Greetings, friends.
The year end finds us well and moving forward, regardless of the bumps we might have navigated to get here. Christmas 2010 was spent in Key West, in a condo with an ocean view and a tropical vibe. After a busy and emotional year, it was a great opportunity to spend time with family and kick back.
Both kids are now in college, both in Oregon. Jake is a Junior at Willamette University in Salem, where he is enjoying the campus and town and living 2,000 miles from parents. He is active in the Biology Department: he is a teaching assistant, works with a professor on great bustard research, and served on a search committee last semester for a new faculty member. He worked last summer in Pullman, Washington at Washington State University with the USDA. I'm not sure what he enjoyed more: getting better acquainted with his Aunt Rebecca or researching the genetics of plants. He hopes to return this summer after spending a couple of weeks south of the border (how far south is not yet determined...) in an end-of-term course.
Quincy graduated from Las Cruces High School in May after spending about half her year as a dual-credit student at New Mexico State University. She stage-managed several LCHS theatrical productions and learned much as an intern at a local theater. She headed off to Southern Oregon University in September in Ashland, and, like her brother, very much enjoys the town and academic atmosphere of a small college. And the distance from home. Did I mention that? Her first quarter went well, and she started back to SOU on January 3.
This means we are now officially empty nesters, at least for October, February, April, and parts of September, November, December, January, March, and May. This means sometimes it feels like we run a boarding house that services gangly youth ravenously hungry for home cooking and high-speed internet. Stu and I spent the fall congratulating ourselves on surviving the time-intense part of parenting. We'll see how we fare on the cash-intense part...
I spent much time in Delaware this year as my mother's health became more precarious. Following a major stroke in mid June, she died in early July. It was a sad time for us all, especially for my father and Kent. Although parting has been difficult, I know in my heart she did not want to live as she was. I really enjoyed the extra time with my dad and Kent -- his unique and upbeat outlook are always good reminders of the importance of the moment.
Stu's year was focused on teaching and service, through NMSU's Faculty Senate and other committee work. He is Vice-Chair of the Faculty Senate and has served on a number of graduate committees. He has continued research in experimental design (I edit his papers and try not to understand the content), and has enjoyed working with the food science department.
I continued commuting by bike this year. I hit about 5,000 miles and enjoyed the heck out of at least most of them. As a friend recently told me, bike commuters are their own brand of crazy. I really enjoyed the challenges of all-weather cycling. And the hot tub at the end of the ride.
Other highlights of the year: Quincy's graduation trip was a week on the east coast, starting with a visit to Delaware and ending with 5 nights in New York City. We enjoyed lots of theater and strolls through NYC neighborhoods I had never visited. In September, our home became an energy producer with the addition of solar panels to our roof: we haven't paid an electricity bill since! Jake and I met in DC in October for the Rally to Restore Sanity, hosted by Jon Stewart. It was a great weekend in one of our favorite cities, and the extra time with Jacob was a lagniappe. Most of our other travel involved kid colleges in some way, and we look forward to Quincy extending our reasons to visit Oregon by another two years!
Wishing you all the best for the new year. Write (melody.mcgee@nmsu.edu) and let us know how you are doing. Below: Melody, Annie, Stu, and Rosie, north end of the Black Quartz Mountains, Sunday morning hike.
