Some of the “lesser highlights” since I last wrote:  The 4th yearly ski program for blind students at La Parva, Chile was a big success, although the main coordinator and my good friend, Nicky, was in Australia having surgery for a brain aneurysm.  She is back in Chile now and doing bigger and better things for Colegio Hellen Keller.

In September, we were back in the states, and while golfing with good friends, Marvin and Janet Brown, Gregg got a hole in one!

Before that, we found a house in Red Lodge to buy!  It’s a great little house in a great location and we hope we have lots of visitors when we’re there.  We plan to be there from about December 27 until early in 2012.  We think Ginny and Jeff have moved in enough of our stuff to make it livable.  It’s great having the kids there taking care of the details….Ginny had to do the closing with Power of Attorney for both of us, every signature required a short paragraph.  Thanks Sweetie!  And Thank You Gina for watching Reese and Sylvia.  Actually, it seems a few of my friends are getting some grand daughter time, Thanks Janet and Melodie, too!  There may be more, sometimes news travels slowly to Chile!

I did get  a weekend alone with Reese and Sylvee, so I’ve got nothing to complain about.  We mostly hung out, outside in the hood and watched the colors slowly and beautifully change.

While I was having fun in Red Lodge, our car in Chile was stolen, along with Gregg’s briefcase, laptop, cell phone and wallet.  Poor guy, he came out of the gym and only the driver’s window was left, (a pile of shattered glass in the street).  It was fortunate that I was still in the states and the bank cards were quickly cancelled and replaced.

The car was found 3 weeks later with some damage and the parking lights stolen.  Mario and I went to claim it at a police station the far side of the city, and because the hiway pinpass reader had been taken we had to take the long way through the city to get it to the repair place.  Fortunately, the insurance covered it, but we will have to take it back to have some things re-done or fixed the first time.  We will arrange to have this done while we are in the states for the holdiays.

One of the things not covered was a replacement car, so someone in Gregg’s office arranged for us to rent a mine truck.  For the eight weeks we were without our car, we could be heard backing up from about 3 blocks away.  The diesel fuel price and better mileage were a big plus, though.  (That help a little with the 3,000 USD rental fee).

Life with the International Association has been keeping me out of trouble.  We had a fun Halloween Party at the kids with cancer home, a nice Grand Opening of a school library we furnished, (although they had us confused with “Damas Diplomaticas” who did not help and passed the project on to us!).  Thursday, we had a “casual” Thanksgiving celebration at the IAC house.  Monday we’ll have a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner at Colegio Hellen Keller.  Our Christmas Party will be next Friday, then I won’t have any “official” duties until February.

For our own Thanksgiving, Gregg and I had pancakes with cranberry sauce.  My story is that 90 degrees is beyond the comfort zone for roasting turkeys, and I’m sure was not envisioned by the Pilgrims.  I did manage to get the “garden” replanted on Thanksgiving Day.

Fast forward….It’s now December 4, and I leave tonite for the states.  The IAC had a great Christmas Party.  Gregg had VIP’s in town all week, so he didn’t get to bed before midnight.  Forgive the disjointed posting with no pictures, but if I just hit publish I’ll be all caught up.

You can guess what one of my New Year’s resolutions will be!  Meanwhile, Merry Christmas.

Love,

Pat

  Then our God daughter, (Alicia)’s wedding in Spokane was so

Kraig and Alicia cutting the cake

filled with memories and sensations of who we would have been and who our children would have been if we had stayed in Spokane. Not better or worse, but different and perhaps more settled. After the wedding and a day of rest, I was surprised to run-into Julie, Ginny’s high school team mate and friend at the Spokane airport with her basketball team returning to Alaska.
  Four days in Red Lodge went very fast and I spent as much of it as I could with Reese and Sylvia. A chance meeting with Debbie Speer in the grocery store, and we spent a relaxing “catch-up” evening at the house. Jeff and Ginny had gone to West Yellowstone for a conference and left the girls with me. The highlight that evening was actually sneaking a look at Sylvee sleeping and tucking Reese in.

Thanks Jeff for the new toy!

They are both so amazing and beautiful. Sharing these sweet moments with Debbie only made them sweeter.  Jeff had built a new swingset in the yard/”park”, and I enjoy it as much as anybody!

Reese demonstrating how to spread dandalion seeds.

Swingin Sylvee

  
At the airport in Billings my “Santiago” phone rang. Usually, I keep it with me for e-mails and do not answer calls from Chile, but something prompted me to answer and I learned that my friend Anna Alercon had just died. She had breast cancer and her death was expected, but still it stuns me. She came to Chile as a young bride in the late 60′s or early 70′s. She was such a part of the history here. When Mother Teresa started a home for the aged here, Anna was there helping in some amazing ways.  Later, Her intervention actually saved one of the sister’s lives. Anna is the only person I know who actually met Mother Teresa and I think they were both blessed for knowing the other.  There are hundreds of “Amazing Anna” stories.  Certainly I have been blessed to know her.
Arriving in Denver, another friend from Chile, Lucy Shepherd, picked me up at the airport. She had just lost a good friend, too, and we took the long way back to Gregg’s folks reminiscing about these amazing friends and the blessings they brought to our lives.

Sweet kids

Gregg’s folks, Dee and Jim, are doing great. He is recovering from cancer surgery, and getting stronger all the time. Best of all, there is a new sense of appreciation between them. I guess that’s a silver lining to some hard times.  As always, they were very good to me.
  Before I headed up to Fort Collins I had dinner with my sister Cecilia and her daughter Josephine. 

Ceece's birthday celebration

I know it was June 26 because we were celebrating Ceece’s birthday.  It was great to see them both.

    Then I got some time in Fort Collins with Casey and Shannon. They had just returned from Shannon’s family reunion in Nebraska.  On Monday, Casey’s softball team gave a super show coming back from an 8 – 0 deficit to win the game. Casey’s fielding and hitting did their part in the comeback. He and Shannon have so many blessings in their lives right now. Casey has just been named a VP in his company, and they are moving into a new house next week.

