angels baseball, she keeps fairly busy! Twenty-nine of her quilts were just acquired by children at the Family Nurturing Center here in Medford.
Travel is one of our favorite things, and we were fortunate to make a few trips this year. A quick February jaunt to Las Vegas with Kevin’s sister, Kelly, and her husband, Brian, to see the Eagles and Shania Twain in concert was so much fun! In March, during spring break from Penny’s substitute teaching and Kevin’s high school golf coaching, we made our annual pilgrimage to visit Becky and Jonathan in Washington, DC,: always a delight!
In early May, Penny met Becky in Chicago for five days of sightseeing and a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition/tour. We were back in DC to spend Father’s Day with Becky and Jonathan, then zipped up to NYC for the wedding of Lindsey Kortum, daughter of friends, Robin and Joe. We managed to see a few Broadway shows while there, and Kevin made a quick trip to play golf at Pine Valley in the Sand Hills of New Jersey, just outside of Philly.
A scenic camping trip on the Oregon Coast with Kelly, Brian, Eadie, and niece, Kassie, was a fun way to celebrate the 4th of July. Our girls and their guys were here in August for Dad’s celebration, so the six of us made a trip to Black Butte, one of our favorite places on earth! Houseboating on Lake Shasta with a number of dear friends brought our summer to a close.
We had a warm and sunny vacation with the kids in October, lazing in the sand at Mission Beach in San Diego and frolicking at Disneyland before arriving in Fresno for the main event: the wedding of our nephew, Patrick Howes, to Megan Cavazos. What a happy occasion to celebrate! Especially nice was the fact that Rachel and Hector were able to join us from Chile!
Penny returned to Las Vegas in November to celebrate two 60th birthdays (one hers) and the 50th birthday of the youngster in their group. Carlos Santana in concert was amazing!! And finally, Thanksgiving 2014 at Black Butte Ranch was joyously highlighted by the engagement of our niece Holly Adolph to Scott Reid! Wow! What a year!
Penny’s “retirement” from teaching three years ago doesn’t seem to have slowed down the busy-ness of her life! Along with fairly regular substitute teaching, she remains on the board of The Family Nurturing Center, a parent education and child abuse prevention non-profit organization here in Medford. In November she felt called to step into the role of Senior Warden for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. With the September departure of our rector, she has become the “face of our church” and has the huge assignment of not only overseeing the operations of our church, but also coordinating the search process for a new rector. Prayers are appreciated!
Kevin, in addition to supporting Penny in her new role as Sr. Warden, continues to manage all financial aspects of our church. In May, he wrapped up his high school coaching career after 20 years leading the North Medford Black Tornado golf teams. A couple weeks later he carded his third HOLE IN ONE, the first one on his home course at Rogue Valley Country Club! Occasionally traveling out of town for golf binges with friends, he mostly plays a couple times per week … just enough to keep the golf muscles limber!
Rachel and Hector are celebrating Christmas in Chile this year.
We miss them, but are very thankful they were able to make two trips to the States this year, in August and again in October.
We hope to head south in February to visit them and meet Hector’s family.
Next week Becky and Jonathan arrive to celebrate the holidays with us here in Medford.
Accompanying them will be their two AFS foreign exchange students, Bea from Italy and Michi from Germany.
We are excited to meet the girls and show them a little of beautiful Oregon!
To all our family and friends, we wish you health, happiness, and love in the coming year.
A Christmas wish –
May you never forget what is worth remembering, or remember what is best forgotten.
Irish proverb
