2008 in Review

The last year has been very full: In April Eric and Heather (Perry) were married. The wedding ceremony took place at Faith "Viera" Lutheran Church with the reception at the Tortoise Island Community Center here in Satellite Beach. Everybody had a great time. I invite those of you in attendance to post your favorite memories of the event as comments below.

In May, Grandma (Dianne) and I flew out to Iowa for the first time in our lives so I could walk in my graduation ceremony at Graceland University. I received my Master of Education degree which I had earned online during the last two years. I was proud of my achievement. I feel it has made me a better teacher.

In June, we gathered at Bonclarken Presbyterian Camp in Hendersonville, N.C. to honor Grandma "Great" (Marguerite Doerr) on her 90th birthday. Again, all present had a great time. I welcome your recollections of our time together at the camp. Post your highlights in comments on this entry. My favorite times were the breakfasts and the closing fireside gathering. I was amazed by Grandma Great's memory for the birthdays of those who were sitting around the campfire. I don't remember the exact number of people, but there had to be more than thirty names and dates that she rattled off. Not bad for for a ninety-year-old.

During our return from Bonclarken, Grandma Dianne and I stayed at some historic hotels in Black Mountain, N.C. and Washington, GA. Later in the summer, we did the same thing on Cedar Key, FL. I'll try to post the names of the hotels later. I can't remember the names at the moment. It was an interesting and strange experience to stay in a place that has been receiving visitors for over a hundred years.

In October, we (Grandma Dianne and I) went to my fortieth class reunion at Plattsburgh State. We stayed at a bed and breakfast (Trail's End) in Keene Valley, N.Y., adjacent to the school where I started teaching forty years ago. I fondly remember that first year of teaching, during which my first son Hans (now 40) was born. We enjoyed driving on the Northway from Elizabethtown to Plattsburgh each day for the homecoming events. The day before the homecoming, Grandma Dianne and I drove through the chain of lakes from Tupper Lake through Saranac Lake to Plattsburgh. I had a rush of memories as were came into Plattsburgh through Cadyville and Morrisonville. I had lived there for a short time fifty years ago when I first came there as a young teenager with my parents and sister Vonceal and brother David. It felt like a true "homecoming." Before we left the North Country, Dianne and I climbed to the top of a 300 foot waterfall in Keene Valley. Grandma Dianne collected a fistful of leaves, mostly maple, that we brought back to Florida.

In September, we were blessed with the arrival of Aidan, son of Eric and Heather Doerr. He has grown like a weed and now looks like he'd make a great linebacker. We are so happy that we now have at least one grandchild within reach that we can dote on. Eric, Heather, and Aidan live in Suntree, just across the river from Satellite Beach.

In December, we celebrated the actual date (December 20th) of Grandma Great's 90th birthday. We had a small gathering that included Great Grandma Herndon, who celebrated her 85th birthday on October 2oth. We have had a wonderful Christmas break from school. During the holiday I read a couple of Clive Cussler books and saw "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" at the Rave Theater in Viera. I enjoyed the movie, which prompted me to read the original short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald upon which it is based. I just happen to have a copy of Fitzgerald's short stories in my library.

Tell me the highlights of your year just passed. We hope you all had a great year as well. Post your responses as comments below. Also, post any plans you have for the year ahead.

Stay faithful! Press on with your eye on the prize.