"Home Sweet Home" for Casey and Shannon

 I got a guided tour and it’s a gorgeous house and they are very excited for the move and everything that comes next. 

  Another short visit with Dee and Jim, gave me time to share some of the photos of the kids and house, and I was on my way back to Chile.  Somehow, after I checked in and was killing time, I realized that no planes were actually moving.  It seems the airport had been been closed for planes landing or taking off for 2 hours due to turbulent skies.  This was more than a little concerning, since I had less than an hour to make my connection in Dallas in the “best” situation.  When they finally landed the plane I would take to Dallas and began boarding, I asked the gate agent if I would make the Santiago connection.  He said, I porbably would, but certainly my luggage wouldn’t.  I was very happy with that.  Landing in Dallas, I ran to the new gate, luckily it was only 8 gates away, but in that airport that is a long way.  They were waiting for me and almost as soon as I was buckled in, the engines started.  Amazingly, my bags made it, too.  Although I was only gone less than 2 weeks, it seemed like a loooong time, (although my time in any other place was tooo short) and the seasons here had changed from fall to winter.  It was really cold the first few days back, but now it’s been very nice, (too nice, really).

  At least I’m skiing!  I’ve had 3 nice days and several students on the hill, although I wish we had more snow.  The Hellen Keller program will start the 2nd week in August and I’m looking forward to that. 

  Gregg left last Monday for a meeting in Vancouver.  Today, he’ll be in Colorado with Casey, Shannon, Ginny, Jeff, Reese and Sylvee.  I’m more than a little jealous, but grateful for each of them, too.  Ginny and family have been at Jeff’s family reunion in Vail and will go back to Red Lodge tomorrow morning. 

  Gregg will spend a few days with his folks and get back here on Thursday.  One of the fun things he missed was Mario’s 60th birthday party.  Mabel planned a big surprise with live Opera singers in their apartment.  The man and woman duo did a great job and Mario actually requested a repeat of one of his favorite songs.  That was Friday, and I had skied all day with a first time 8 year old skier.  The skiing, the sun, the hard work, the pisco sour and wine all took a toll and I’m slowly recovering. 

  Yesterday, I took the written part of my Chilean drivers test.  I wasn’t there bright and early though.  And since I didn’t have enough time yesterday, tomorrow, I’ll take the driving part. 

Well, take care of yourselves, everybody.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Pat

Blessings to count on

  The idea of ‘the end’ did spark a sense of counting my blessings, (Sylvia, Reese, Ginny, Jeff, Casey, Shannon, Gregg’s parents, brothers and sisters, friends, beautiful places to travel and live, and our health come to mind right away.)
Also, it brings to mind the many people and things I take for granted. Too many to begin to count and still get this done.

  Since my last post (in March), Gregg and I have traveled to Mendoza, Argentina with Mario and Mabel and to Lima, Peru for work, and the states for much needed, wonderful family time.

  The trip to Mendoza was a drive-a-thon over the Andes.  After crossing the border, we waited as couple of hours while a truck that had driven off the road was recovered.  We had one night in a small inn outside of Mendoza.  the next day we toured a winery and almost got lost taking a “short-cut” back to the border highway.  The road kept getting bumpier, narrower and steeper and everytime we, (OK maybe just I) thought we should turn around, a car would come from the other way looking no worse for the wear.  Near the end, we crested a hill and the panoramic view in front of us could have come right out of Montana. 

Finding our way back to Chile

We all just relaxed and enjoyed the beauty. 

  The trip to Lima was relaxing and nostalgic for me.  Although I wasn’t able to connect with any friends there, I did manage to find an orphanage that a friend in Santiago used to volunteer at, and the school for mobility challenged kids that I used to volunteer at.  Both places were flourishing. 

New Lunchroom at Lima school

My other “free” day there, I walked all around our old favorites, and was tripped by an uneven sidewalk.  Was there ever a time when I wasn’t klutzy or should I be worried?

  Actually, Gregg and I got back to Santiago yesterday after a good trip to the states. We had a good time in Colorado and Montana, but only did a little visiting outside of his folks and our kids, (one regret that could count as dozens).  I arrived in Colorado first, then drove to Montana and Gregg flew there after spending Mother’s Day with his mom in Colorado.
Gregg’s dad is recovering from colon surgery and is doing very well all things considered.  Although they are well into their 80′s, both of his parents manage remarkably well. I’m not sure if I was more help or hinderance, but a cup of coffee I spilled on Mother’s desk with important papers on it made it pretty clear the hinderance side was pretty strong. She, of course, was very gracious about it. Still sorry, Mother, and thanks for being so nice!(regret and blessing in one cup).
While we were in Montana, Ginny and Jeff took advantage and went to a run in Helena and left us home alone with the girls for 2 nights. The girls were fantastic, but we did miss the delicious gourmet meals!  Thanks Jeff and Ginny!

Literary Club

We had a super nice time.  Gregg even “escaped” to do a little cowboying, helping out with a branding at Stampfels. The girls and I went for a little while and while Sylvia stayed inside with Katherine and Henry, Grace, (4 years old) toured Reese and I around the place. Into the old barn, to see all of the cats, through the “secret passage” to watch the pigs, over to the corral to feed the steer, to another corral to pet the horses noses and watch the goat behave like a horse, across the bridge to throw rocks in the creek, (looked like a river to me after all the rain they’ve had), then up on the hillside to pick wild flowers. Then, we did it all again in reverse on the way back to the house. I couldn’t believe the independence and knowledge of a 4 year old farm girl. When we got back, Katherine mentioned that Grace cannot leave the yard without an adult, then I realized I was the adult and might not have allowed some of that stuff had I been a “responsible” adult.  Thank God everything turned out OK!

Sylvia, TOOOOO cute!

