The year of 2019 brought many joys into Neil’s and my life. We have a new grandson Connor James Schultz born January 28, 2019, to parents Ariann and Eric Schultz and big brother Patrick Hayden Schultz. We visited the Schulz’ and our grandsons in August after the weather had warmed up from the sub-zero winter of Missoula, Montana!

The year also had deep sorrow in the passing of Neil’s brother-in-law Dan Knak in July in Hastings Minnesota. We had planned our summer trip to the mainland for August but we moved it ahead a few weeks to rush to Minnesota to help Cindy, Neil’s sister, when Dan took a critical downturn in his long fight against leukemia. As such things go, Dan’s passing was a beautiful bittersweet thing because there was so much love and wonderful laughter along with the sorrow.

We flew to Ohio for Harter and Kreischer family time. My Mom was visiting from California and my sister Melanie drove from her new home in South Carolina. We had all the siblings (and parents) together since Pamela and Warren now live in Ohio near Dad. We had a great time visiting, working together, family reunions, a trip to Ohio Caverns, and a tour of the Airstream factory. It all ended too soon and we flew back to Minnesota for a few more days with Cindy’s family. Mailea flew in from Washington while we were there so she could reconnect with her aunt and cousins. One highlight with her was an early-morning kayak exploration down the Kinnickinnic River lead by Keegan.

The last part of our trip was spending two weeks in Missoula, Montana, with Ariann, Eric, Patrick and Connor. It was an active time playing with a 3 ½ year old and an 8 month old. We had a lot of adventures together, including a road trip together to Skalkaho Falls, Georgetown Lake, and Phillipsburg. They are lucky boys to have such wonderful parents.

We got back home after being gone seven weeks and started on house projects! A major reorganizing of the kitchen took place to make room for the new flat bottom wok. We decided to cook with more vegetables and are developing wonderful recipes. We put up new outdoor blinds that keep the house much cooler from the tropical afternoon sun. We added a motion detection porch light and more flowers and herbs to our hanging planters. We upgraded some electronics and ordered a new dehydrator. Right now we are making black garlic (3-4 weeks of dehydrating!) and are very excited to make some mango fruit leather next.

Our Maui adventures included a tour of the last remaining Pineapple Plantation in Hawaii and the Haili’maile Distillery which uses those pineapples in their Vodka and other spirits they produce. For my birthday, we went rappelling down waterfalls and parasailing over Lahaina.

I continue my work as a Travel Director. My “season” is January to June but there were also a few Fall events which I worked in September and October. I am booked into 2020. Neil worked for Hilo Hattie’s through July. He is now working for a local organization on a project planning an eco-village that will incorporate permaculture, aquaculture, and education, with eco-tourism.

Right before Thanksgiving, Neil’s mom Jean took a fall and went in the hospital for a week. She was home a week and continued to get weaker rather than gain back strength. While trying to help her to the car to go to a routine doctor visit, she collapsed and 911 was called again. She was in ICU for 4 days and is now in the Telemetry Unit. Neil and I have been taking her husband Morley to visit her daily. The doctors are planning to eventually move Jean to a Rehab facility where they hope she will get her strength back. Right now, she can stand for only a few minutes with a walker, and not take any steps at all. She has a positive attitude and still has her sights set on returning home.

Quentin decided not to return to the cold and rainy University of Portland. He is currently working on both a photography career and working as a small business sales consultant on Maui.

Sending much love and wishes for a wonderful new year to all of you!

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