THE "CROSS-MAS" CHRONICLES
Christmas, 2023


Dear Friends and Family,
Hi everyone! We hope you are well and have had a good year! For us, it’s been amazing! We finally finished all the trips we planned for 2020 - before Covid put the kibosh on them. The trip we’ve waited the longest for was in September to American Samoa to complete seeing all 63 American National Parks! With Independent Samoa only being 85 miles away, we had to go there, too. In April and May, we made a 33-day-road trip to the west coast to see my mom, who is now 99 and still smiling. On that trip, in little Abilene, KS, and, without any forewarning, we saw my brother Paul and his girlfriend as we walked into the Eisenhower Presidential Museum at the same time! - a mind-blowing, incredible coincidence! Also on that trip, we traveled south from OR to southern CA to celebrate grandsons Andrew and Austin’s First Holy Communion. In June, we drove up the east coast for a wedding in Delaware and came back through the mid-west to finish seeing all 13 American Presidential Libraries. Not sure where we’re going next, but it’s been a pretty awesome year!

Finally Seeing all the National Parks with a – very long – trip to American Samoa & Independent Samoa
These “Chronicles” may be a little out of order this year, but going to American Samoa was the most amazing trip of the year. And, finally seeing all 63 National Parks definitely topped everything. We started 49 years ago - on our honeymoon – with Mt. Rainier and Glacier Bay in Alaska, but American Samoa, is by far, the farthest away. First, an 8½-hr flight to Hawaii, then 5½ hours to Pago Pago. We stopped in Hawaii for a few days to see a few sights and absorb some of the time zone change before going onto Pago Pago. To see the national park, the only American one in the southern hemisphere, we went with a tour operator – “Off the Beaten Path” and got to all 3 islands where the national park is located. On the Am. Samoan part of our trip, we were in a group of 10 with 2 guides, one of which was a “chief” in his village. With another couple who also finished seeing all 63 Nat. Parks, we were honored with certificates, a round of applause and pictures with the park ranger.

We couldn’t have done this trip easily on our own. First, the weather was windy, which complicated travel, as we had to boat from one island to another – amid 10-14’ swells! Changes to the itinerary had to be made on the spot to go with weather conditions. And, even though it is an American territory, Samoan is the main language. English is learned in school, but not everyone knows or uses it. The customs and culture of American Samoa is very much more Samoan than American. The islands are lush, the water blue and the fish plentiful. That could be said about most tropical islands, but the difference here was that we were immersed in Samoan culture and its people. The villagers prepared their food for us, the main staples being bread fruit, taro root, coconut, palusami, unripe bananas, coconut crab, lobster, octopus and fish. We rode with the locals, heard their stories and saw their way of life. The islands are small and opportunities limited. Some join the US military and a few lucky young men get football scholarships. Most military people come back, the more educated, not so much. They are very religious and overwhelmingly Christian. Sundays are church, eating together as a family and rest – no work or sports. And in the villages, every day, there is a sacred time “sa” around 6, where for ~15 min, everyone has to go into their house for prayer. Life stops – no driving in or out of the village, no noise, no nothing – just quiet prayer. The family is everything. Nothing is done that might bring shame to it. With only ~45,000 people in American Samoa, everyone knows everyone and what everyone does - so, you gotta be nice!

Our trip to Independent Samoa, across the International Date Line, was just John and I. Thankfully, all the arrangements made by “Off the Beaten Path” went seamlessly with the guides and drivers showing up as planned. Independent Samoa had more impressive natural wonders – many tall, flowing waterfalls and huge blasts of water shooting up hundreds of feet at the Alofaaga blow holes. We snorkeled to see amazing giant clams and swam with the turtles in a marine reserve at Savaia on Upolu Island. We also saw traditional siapo cloth being made from bark of the paper mulberry tree. In contrast to our rather primitive accommodations in Am. Samoa, we had beautiful Samoan resorts and bungalows right on the water lined with palm trees. In Ind. Samoa, we were also more immersed in Samoan culture. Completely on our own, at 5:15 am Sunday morning in Apia, we ventured to the fish market where the locals shop, and to mass at the cathedral – both most interesting. At the cathedral, the singing was amazing and, recognizing that we didn’t look Samoan, they bestowed flower leis on us! Another morning, we went to the Samoan Culture Center where we saw customs and practices that we had only heard about in Am. Samoa. We saw – in real time - the traditional Samoan tattooing, a very solemn rite, being done by tattoo masters – on two men without anesthetics – in the presence of their praying and singing families. We also saw the newly-crowned Miss Samoa – whose mother was Miss Samoa 23 years earlier. Of course, one of my favorite shows is the fire knife performance, the grand finale of the FiaFia nights. We saw three in Independent Samoa and they were all incredible. The trip was completely eye-opening and life-changing.