Gramma and Grandpa's Sweetheart

  One night we met some friends, Steve and Carrie Knudsen, at the Edgar Bar for dinner.  All of us had heard about it but this was our first opportunity to go there.  Great steaks!  We had a bottle of Malbec wine and were amazed that it came from the only winery in Mendoza we had visited!  “Salentein” —-good wine found in Edgar Montana—-.
  Although our time with Casey and Shannon was short, we always have a nice time with them.  Before a wonderful spaghetti dinner, Casey gave Gregg his Father’s Day gift…. Ginny got the hint when we ooooh and aaaaad over their Vinturi.  Thanks kids!

Wine pouring "Engineered" for excellence

Gregg and Casey and I went golfing one afternoon. Turned out to be a rainy day and I only played some of the first nine, but my playing was distracted by the car alarm going off randomly. I left at the fifth hole to unlock the car and that was fine until the break. The only other time our car was at that country club the battery died.  I’m not sure if the car doesn’t like the country club or they have an “automatic discourager” there for older vehicles!
When we got back to Gregg’s folks they both were doing better than expected. Mother and I went shopping a couple of times, she fixed another great steak dinner, and we all went out to dinner the last night. Although he is still using a walker, Dad was getting stronger right before our very eyes.
I did call my brother, Jim, and he is happier than he has ever been. Could have something to do with living a good life and having grand daughters in the neighborhood. I do regret not touching base with my other brother and sisters. True regrets don’t seem to have adequate excuses.
  On the plane last night from Atlanta was one of my good friends in Chile and her husband.  A while back she asked for information on Yellowstone and Teton Parks and Jeff helped her out with some web-sites to look at.  They had a great vacation, although they took a few too many pictures of buffalos!

  Back in Chile, Mario and Mabel went out with us last night and the Pisco Sours ensured a good night’s sleep.
I am going to try to be more consistant in blogging. Bear with me!  Also, I wish I had taken more photos this trip!  That about brings us up to date! 

Love, abrazos y besos,

Pat

Welcome back! Sunday February 13, we had a very nice afternoon at Little Oscars, “Campo”, (Farm/Ranch). Mario navigated us there and I think if we could get him to do it twice more, we could find our way back there. The family bought the farm, (that even sounds ominous) about 5 years ago. Little Oscar is a cancer survivor and before he had cancer he was a very successful, ambitous young lawyer. Then, having beaten the odds against cancer, looked at his life a little defferently. He began spending so much time in “campos de sus amigos” (farms of his friends), that his mother began searching for a property that the family could buy and he could live at. They found an incredible gem with an incredible amount of “potential”. The original ranch was built for an internationally recognized pianist in the late 19th century. Through the decades, the property was divided into several home-site developments. The original house with tiered property down to the Mapucho River however wasn’t included in the developments. When they found the property the owner, (not the original) was in the end stage of his life and the negotions finished with his heirs. The house and other buildings on the property had not been used in many years. The odd thing is that there is a near new swimming pool. Anyway, with the money Little Oscar had and investments from his brother, Aldo, sister, Paula, and mother, Angelica. They bought the amazing place that makes money disappear. The first improvement was to fix the roof. In it’s current state, the house is uninsurable at almost any rate. The roof failed during last years earthquake and there are now pigeons living in the second story. I would guess he has between 20 and 30 acres. You can tell he spends a lot of time with the horses. I think there are about a dozen on the property and he trains them to be Chilean Rodeo Horses. The main event, (maybe the only event) in a Chilean Rodeo is a team of two horses with cowboys pinning a steer against a padded wall with their, (the horses) chests. The steer actually gets lifted off the ground. (I’ve only seen it on TV). Oscar has built several corrals and the barn is in (relatively) good repair. The Asado, (B-B-Q) we went to happened the day after a new foal was born. The asado was an event planned for the “extended” family to spend time with Paula and the kids, (Matilde and Filipo) before they returned to Italy. We saw tias, tios and primos, (aunts uncles and cousins) we met at Aldo’s wedding and haven’t seen since. It was a super nice way to spend an afternoon.

Photo by Maltilda

One of the tios played a guitar and everyone sang old Eagles and Beatles songs. It was funny because really not many of them understood the words but they knew how to sing them.

Maltilda's photo of Tio Cantando

And there are some talented singers in the group. Little Matilde sang several nursery songs, the Chilean and Italian National Anthems and she really has a beautiful voice. On the way home, we saw several street vendors selling heart shaped decorations and roses, Mario and Gregg commented that their boss knows exactly when to sell what and have everything ready in warehouses. (On any rainy day their are umbrella sellers on every corner and Metro stop).

Monday morning we got up as usual and as we were eating breakfast and watching the news, Gregg said something about there must be some kissing contest going on, I said, “Well, Happy Valentine’s Day”. The look on his face, “priceless”. Besides the apparently ineffectual “hint” by the street vendors, I had been very involved the week before in a Valentine Party at the Maria Ayuda Home, (house for kids with cancer). Later in the day, he called and asked if I wanted to go out to dinner, “uh, yeah”! I choose a place, not too fancy, near where his office will move in June. We enjoyed pisco sours and wine, (I’m still getting acclimated to the life-style again). The food was yummy and, of course, we both thought I had made a great choice. Wrong! I was sick to my stomach most of the night. As I got into bed there was a gift on my pillow, a beautiful heat-shaped necklace and 2 pair of earrings all from Swarovski. I wasn’t yet sick, but the drinks were strong and I couldn’t even try them on until the morning.

