Aloha Friends and Family,

Mimi and Mark had another active year. Mimi does great work visiting vets in a VA facility and putting some excitement into their lives with Bingo, which they love. She continues to help at the thrift shop that provides clothes and school gear to school children in Honolulu. And she has time for mah joong and cards and frequently is out with girlfriends listening to their favorite local performers and bands.

Mark helps run a mentoring program for college students at the Univ of Hawaii, holds leadership jobs in the military officers chapter and helps as needed with local Republican political campaigns, as does Mimi.

Mark attended the Air Force Academy gymnastics team reunion in Colorado Springs in January, flying into Las Vegas first to visit daughter Marcy and our three grandsons (aged 16,12,10) and then driving through Arizona, New Mexico and the sparking snowy-white western Colorado mountains, and drove back to Las Vegas through eastern and southern Utah. Such wonderful scenery and history in this area. His first visit to Zion National Park was very special, it should be on everyone's bucket list.

Mimi's big event this year was her 50th HS Reunion in Colorado Springs in July. She had the normal fun reconnecting with the girls and boys she grew up with and, of course, was the one who got the dancing started!! Alas, no former (or new) boyfriends showed up to sweep her off her feet so she reluctantly went home with Mark. :)

Marcy and the boys were also in town, moving from Las Vegas to the West Palm Beach Area. Nick, the 16 year old, asked Pop Pop to hike Pikes Peak so we had a great adventure, hiking 13 miles up to the thin air at 14,110 feet in 9 hours. Then we had another adventure as we hitchhiked down. Awesome day with my grandson.

Mark's big event of the year came next as he flew out to Cleveland to attend the Republican National Convention and immersed himself for four days in the spectacle and turmoil of American politics! Cleveland did a great job, security was tight and effective, and the delegates had fun while doing serious business. Mark recommends the experience!

Mark then spent three days in Detroit visiting cousins from his mother's Goddard side of the family and exploring family venues in southern Michigan where his parents and he and his siblings grew up. And he met a passel of first cousins once, twice and thrice removed!

The only downer this year was Mimi fell in September and broke her upper arm, very painful and she is allergic to most pain meds so life was hard for several weeks. She slept fitfully in a recliner and was unable to dress or shower herself (that's where Mark came in . . . "for better or for worse!") She is now pretty mended and back to normal activity, and in a much better mood.

Speaking of better moods, we will spend the Christmas holidays with Marcy and the boys in Florida! We hope your year was happy, healthy and fun and wish you the best in 2017.
|