Memorial reminder

Pam's memorial is April 23rd. @ 10:00 am. the address is posted below in earlier post. There will be a reception following the service. Hope to see you all there Ben

It's been a long while since I last posted, so many reminders, memories and tears. I spent this last weekend compiling photos/videos for a slideshow to play at the reception after the memorial, scanning the pre-digital shots, the early years photo albums. Then jpegs off of 5 computers. A long and difficult weekend, but I re-discovered some wonderful memories. It will take a while to sort out the ones to be used.

I want to thank Sylvia Smith, Alan & Juliann Barker, Marleen Wallingford, Jane Nicholson and Anne Schagen for making donations to the "Friends of Trees", Young native trees will be planted in Pam's memory.

You can visit their website www.friendsoftrees.org

memorial address

Here is the link and address to Betty's church where the memorial will be.

http://fccpdx.com/1314 SW Park Avenue · Portland, Oregon 97201 · (503) 228-9211

Memorial Date

Pamela's memorial:
Saturday 10:00 am April, 23rd. 2011
I will post the address soon.

Come see Mariah play

My niece Mariah is in town over the holidays from Nashville, she will be playing this Saturday night @7:30pm at the Hawthrone Theatre on 39th and SE. Hawthrone. Come join us!

The new year

The holidays swept in suddenly and have passed just as quickly. More like a trial by fire. The highlights: Zac spent christmas eve. at home, Billy and Teal were here christmas morning after being with the Senders family, everything was as years past. I made German Pancakes in the oven that is quickly losing its capacity to bake..the circuit board /chip is malfunctioning.

Later we all went over to Betty and Duane's for christmas dinner with the rest of the family. Pam's sweaters that she had knitted for her sisters and nieces were opened with tears. Becky recieved a wonderful scarf and wore it the whole evening.

I took down the tree and stored the decorations on Sunday.

New Years was spent quietly here at home with Jack. Several long walks. Bill and Debbie came by later after a movie and we sat chatting as the new year rolled in. Another attempt at baking in the rapidly expiring oven making my moms Mountain Pie.

David Pia and Axel spent their first Christmas at their home in Boulder, they were missed.

I was shocked to see the cost of decent gas ranges, well, the ones I looked at started at 2500.00 all the way up to 4800.00. Dacor & Wulf. The repair equals the original cost of range for the old one, not quite worth it.

Tomorrow it's back to work, hopefully preliminary hardscape will have been completed so we can finally sink our teeth into this project.

All and all the holidays were very flat for me, I'm glad it's over.

On a more positive note for all you folks that sent cards thank you! those are still hanging on the kitchen door.

I do hope that this year things get better for everyone.

Ben

For all of you who have been on the Christmas mailing list, I finished this years last night. It was the first time for me at the keyboard writing it. Only one error that I found after printing 2/3 of them (Well that I could find) probably a few more errors but oh well.
My task in years past was to read the proof and maybe add something, or clarify then helped with the folding stamping etc. I think it came out okay though.
Last week during the worst of the rains Zac, Billy and I went out at 3:30 almost dark and got our Christmas tree. They were aghast that I had considered not even having one.
Usually we have a ton of cards and letters by now, I have six hanging on the kitchen door.. I have a feeling that a lot of the people have either not sent them this year or eliminated us (me) from their lists. A depressing thought. A difficult time as I'm wrapping all the gifts that Pam had already purchased or made for Axel and the family members, I did find a list of possible items to dig out of boxes for the boys from their childhood like we did last year. So many things that Pam loved to do and me too, but now it is all up to me and sometimes I just don't feel up to it. The Christmas letter was a big hurdle and I'm glad I was able to finish it. Jesus I'm starting to sound like that donkey in Winnie the Pooh.
Work has been Okay we just started a big project which will be a real showpiece when completed. I have sold more engines this year than ever before so that has been good (Oregon Dealer for Beta Marine diesels for sailboats) I've been doing that for nine years now. Oregon Marine Industries is the name of my business, how I got that was interesting, I was upset about something I forget what, but I said to myself Oh am I pissed. Somewhere in the synapses it clicked Oregon Marine Industries...go figure. The upset was gone and I was on my way.
Take care for now