OMG the morning from _____! I waited until the stores were open to buy something like Pepto Bismol (only baby-poop green/yellow). I was desperate to feel better because that day was the first general meeting of the IAC, (International Association of Chile), since I became president. The venue was remodeling the room that we normally have about 75 people in and this one would be held in the gymnasium. Our group is large for the meeting room, but not so much for a curtained-off 1/2 gymnasium. Sandy, my VP, is incredible and had planned the meeting, ice breakers, activities, vendor stuff, membership, and even baked cookies for each table. My only “job” was to preside and I couldn’t have food poisoning. Thankfully, I went to the drug store earlier than I thought I would, (I had to drop something by Gregg’s office) and saw an open “farmacia”. I made it to the club before 9:30, for the 10:00 meeting and by that time, there were only a few, minor fires to put out. They actually did a great job with the half of the gym and it was nicer that where we usually are. Of course, Sandy did a super job and everyone complimented me on a great meeting. Note to self, “never aspire to be VP”. Came home, went to bed, , got up, planned a few activities for Casey & Shannon’s visit and went to sleep on the couch. Gregg got home and we had a “traditional” scrambled eggs dinner.

Wednesday all was right with the world. The maid, Veronica, came. She is not yet “my” maid, but after March 15, every Wednesday, she will work for me!!! Until then, I will have to maintain the apartment “single-handedly”. But this timing was perfect, because on Thursday, —-ta-da-,ta,da, (drum roll, please), Casey and Shannon would be arriving!!!!! I try to stay out of the house when Veronica is here. It’s just awkward for me to have someone doing the cleaning and washing and ironing much more professionally than I do. I had an appointment with a sports medicine doctor, and sort of made a day of it. One of my friends who is fighting cancer, Kathy, also had an appointment so she waited with me, and then I waited with her, then we had lunch and I got my x-ray and ultrasound resutls and made an appointment with a shoulder specialist. I’m not sure if she’s found a way to have fun anywhere or if she was always like that. It sure made my day nicer.

Thursday, I got to the airport PLENTY early. I thought their flight arrived at 8:15, it was actually 10:15, plus an hour to clear customs and immigration. I left the airport and got the car washed, (a Tuesday errand that didn’t get done), and still paced and watched the arriving passengers and had a coffee, read e-mails, and finally, finally they came into view. Talk about a sight for sore eyes. The nice thing was that it was so late, Gregg would be able to leave the office, he had planned on only working half day Thursday. We’ll we went to his office and met a few people and Gregg was delayed, so I took the kids home to relax before we headed out on their Chilean adventure. Gregg thout my plan was a “little” ambitious, (tour a winery, have lunch in a famous German restaurant and visit Pomaire, (a small pueblito famous for making clay pots and things)). Well, IF the plane would have arrived at 8:15 and IF Gregg would have been able to leave about 11:30 and IF the kids wouldn’t have been sooo tired we would have done that. Fortunately, for me, I am accostomed to having things turn out different, (and usually better) than I planned. As it turned out we went to lunch at a place we had taken Casey before and had some time before the next winery tour. There is a beautiful park at the resturant where we ate and since the kids were playing with a new camera that belong to his company, the park was a great place to walk and take photos.

Santiago Park residents

The winery tour was to start at 4:30 and I figured it would take about 40 minutes to get there. Of course, I didn’t have a map with me and was working on directions from a good but out-dated tour book. Thank goodness the book had a phone number for the winery. Not so good was that sometimes I got directions from the receptioinst who only spoke Spanish and sometimes from the tour guide who spoke English. On the third call, he said, “it’s you again?”. then he started my directions from what he thought was the only traffic light in the small town of Penaflor. There are at least two. We arrived about 20 minutes late, but that left us with a private tour and an English speaking guide. I think he was expecting Edith Bunker and maybe I didn’t disappoint! The Underragga vinyard is beautiful and has a lot of history and our guide, David, was very knowlegable and nice.

The beautiful grounds and trees from everywhere once surrounded the Underraga family home but it was destroyed in the course of many earthquakes. The sampling was delicious and the kids dozed a bit on the shorter ride home. I navigated Gregg into a wrong turn once, onto a costenera which was a little challenging to exit from and get back to the correct costenera but we didn’t get lost again! After an early dinner for Chile 8:00 we all went to bed happy and tired.

Saturday morning the plan started with a bicycle tour of downtown Santiago. Years ago Maggie and Mario took us on outings there to get familiar with the history and markets. It is really a beautiful old city. The bicycle tour would have been better if there weren’t 20 people, half from China who didn’t understand the safety standards of riding in downtown traffic. Still, the guide and helpers did the best they could. Later in the day, I was surprised to receive an e-mail apologizing for the large group and an offer of a make up tour at a later date. We all received the e-mail, so I think another “bicycletes verde” tour is in the future for us, but we probably won’t wait until Shannon and Casey come back. Gregg and Casey planned to play golf that afternoon and we got a surprise that Paula and the kids didn’t leave as planned. It turned out that Filipo had an ear infection and the doctor recommended that he not be put on a plane to go to the opposite end of the earth. She really wanted to see Casey and Shannon again, so Shannon and I decided to walk the first nine holes with the guys then meet Matilde and Paula at the swimming pool.

Course referree

It was a lot of fun although we never got in the pool. Matti got in the kiddie pool and hollard a thousand times, “Mami, mira mi”, Occassionally, she would yell, “Tia Pat, Mira mi!”. To make her do this took about 5 seconds of looking away. Finally, she relaxed and just started to challenge herself to put her face in the water. Within about 20 minutes she got it and was “swimming” in about 18 inches of water. The guys met up with us for a short visit. Then we were off to a nice dinner with Mario and Mabel. This was the first time for Shannon and Mabel to meet each other and Mabel kept telling me later, “she is so beautiful and so nice”. Really, I already knew! The restaurant we went to was Astrid and Gaston’s. Gregg discoved thier original restaurant when we lived in Lima and it set the standard for GREAT food. The Santiago location is their second and somebody told me they now have one in Buenas Aires. Mabel also noticed my necklace, (my new valentine gift) and I almost told her where I got it, but not knowing if Mario wasn’t anymore influenced by the street peddler’s “hints” than Gregg, I decided better err on the side of caution! It was a nice evening, although a bit later than Friday night for us Gringos. The next night we would be having the “Family” over for dinner, (14 of us), and Mabel offered to help, so I told her to come at 5:30. the others would come at 7:30.

