A smashing success in 2015 was the 50th birthday celebration for Brooke (Barbara's youngest) on the side of Mount Rainier (her mountain--if anyone asks.) What a wonderful occasion staying in a mountain lodge, banquet on the deck, cocktail created just for Brooke (try the Gibson 5 0 if you get a chance), and Brooke looking so happy to have us all there so she could cook for us (with a little help from her friends).  While in Seattle area, we had another great month on Whidbey Island, with Brooke and Paula coming over to stay and spoil us with fresh seafood dinners. We supplied the venue, they the cooking--a perfect arrangement from our point of view!

     Over the past three years we have had our last "month with a kid," visiting and enjoying Patti and Jeff's environment in North Carolina, and then lots of travels for weddings, baptisms, birthdays, and sadly, funerals. When my Dad was this age, he said, "Time to circle the wagons, honey." How right he was. 
    We really do enjoy our home and activities here. Bob is happy to be playing golf year round and has a regular bunch of cronies that he enjoys as well. Barbara is active with Barbershop quartet, Mah Jongg, and the usual activities of running a household. Both of us have become active in the Astronomy Club which helps us keep our perspective!