33-Day Road Trip out West to Oregon and California
In late April, we made a 33-day road trip out west to Oregon to see my mom – now 99 and still doing OK – and to witness our grandsons, Andrew and Austin, make their First Holy Communion in southern CA. On the way to Oregon, we went to tiny Abilene, KS, to see the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. This little town of 6,500 people was most welcoming. But, what was most incredible, was seeing my brother Paul and his girlfriend on a Sunday morning walking into the same museum at the same time! Not planned, not anticipated, just pure coincidence! We were all shocked! What are the odds? We took pictures and had a great reunion.
Besides friends and relatives in Oregon and Washington, we saw Lava Tubes National Monument, Monterey, Solvang and a number of the California Missions before getting to Oak Park, where Richard and Christiane live. Christiane’s folks and her sister Hazel and family also came to celebrate the grandsons’ First Communion. The next day was Mother’s Day and the day after that was my birthday, so it was a trifecta of celebrations. After the partying, we headed to San Diego to see the world famous zoo and the Hotel Coronado. We liked the zoo’s Safari Park in Escondido (~30 miles away) best, and even took a “Safari tour” in the large African-animal habitat.

19-Day Road Trip to the East Coast for a Wedding and the Rest of the Presidential Libraries
In early June, we headed toward Wilmington, DE, for the wedding of the daughter of very dear friends. On the way, we saw Dave and Kristie in Covington, LA, and Robert and his family in Alpharetta, GA. Before getting to Wilmington, we stopped to see friends in Fairfax and the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy air museum near Dulles airport, which showcased iconic planes – like the Enola Gay, the Concord, the shuttle Discovery, space capsules, etc., etc. In Annapolis, we toured the Naval Academy and saw John Paul Jones’ sarcophagus in the crypt. We revisited Gettysburg and took a guided tour of the battlefield with a story-telling, fun, encyclopedic guide.
The wedding was memorable with beautiful classical music - including a harp soloist and a world-class opera singer. But, even more special was the reunion of John’s MIT grad school group of some 50 years ago.
On the way back through the plains of middle America, we saw the last 3 of the 13 Presidential Libraries and Museums – Gerald Ford’s in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, MI, Hoover’s in West Branch, Iowa near Iowa City, and Clinton’s in Little Rock, AR, where we got a nice commemorative medal for visiting them all. We also saw a number of Frank Lloyd Wright homes – including his first home and studio in Oak Park near Chicago, and his only surviving hotel in Mason, City, IA, the town which “The Music Man” was based on. We also checked out Branson, MO, and saw a “dumb-funny” show. Back in TX, we cooked for the next 2 months in over 100°F!

Richard and Christiane, Andrew and Austin into Hiking and Cub Scouts in California, plus visit London
Richard (42) and Christiane are into hiking everywhere in an attempt to wear out (Ha! Ha!) their 9-year-old, 3rd-grade twin sons, Andrew and Austin. In the summer, they also went to London. Richard is the scout leader for Andrew and Austin’s den and seems to be enjoying the fun as much as the boys. Both Richard and Christiane work from home where Richard is the Senior Director of Quantitative Research at Moody’s Analytics and Christiane is with DexCom continuous glucose monitoring sensors. Besides our visit in May, we were also were able to celebrate the week of Thanksgiving with them in Tucson, AZ. A highlight was astronomy on Mt. Lemmon.

Rob and Laura, Peyton + Kensie travel to Spain and Alaska and, now, remodeling their Alpharetta home
Robert and Laura, Peyton (11) and Kensie (8) continue to travel – to Spain in April and, in July, British Columbia and a Disney cruise in Alaska. Laura was awarded a trip for her and Rob to get away to the Four Seasons in Anguilla. Rob (40) is the Director of Product Management at Promethean and Laura is now Chief of Staff to the CEO at Aptean, involved in business solutions software. Peyton is in 6th grade and Kensie is in 3nd grade at King’s Ridge Christian School. In March, we went to see Peyton have a lead role in “The Descendants” at his school. In freezing temperatures, we also watched him play baseball and Kensie lacrosse. In June, when baseball was rained out, I gave Kensie her first sewing lesson - making an apron - on the sewing machine we gave her for her birthday. In late September, Rob and Laura started a massive remodeling of their home, including kitchen, bathrooms and floors. We’ll check it out when we’re there for Christmas celebrations.

Dave and Kristie Go to Belgium to get new dog “Jesko” and also visit Switzerland and Italy
We really don’t know where Dave (37) and Kristie are going until after they’re back. Their highlight this year was getting a new Border Collie puppy in Belgium. Kristie named it “Jesko” after the fastest car in the world. On the puppy trip, they started in Switzerland where, in late August, it was 95°F! We were able to see them multiple times this year – and one time - Dave and Kristie also helped us win Trivia at the Abita Brewery! For the Christmas holidays, they’ll be in Italy. Dave is still with Shell as a Completions and Well Interventions Engineer in natural gas fracking. Kristie is now the Director of Product Management at ADT Solar. They live in Covington, LA.

Well, that's what we're up to.  Would love to hear how/what you're doing – and, even better – see you!
 
All the best for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! 

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