Sunday, after mass, breakfast at Melba’s, and getting some things started for dinner we dropped the guys off and set out to see a couple of things Shannon hadn’t seen yet. San Cristobal was first on the list, and it was the first time I drove there. Luckily, it is February and almost everyone is outside of Santiago. Usually we bike up and down for regular torture. It was actually much easier to walk the final steps up the statue of the Virgin Mary after having driven most of the way. we got a good view of the vast metropolis, stopped at home to turn down the crock pots and I realized we might not make it back by 5:30. I left messages on Mabels home phone and Mario’s cell saying that we wouldn’t need Mabels help after all. Shannon and I then went to explore Los Dominicos an artisan area to buy gifts and lots of cool stuff. Fortunately, Shannon is a shopper after my own heart and we didn’t buy anything! It is interesting for both of us to walk around and see things, but somehow it seems like a lot of stuff and we both have a lot of stuff. It was really nice just being there together, though. And we made it back just before Mabel got there. Good thing she did. I wasn’t thinking about the trip to get Gregg and Casey from the golf course, (about a 40 minute round trip). So I left Mabel and Shannon with a lot of things to do and a chance to let the skeletons out of the closets.

Dinner was delicious if I do say so my self, baby back pork ribs, various salads, mashed potatoes, (Chileans love them) and a super yummy vanilla ice cream and chocolate dessert Shannon put together. She made this in Colorado for us once and I saw the ice cream sandwiches here in the store, (they weren’t available before). It was a huge hit and most everyone had seconds. I didn’t offer thirds because: there wasn’t enough for everybody and I planned on enjoying it through the week ;-). (That plan is working just fine!).

Family Dinner

The family that was here were Aldo and Maca, Mario and Mabel, Big Oscar, Maggie, Hernan and Maria Jose, (Camila came late for dessert). It was a good evening and Gregg got a big jump on the dishes, and the kids jumped in, so it was all done and we went to bed before midnight. (I think).  Later, we found out that Mabel had a terrible tooth ache and had to go to the emergency room after they left here.  I really worked her hard that day!  Sorry, Mabel!
Monday was to be a day at the beach. Turned out that we hadn’t yet tortured Shannon, so we had her think it would be a nice day at the beach near Quintay, and she dressed appropriately, (we all did), and actually, it was very cold! Most times we would have at least sweat shirts in the car, but Santiago was so warm, we just didn’t think of it. I talked to my friend Drucy on the phone and she recommended a hike to the small beach through the forest. They often took it on their horses. She is now recovering nicely from her golf cart accident. The hike did warm us up and when we could see the beach we were on a steep cliff path. Casey and Shannon were in flip-flops but we managed to hike down anyway. I thought the beach would connect to Quintay, but alas, it didn’t and after hiking a ways had to retreat and go UP the steep cliff path, just to make it more challenging! The kids were really sweet about it. (Maybe it was one of those moments that will make them not miss us so much). We did visit the whaling museum, not much there, but a huge place where they processed 1600 whales a year at their peak.

Tough work! Anyway, a nice lunch with a view, (in the view was a little old lady with a warm shawl that would have felt better on one of us!)

For such a short visit we were able to do a lot, but we still wish they could have stayed longer!  Our last night, together we went to a local Peruvian restaurant and had a wonderful, relaxing evening.  the next day was my first officila board meeting for the IAC, so Gregg took the kids to the airport.  Sorry this has taken me so long to send.

I think the cyber-space gremlins have had a hold on my computer and phone, things dissappear and then reappear in strange places.  Anyway I’m gonna post this without much proofing.  Bless all of you!

Abrazos y Besos,

Pat

On the 20th of January, we went to the funeral of one of my best friends in Santiago.  She died, Tuesday, Jan. 18, (my mother’s birthday), and it helps me to know that my loss is heaven’s, (and mom’s) great gain.

When we lived here before I belonged to a very small prayer and study group.  There were 3 of us, Maryanne, Cecilia and me.  After we left, Cecilia moved to Virginia, and she still has her home here in Santiago.  It was a special blessing that we were all, (Maryanne, Cecilia and I), together last week, with another mutual friend, Kathy.

Kathy was diagnosed with bone cancer almost 4 years ago and at that time her prognosis was that she had maybe 2 years to live.  When I offered to arrange a visit with a Protestant minister, she declined, but said she did want to visit a specific Catholic priest, Maryanne’s son, Father Samuel.  Well, I called Maryanne, and she and her husband, Samuel also, took Kathy to mass.  The bond between Kathy and Maryanne continued to build, and while I was in Vancouver, Maryanne led Kathy through the catechism and last spring Kathy became a Catholic.

It was Kathy who nutured Maryanne through her cancer, (diagnosed after I was gone).  It’s ironic that Maryanne and I envisioned it the other way around.   Kathy is doing better than we imagined, (we imagined her dead by now), but is still fighting.  Bone cancer turned out to be a mis-diagnosis, it is actually (multiple myloma), and her treatments are coordinated between MD Anderson in Houston and the Clinica Alemena here.

Anyway, Maryanne’s funeral was wonderful.  There were about 40 priests con-celebrating.  I am sure all of them had been guests in her home at some time.  Father Samuel gave a beautiful sermon and her daughter, Ally, also shared beautiful memories of their mom.

Some of her friends gathered for a lunch in her honor and it was almost over before anyone actually talked about Maryanne.  She was the most humble person in life and I’m sure she didn’t want people saying too many nice things about her after she died.  She always managed to make everyone else seem more important.

Time flies!  I intended to post the preceding on January 21 and now it is already February 6.  The time before Maryanne died and since has been filled with many dinners and various stuff.  No excuse for not blogging, but I seem to be caught in a haze.

