Season's Greetings from our family to yours. December in Wellington is the first month of summer, so we are all pleased to be finishing the year's business and are planning on having a relaxing Christmas holiday here in New Zealand.
Martha has just returned from her sabbatical in the USA which kept her away from home for most of the last five months. She had a nice and productive experience at both Brown University and Yale where she continued her work on earthquake research. She also used the opportunity of being in the States to visit family and friends around the country.
With Martha away, I (Mike) got a chance to experience single-parenting. However, now that the boys are increasingly independent it really wasn't all that demanding. It was nice that no-one got sick or injured or otherwise indisposed (except for a few sprained ankles suffered by Patrick in his enthusiasm for basketball).
Patrick (now 15) has had a very satisfying year: he was a valued member of his school's basketball team, and scored 17 points for his personal best. He's thrilled to have gotten a paying job at the local Recreation Centre to work as a basketball referee (he refs Kelly's games). Pat also has played on a team for "gridiron" (American) football and plays wide receiver and cornerback. He took the senior level class in Japanese at school and got top marks, as well as racking up a few more math awards. This summer he'll be going to basketball camp for a week (as he did last year).
Kelly has blossomed this year under the guidance of his classroom teacher who has been really wonderful. Kel, who will be 11 in December, continues to be a real sports nut, with basketball and cricket his passions. He spends many, many hours at the Rec Centre honing his bball skills. For his final school project he did a 30 page report on the NBA. In cricket, he's been taking wickets with fast paced yorkers, and using the pull shot to get boundaries (that's cricket-talk for good pitching and good batting).
I (Mike) continue to keep busy (very) teaching high school Physics, Science and Technology. I enjoy the work, though it can get quite hectic at times.
This year has been a sad one for my (Mike's)family. My mother, age 81, died of lung cancer in April, and then my younger brother, Rick, died tragically in October. It's been a very, very difficut time for all. A lesson to share with you is to make the best of each and every day given to you, and to be kind and caring towards those with whom you spend your days.
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