Hello!
I thought I’d fill you
in on our family life this year. Since there is so much to tell and I’m too
lazy to write it all down in each and every Christmas card with a pen, you’re
getting this note.
#1 is now 22 and is
a Senior Chemistry Major at Virginia Military Institute. His senior thesis is
about some bacteria I can’t say never mind spell and the effects of spices on
it. Cinnamon is the spice that
works best to kill it – so my advice is to sprinkle cinnamon on everything.
He is an S2
Lieutenant, which – in my world - means he gets a sword, has a whole lot of
embroidery on his sleeve, and marches up front for Parade. #1 continues to play
the tenor sax in the Jazz Band. He is headed to Florida – to the beaches and
Disney World for a week with the Jazz Band in just a few days. It certainly
pays to be in the Jazz Band at VMI!
He spent a good part
of this past summer in Fort Knox, Kentucky at LDAC – the Army’s Leadership
Development Assessment Course. He scored an E for Excellent and came back “Army
Strong”! Upon graduation, he will commission with the US Army and will be
headed to Arizona to become an Intelligence Analyst – his first choice pick.
His training there should last about six weeks and then he thinks he will be placed
at Ft. Meade in MD for his first assignment.
LLB is a Sophomore
Applied Mathematics and Physics Major at VMI. She continues to play the trumpet
and is a member of the Regimental Band, the Jazz Band, and the Brass Ensemble. LLB has had an amazing year. She is also a “ranker” and holds the office of
Corporal. As far as I can tell, that means she has some embroidery on her
sleeve and gets to tell the Rats what to do. She has embraced all that VMI has
to offer and has figured out how to “make it pay”. She is on the Recycling
Committee, is a tour guide for the VMI Museum, and plays jazz gigs. Emma will
be headed south with Matt and the rest of the Jazz Band to see Mickey and
lounge on the beach. I’m sure they have a gig or two to play somewhere in Florida.
When I find out where they will be, I’ll post it on Face Book.
This past summer, she
spent a month learning about all the great things the US Navy has to offer her
upon graduation. Sub Week was her favorite, Aviation Week came in a close
second, but Marine week and Surface Warfare Week tied for last place. Needless
to say, Submarines are where she wants to be.
LLB is back at the
Episcopal Church in Lexington this fall – she missed the liturgy and the
traditions of the church we call home here. Because of that, she acquired a new
host family but also managed to hang on to her original host family, as they
are terrific people. The new host family comes with a cat and a 4 year old. She
loves it there!
Mr is still busy working. He enjoys sawing fallen trees with his
chain saw and mowing our acreage with his tractor in his spare time. He continues to play bass guitar in the
Church Gospel band, and rings bells in two choirs. I still direct a handbell choir and am active in the Prayer
Shawl ministry at a local United Methodist Church. Mr and I are involved in the VMI Parents Council and a half
dozen other volunteer committees. Basically, we keep busy.