Paula and her family arrived from Milan, Italy on the 23rd.  Mario had a nice lunch for them and then they came here for dinner on the following Wednesday.  Thursday afternoon, Paula and the kids cam with me to the POW, (Prince of Wales country club) to swim.  After we had 2 1/2 solid hours in the water, the kids were still having fun.  I was exhausted!  Gregg met us there after work for a light dinner.  Maltilda is quite a smart 4 year old.  She’s fluent in Spanish, English and Italian.  Her little brother, Filipo, 2 years old, doesn’t speak any language, but fortunately, Maltilda also speaks, “Filipo” and can interpret for the rest of the world!  They are beautiful kids and we had a great time.  We’ll go back next week and bring Maggie’s girls, Camila and Maria Jose, (17 and 16).  Friday night we went to a farewell dinner at Aldo and Maca’s for Paula’s husband, Alex.  He has to get back to work, but Paula and the kids are staying until the 18th.  It was a very fun family dinner for 15.  Gregg and I don’t have to have much interpretted anymore, (or maybe it’s intimidating that it might be Maltilda doing the translating), but with enough pisco and wine we all seemed to come to a sense of understanding.  Gregg and I left early, (about 11) because we had to get up early in the morning for a special event.

Checking e-mails when we got home, I learned that one of my good friends and her husband, (Drucy and Mario Illanes) were in a serious golf-cart accident.  It seems the cart has some sort of speed control device that failed and it kept gaining speed going down a steep hill until the left front wheel locked and they were thrown from the cart.  Mario had only scrapes and bruises, but Drucy suffered a broken shoulder, wrist, ankle and clavicle.  She had 3 surgeries Friday night and is expected to fully recover, but it will be a long haul.  Please keep them in prayer.  A bit of small world connection, the sister-in-law of a mutual friend of mine and Drucy’s was the first person to come upon the accident, and she sent an e-mail and appeal for prayers to people who know Drucy.  I sent the news to some of her close friends in the IAC.

The “special event” was  the grand re-opening of a library that had been demolished in the big earthquake last February.  Gregg’s company, (Ausenco) had donated the money for the reconstruction and Gregg was asked at speak at the event, (in Spanish), along with the mayor, another official of Ausenco, and the local priest.  There was a van taking some people from the office to Pumanque, (about 2 1/2 hours to the south), but we decided to drive ourselves.  Carolina, (a girl from the office) video’d Gregg’s speech.  (We will get that and post it later).

Sabes ustedes?

He did fine, although he said he was very nervous, I understood every word and (as far as I could tell), so did everyone else.  The library is next to an elementary school and most of the ceremony was there.  This is summer vacation, so not a lot of people were there, but there was a volunteer who coordinated a production of “Cinderella” with the handful of children still in town.

"Gatitito" too shy for the stage

They were very cute and the fact that none of them had any theater experience provided quite an entertaining show.  A couple of them are natural “divas” for sure.

The “library” is actually a community center used by all ages for many activities.  Before the earthquake, they had about 200 books, (not bad for a small pueblo in Chile).  With book donations from Ausenco employees and some of my friends from the International Association, there will be about 1000.

Pumanque Biblioteca

The walls are a light purple, the curtains orange and pink and the bean bag chairs lime green, yet it looks great all together.  Gregg and I arrived a little early and stayed a little late and got a chance to see some of the damage in the rest of the town.

some walls didn't yet fall down

Wow!  All that remains standing of the church is the altar.

What's left of the church building

Masses are held in a tent, hot in the summer, but cold in the winter.

the other direction

On the drive back from Pumanque, with my Blackberry phone I was able to reassure people about Drucy and Mario through friends who had talked to each of them.  How did we ever manage without all this techno gear???

At this time, there at least 4 other couples from Montana in Santiago.  Patrick and Marilyn Hanley,  Pete and Sandy Teller all from Billings, Mike and Cindy Hayworth from Absarokee, and Terri and John Mclaughlin, from Bozeman and Butte.  Gregg actually worked with Mike at Stillwater and Cindy’s mother worked in the lab for Gregg.  Last night, we met Mike for the first time since we came back to Chile.  We had a delicious dinner at one of our favorite Peruvian restaurants.  It was a super nice visit.  They had been in Indonesia and now Mike works on site, (“Pasqua Lama”, somewhere high up in the Andes) 10 days on and 8 days off.

Tonight we’ll all get together along with many other friends for a Super Bowl party at the Hanley’s.  It is co-hosted by Sandie Curtis who is my VP for the IAC.  That website is iachile.com, if you want to see what’s keeping me out of the pool halls, lately.  This past week, the IAC house has been closed with the maid on vacation, so my “official” presidential responsibility has been to water the yard.  I’ll sure be glad when she’s back tomorrow!

Right now, Gregg and I are really looking forward to Casey and Shannon’s visit.  We thought they might come in November, then December, now I really, really think it will be February.  It may be only a short visit, (Casey has some business in Bolivia and Brazil), but any time with them is precious and treasured.

Now, it’s Friday, Feb. 11 and I really am going to get this posted!  I wanted to put the video of Gregg’s speech on it.  First, Carolina left the camera at her brother’s house and he was going to bring it back on Wednesday, then it was Thursday, so Gregg left the flash drive with me this morning.  The computer needed to re-boot, and then wouldn’t re-start.  I was sure I’d crashed the hard drive.  (Now I know it may not restart if you have a dvd in it).  Meanwhile, I took the flash drive to Gregg’s office so he could make sure it didn’t have a “virus”.  Gregg got home, took the dvd out and started the computer easily.  He did have to install different stuff to save his video and that is now on our computer.  Turns out his speech is too long to insert into the blog, so you’ll all have to wait until I get that figured out.  Trust me, by then Gregg will be speaking even better Spanish!

It’s one of those weeks.  I hope everything in your world is wonderful!

Abrazos,

Pat

I am always grateful when we can fly business class and this trip it really softened the blows, (so to speak). Between the aspirin, champagne and wine, we were in Atlanta in no time!

