To My Long Time Friends:

You don't know how much I wish I could be with you in this celebration of us! Family obligations, however, make it difficult for me to be in California this weekend. I have included a family portrait of my family, which was taken this past July since we had not had one taken since Jenna was two years old. Note the glasses as one gets older and the short hair!

Where to start? I suppose, like me, you all want to know what I have been doing for the last 30 years. I will try to make this as brief as possible since either Greg is reading this to you or it is being passed around.

I met my husband when I was around 25 and we married when I was 27. He is (if any of you remember from the first two reunions) older than I.  So with this marriage I inherited 3 children. They, of course, are all grown up with kids of their own and I have 5 step-grandkids, who are super! We lived in South Pasadena and I was a legal secretary until John and I had Jenna, who graduated from high school last year with a 3.87 GPA and is now attending the University of Arizona and playing on the UofA Club Soccer Team. After she was born, I stayed home and became very involved in PTA. I fully enjoyed being a stay-at-home Mom.

Since John is so much older than 1, we began to look for places where he/we could retire. We kept looking at Washington state where 2 of his kids live, but it was 'ust too rainy for us. We then decided to try Arizona and, as it turned out, a friend of ours wanted to move there also. We opened a business together, which proved not to be a good move with a long-time friend (we're no longer close friends).

In December, 1992, we moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, and have never regretted the move. This place is like living in Big Bear or Arrowhead year-round. I remember growing up hearing and repeating the old adage "Sunny Southern California." Well, California has never known sun like Arizona! I eventually went back to working as a legal secretary for a School Law attorney who specializes in Charter Schools and Indian Law. I love going to work.

I don't know if any of you remember my mother, but she has lived with us for adout 13 years. The past 3 years have been a bit rough. She had cancer of the bladder, which was removed, but it sent her into dementia. I am the primary care-giver with additional assistance from Home Health, etc. That's why getting away is a big planning event. We need to arrange for a nurse to stay with her whenever we go away. Last week, John and I went to upstate New York for his 50th High School Reunion and next weekend we have Parents Weekend at the University of Arizona with Jenna. So to arrange to be away again this weekend, well, it would be just too much. I hope you all understand.

I hope the reunion is great! I wish I could be there to remember with you, laugh with you and share with you all of our lives. The New Generation was my life at the time and all of you meant so much to me. You were my sisters and brothers and we had so much fun together! There are too many instances to mention here, but just know that I treasure each and every one with you. What great memories to have to look back on!

Hopefully, the next reunion will not be so far in the future and that I will be there with you. If you are even going through Flagstaff, give me a call and let's get together!

Love Kristin