I am looking forward to our 40^th!  I had a rough time with our last reunion due to the very ungraceful trip & fall on my morning run before the Shoup Park gathering.  Face-meeting-concrete never turns out well, and I am sorry if I scared anyone off with how I looked.  It made approaching people to talk a little too awkward, felt like I needed to explain I had not lost a bar fight!  I was just glad I didn’t lose any teeth, and thankful my friend-for-life, Alyssa Leary, was kind enough to leave the reunion early to take me to the ER for stitches.  Yes, 4 stitches in my lip (it was not pretty, the stitches were blue!) but it healed great.



So, fast forward to 2019 – I missed out last time, so this reunion, I’d love to catch up with everyone!  Promise this time I will not look scary :)  Life continues to be good, 2018 was a milestone year.  I celebrated 25 years of marriage with my husband (Bill) and our daughter Ellie graduated high school, turned 18, and moved out of state to begin her freshman year at University of Washington in Seattle.  Empty nest has been an adjustment, but she’s had a fantastic 1^st year at UofW, embraced all the changes with no fear.  I couldn’t be more proud of my girl, she means the world to me.



I am enjoying running (still, always) but fewer miles, and a slower pace.  I have not lined up at the start of a marathon since Boston 2016 – my retirement marathon.  I am spending more time with other outdoor sports (biking, hiking, kayaking) and have been on some terrific trips with adventure touring companies (Backroads, REI, National Geographic).  I’m still working at Oracle, 22 years this September, and retirement date is (tentatively) set at August 2021.  Next chapter will involve more time in the outdoors, lots of travel, volunteer work, and a daily nap!