One of the highlights was Casey picking us up at the Denver airport in his new company car. Turns out he hit an antelope the week before and it did enough damage to justify his early Christmas present from CEESI. This new Buick is like his old one, but with a lot more bells and whistles: If a car is in your blind spot, something flashes in your rear view mirror; the headlights turn corners just before the car does; the dashboard gauges are visible to the driver on the windsheild; if you’re backing up, the rear view mirrors automatically aim down a touch; etc., etc. And it is very comfortable, even with all our stuff and Casey’s ski gear in it. Quite nice!

He took us to Gregg’s folks where Carmel Oaks was having their Christmas brunch. What a feast! Everything was delicious and the place was beautifully decorated. We really set the eating tone for the trip!

The folks are really doing well. Gregg’s mom and I got out and did a little bit of shopping.

Casey headed up to the mountains to catch Lefty Lucy, (his favorite entertainment duo performing at Copper Mountain).  Sunday morning before Gregg left for meetings, I headed up to meet him, (and Nick & Lucy, (Lefty Lucy), for a day of skiing at Vail.  It was a very nice day with between 3 and 6 inches of fresh fluff.  I was skiing really well until a tough body slam in the moguls.  I thought I tore my rotator cuff in my left shoulder, but didn’t want to see a doctor for fear they’d tell me not to pick anything up for a while and I was looking forward to Grand daughter time, so I toughed it out with a lot of whining!  The drive back to Denver was brutal and 1-70 from Dillon to the tunnel was a parking lot that moved about every half hour.

Monday and Tuesday, I got to finish up some Christmas shopping and wrap the things I had shipped to Denver and Ft. Collins.  On-line is the way to shop, but it helps a lot if you’ve actually seen what you’re getting.  I stayed Tuesday night with Casey and Shannon who have just finished remodeling their kitchen.  It is super nice!  Shannon is a good cook and her meals taste even better in this beautiful space!

Wednesday, I picked Gregg up at the airport and he and his mom got to do a little more shopping.  In the evening we had a nice dinner at the Elephant Bar, where they had been a few weeks earlier with Mario, (the favorite son ;-)).  When we left for Ft. Collins the next morning, the car was packed as full as St. Nicholas’ sleigh, and although we left some in Ft. Collins, we just reloaded with more stuff for Red Lodge.  Shannon’s mom was in Ft. Collins, too and we had a great meal of enchiladas, and a really nice visit.

Holiday Highlighters

As usual, when Gregg is with me, I slept very fast on the way to Red Lodge.  The kids had celebrated Christmas Eve according to our family tradition and they had a great day sledding at the Meier’s house.  Ingrid and Steffi were in town, and it sound like they all had a good time.  After yummy potato hot dogs for dinner, we went to midnight mass, (celebrated hours earlier ;-).  The Meiers sat behind us and I heard Steffi ask Ginny what she pays to have Sylvia’s “highlights” done.  The answer was, “only $50 a week”.  (Sylvia’s hair was dark when she was born and the individual hairs have blond roots, so the effect is like the ends have been dipped in dark tint.  From a short distance it looks like feathers.)  It was fantastic to see so many good friends in one place, but of course we didn’t dawdle on this night.  Back at the house Reese was getting ready for bed, and had set out cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer.  We stayed up just a little longer than Reese and Sylvia, although I think Ginny and Jeff found a stash of Irish Cream and giddily waited for the man in the red suit.

Reese came into our room early Christmas morning, but was in no hurry to see if Santa came.  She wanted to sleep with us a little while and then talk about stuff, like her own, “beautiful highlights”.  We finally went down stairs to get her mommy and daddy and, of course, Sylvia.  Santa had indeed been there.  He had moved the furniture in the living room and dining room and set up a HUGE, 2 room tent, (his present to Ginny and Jeff).  He put the stockings and a few more gifts inside.

Santa's BIG surprise!

The stockings were filled with all kinds of good things.  My biggest surprise was a flash drive with this blog site set up.  The kids have always been wonderful encourager’s, so now, (at least after I get used to it), your e-mail boxes will be safe from unexpected long letters that prompt you to pick up a six pack or two! Now, you’ll have time to go shopping and go to “Vista-Divina.com” prepared to stay a while!

Favorite Faces

As always happens in Red Lodge, we missed getting to see many of our most important friends.  You know who you are, and when we come back, (maybe April), we MUST get together!  But we did manage to run into several.  On Tuesday, Gregg and I went to Billings to take care of some business and met some old Ealge Mount buddies (and Mike Mayott), before surprising some old friends at St. Pat’s.  The Christmas spirit is so alive and vivid among all of them at any time of year, it is at once exciting and humbling to see.

Wednesday night we made it to Scott Kreamers in a beautiful snow storm.  Scott’s sister, Anne and her daughter were there from Texas and a few other people we hadn’t met before.  Reese was enchanted to be in Stephanie’s room with the “big” girls.  Gregg was in the living room with Ginny and Sylvia, and Sylvia started babbling.  Soon she was babbling, “Grandpapapapa”, much to his delight!

We did have a few days of skiing.  Gregg went with Ginny one afternoon and I stayed home with the girls.  One afternoon, Ginny, Gregg and I went with Reese for a few runs on Miami Beach.  It’s so fun, to be there with her!  The other day Gregg and I went skiing was FREEZING, and we spent as much time indoors as out and called it a day well before noon.  It’s hard to beat staying home with Reese and Sylvia as a fun thing to do!

Funny elfs

New Years Eve, Jeff fixed a delicious fondue dinner.  With 3 cans of sterno under the pot, it still look a little time for the morsels to cook, but each bite was totally worth the wait.  I was in charge of the dessert and botched the chocolate, (twice), once while adding the Irish cream to the chocolate and again while adding the chocolate to the Irish cream.  I guess that’s why God made King’s Cupboard Caramel!

