11/08/2002

Dear #NAME#,

Remember "the beast?" That black 1978 Camaro with the chronically faulty carburetor, disabled heater (because it started leaking back in '90), with the air conditioner that hadn't worked since 1981 and an MPG rating lower than the Exxon Valdez?

I finally had an opportunity to be rid of it yesterday and, of course, immediately leapt upon it.

I used the Camaro as a trade-in on our new-to-us 1996 Mercury Sable wagon, which will be large enough to comfortably fit Katherine, Jessica, Victoria, Nicholas and me whenever we're all together.



It runs like new, everything works and so far there's not a scratch on it!

It was our plan to work toward getting reliable transportation for our road trip to Kingman next month without needing to spend a sizable chunk on a rental car. I'm so glad we succeeded on this goal because it was so important to us.

We've made our reservations last month at the family-arranged TraveLodge in Kingman for Friday night and Saturday night, December 13 and 14.

Sad to say that Nicholas will not be able to get away from school early enough to be with us at the gathering, but we've planned to have him from December 27 through January 12. Katherine and her two daughters Jessica (13) and Victoria (11) and I are very much looking forward to seeing you at the reunion!

Jessica (flute) and Victoria (violin) are already preparing for the talent show portion of our reunion with a Christmas song duet! And, of course (ham that I am), I have accepted a kind request to play the emcee of our little talent show that has never failed to be a laugh riot (mostly from sheer embarrassment)!

Knock on wood – I must mention before I go that, a couple months ago Katherine and I determined we were finally ready to quit smoking (yuck!) and neither of us have had a puff since. Really.

That coincides with my return to routine workouts at a local gym. Since then, the combination of not smoking, an even more nutritious meal plan and great genetics have resulted in, after only 6 weeks, a return to my pre-1993 physical condition. Already! And I've only just started.

Wanna be in great shape for our important family and friends reunion, don't I?

My story "Southern California vs. Central Oregon" was published by one of the papers up here, the Bend Bugle, and I received many kind compliments and favorable remarks on the piece.

This is the final weekend for "Short Stuff 2002," the variety show in which I have roles in three of the ten plays. I've had such fun being part of live theatre again after more than 20 years!

Figured I'd keep you up-to-date with the latest goings-on up here in Oregon. Hope you'll do the same and let us know what's happening at your neck of the woods.

Love,

Craig