Respite Day

ME bounced back stronger today. Although I was not here today until late this afternoon, everyone who was with her experienced a great, interactive day. My thanks to Polly(Sis) and Steve for spending the weekend here. With them here, I felt comfortable venturing away.

In true ME fashion, I am changing the focus of the blog to our kids, i.e. bragging a bit, no, a lot!

Paul came home Wednesday night, finished with his job as an assistant Park Ranger in the Olympic National Park. He took full advantage of where he was and, on his days off, hiked more than 100 miles of trails, mostly vertical. He could easily publish a book with unbelievably beautiful pictures, a journal of his hikes, people he encountered in the Park and his experiences of encountering all sizes of "critters". He is very proud of a late night hike to assist with bringing an injured park visitor to safety.

He headed back to Western Washington University on Saturday. Even though classes do not begin for another two weeks, his new job on campus starts tomorrow. ME would be proud of his solid effort to have more money coming in than going out, that means you are saving!

Caitlin, as you all know, started Medical School two weeks ago at the "U". Today was Family Day on campus. The purpose of today was to educate the families, not the students, on what their special person will experience for the next four years and beyond. It was a fantastic morning of presentations by faculty, staff and second year students. It concluded with each student being presented with their stethoscope, a very nice touch. ME would have loved to be there, beaming with joy in hearing that Caitlin is one of 216 new students, 4,700 applied! But, ME and I both know that the "U" made a smart decision in accepting Caitlin into their family.

The event was hosted in Kane Hall on Red Square. A place where both ME and I heard and slept through many lectures, just a few years ago.

My sister, Mary Alice, and her husband Maris, joined us for this really cool day.

So, it was a great "respite day".