One of the things Reese got for Christmas was 2 “sing-a-ma-jigs”.  These are bright colored rag dolls that sing when you press their belly.  Pressing their hand will produce various notes and change modes.  They are meant to harmonize together.  One sings “Oh my darlin’ Clementine” and the other sings “Yankee Doodle”.  As they sing, their mouths open, like babies looking for the bottle.  Reese, (a wonderful, nurturing care giver) recognized they were thirsty and gave them water.  This caused a closed circuit and the red one, (Clementine) would randomly belt out an endless note.  One night about 1:30, I heard the Aria and found the 2 “babies” in the family room.  I put them both under the sofa pillows to deal with them in the morning.  About 5:30 we woke up to hear Reese crying.  She was sitting where the “babies” had been in the middle of the night and was sobbing, “my babies are gone!”  She calmed right down when I showed her where they were and explained that the red one wasn’t well, but the purple one could come in with Reese and Grandpa and I and get some more sleep.  Ginny said later that they were in Reese’s room when she tucked her in, so she must have put them out to escape the noise!  Removing the battery and putting “Clementine” on heat register therapy and restoring the battery seems to have helped.  Reese understands now that they can only have “pretend” water and she knows just where to find some.

On Sunday, January 2, Sylvia was baptised along with her God-parent’s, (Annie and John Fitzgerald)’s son, Nolan.  Nolan was born in October and Ginny and Annie’s brother are his God-parents.  In Chile, there is probably a name for how Sylvia and Nolan are related.

Babies, Parents and Godparents

Anyway, it couldn’t have been more special.  It was the church Ginny and Jeff were married in and where Reese was baptized, before we even imagined they would be living in Red Lodge.  Annie’s family came from Great Falls, and they and our family prepared casseroles, salads and fruit plates  Afterward, in the church hall, we served brunch to about 80 people, and of course,

Gina's blessing

Gina made the cake.

Family circle

With so much going on that day, we decided to go sledding at Entenmann’s after a nap.  Nap time was a bit longer than usual and I thought we’d be lucky to get much sledding in before dark.  We were saved because Rick hauled the sledders and toboggan back up the hill, for several long fun rides.

uphill the easy way

Inside, we savored hot chocolate, wonderful treats, and wonderful friends.

Waiting for her next turn

That night, our last in Red Lodge for a while, we went to The Carbon County Steak House for dinner.  Gregg and I always have mussels there because they sear them in a unique and delicious way.  They are SOOOO good!  Stephie Kraemer babysat Sylvee, (easy money for her and relaxed peace of mind for the rest of us).

Monday morning we managed to get out early and headed back to Gregg’s folks.  Casey and Shannon and Gregg’s niece, Dawn, and her boyfriend Matt joined us for Chinese take out.  It was good, but we ordered about 3 times what we ate!  Anyway, it was great to see Dawn and meet Matt.  Our only regret of the trip was that we didn’t have more time with Casey and Shannon and Gregg’s parents.  They are all doing well and thriving.

Gregg had wanted to get more skiing in, so we had reservations for Tuesday night in Breckenridge and planned to ski Tuesday on our own and meet Casey on Wednesday.  Well, I took a hit on my left shoulder, that almost made me cry.  We cancelled skiing with Casey the next day and headed down early.  A trip to the doctor confirmed that I will pull through.  Actually, I felt quite a bit better just after Casey made the appointment for me.  “Blunt force trauma” is something best not repeated, so I won’t be skiing until at least April.  Ice, heat, ibuprophen, aspirin and excedrin have all helped, but pisco sours seem to guarantee a good night’s sleep.  On the bright side, it was nice to have a little more time with Casey & Shannon.  We had fun playing WII games, (we’re still terrible at those things), and we packed, repacked and did some laundry before leaving Thursday morning.

Gregg’s mom has not been able to get out to go shopping much since her knee replacement in July, but she still knows the best routes in and out of the mall.  We took one sweater back to exchange sizes and came away with 2 tops and 2 jackets (and left the walker in the car).  It’s great to have her feeling better!   The box of clothes we left at Ginny’s arrived, so, as far as we know, we only left our hearts in the states this time.  Gregg’s mom made us bar-b-q ribs for dinner, and I know she made extra, but there wasn’t much left, they were delicious.  And we came close to finishing off the coconut cream pie.

Friday morning came a little too early, and so did our airport shuttle.  We were at the airport before 10:00 for a 1:30 flight.  Actually, it was good for final phone calls, and etceteras.

Back in the real world Saturday morning.  I fumbled at immigration and gave up my (expired) Chilean ID card.  The new one should be arriving any time now.  I think I was a little exhausted from the flight and struggled with the new luggage carts.  (Gregg had to show me how to lift the right bar, I didn’t get it with him just telling me).  Later I got a cute e-mail from a good friend here who had been picking up her daughter at the airport. “I understand from airport security that you need lessons on how to push the luggage carts”.  There are clowns and good people everywhere.

Well, dear friends, some of you know it can be difficult to get off of my lists!  At least with this “blog”, if you go to the website, it’s your choice.  I’m open to all comments, but you know I’m hard to change!  I do know I should have had photos of those beautiful people in Colorado, (yes, I KNOW their names!)

May 2011 be filled with every good blessing for you and yours.

Besitos,

Pat

XXXOOO

Worth a Thousand Words

Aren't Pictures Great?!

With this site, you’ll be able quickly and easily share your “divinely inspired views and viewpoints” from where ever you happen to be when the urge to update moves you. Also, from now on, your updates will all be in one spot and will be automatically archived – a great way to recall your many adventures!

As Jeff happens to love manipulating these sights, with a little more work (information we need from you), your loyal followers will be able to subscribe to vista-divina.com. In other words, they will be updated automatically when you post – how cool is that?!

Mom, you have an amazing story to tell. We hope that you find this fun and useful. As part of this gift, we’re also here to provide technical support services as necessary, although you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised at how simple it is!

Merry Christmas – We love you and are eager to continue to see the world through your eyes, but from a slightly different perspective!

Vista Divina Support Crew

Love ~ Ginny, Jeff, Reese and Sylvia