Florida trip with Pam Jakes

Happy Holidays

Greetings!

It's true, we've never sent a holiday letter and haven't been too great about cards, either; but what better time to reach out and celebrate? Like many of our friends, election night we reveled with the next generation (via phone) and are "fired up and ready to go." Alan and I retire from Southern Oregon University next month and intend to be better at keeping in touch. In that spirit, here's our first effort.


Jonny is working on his PhD in Aquatic Fishery Science at the University of Washington and has spent the last three summers working at the Alaska Salmon Program on the Wood River System.





His loves include boat, Relic,
and ladyfriend, Jessie.








Last summer, said to be the coldest and wettest in decades, we got to help survey his creeks.

Alan and I lucked out with two glorious days paddling among bergie bits near Pedersen and Holgate Glaciers in the Kenai Fyords.

Tom is in Nashville working on his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Vanderbilt University. He's adjusting to life in the South, finding places to mountain bike and hike. Adeline's been studying and teaching in France these past two years, but visits regularly -- last summer they enjoyed a few days in the Smokies with Adeline's sister Monica who is starting a grad program at University of Tennessee.

A planned backpacking trip with Tom and friend, Chris, in the Trinity Alps went up in smoke with the wildfires so we opted instead for killer day hikes, such as Mt. McLoughlin.

The family rendezvoused last December in Nashville and drove to Florida where Tom and Adeline took us on a great tour of the springs.





Alan was dramaturg for King John and Coriolanus at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and has begun design meetings and script work for Henry VIII in 2009. He's looking forward to turning the SOU Shakespeare Studies Program over to capable new hands.

I taught my last course for the Environmental Studies Department, a new one on sustainability. Contract work for USFS and NOAA will carry on but the book co-edited on forest-based communities is finally out.



The cats are hunkered down in the house as we've had a
a string of cold nights and snowy days. Here is Sox doing what she likes most (helping Alan)

We can't wait to throw the kayaks on the car and set off across the country. Friends and relatives' visits have been such a treat, we plan to reciprocate.

Be well and joyous this New Year!
Vicky, Alan, Jonny and Tom