TRAVEL

At the antique shop/restaurant in Matsuyama with an antique Samurai uniform in back of us.

Rob in Osaka, where I'll be visiting for a bit on the way down to stay with him in Matsuyama.

ROB AND FRIENDS IN PRAGUE--these are some of the young adults with whom we celebrated Christmas in Czech Republic this year.  Wonderful, energetic, enthusiastic people--our country's in good shape with this generation.  I'm sure he's going to make good friends during his time in Japan.  He's already met several local JET people and gotten together socially.  Much excitement!

Rob, on the Burren in the west of Ireland, a limestone "pavement" caused by the glaciers. The dolmen beside him is an ancient burial site.

Ireland's west coast, looking out into the Atlantic.

Muckcross House Gardens near the Killarney National Forest. Aren't those huge clumps of rhododendrons spectacular?

Rob, on the Dingle Peninsula and inside a ringfort, an ancient "dry stone" construction where the people of those days lived. Right off the Atlantic, these early farmers and their cattle were subject to frequent Viking raids, thus the fortifications.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

My nephew Eric, a Navy physician; his wife, Karen, a Navy hospital administrator; and their new baby, Samantha!  Such joy to welcome a new member to the family!

My mother-in-law, Alice, who went all the way to Hawaii to visit the new great grandbaby--and she's only 89!

Rob and some of his students in the JET program during summer camp.

RUSSIAN ROB--aka, my son and heir the night he shaved his head in Prague, or, rather, had a friend shave it for him!  Need I add the friend was female?

Here's my pride and joy the weekend of his graduation from University of Wisconsin recently! Such fun!

Rob and my friend Suzette Vann, author of the acclaimed His Other Mother, at Christmas. Note the brussel sprouts! Were we healthy or what?!

Rob and his gramma at Christmas.

Rob, my baby sis, and her grandson at college graduation.

Baby sis and her tall(!) grandson in Madison, Wisconsin just outside Rob's apartment.

Rob and Lil' Tommy Dooley this past spring--during a rare quiet moment for either of them!

My dear nephew and niece-in-law and my sister-in-law included me in their Thanksgiving celebration. It was my first experience with deep-fried turkey!

Thought you all would enjoy seeing my college son on this past Halloween. He's the Samurai Bunny. You'd recognize him anywhere, right??

JUST FOR FUN

This is the River Walk in Naperville, my adopted town.  We love to walk along it, especially in the summer when there's a lot of bustle and activity.

The author in her serious, pre-author junior high days. Note the sense of high fashion (!) with the scarf!

THE RAINFOREST CAFE in Chicago--this was a  picture Rob took when we were in Chicago for his interview at the Japanese Consulate preparatory to the JET position in Japan, for which he leaves July 25th.  For two years!  I'm happy--for him.  And sad--for me.  I'll miss my brown-eyed baby.  Who will always be my 'baby' even though he now steers me around and is, as we say down south, "all growed up."  And very nicely, too!

Ms. Buster, Easter, 2000, retrieving a toy in hopes of a treat.

Mr. Cetis O' Roarkey himself after a hard day.

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