2007: A YEAR IN REVIEW

February 17: I fly for the first time since 9/11/2001.

March 4: My sciatica flares up on the left side. Piriformis muscle is the culprit.
March 7: I fly home again.
March 10: My father passes away.
March 13: Funeral. Full military honors.
March 21: Aunt Kimiko arrives from Japan. Her first visit to the US since 1967.
March 31: I go to the ER in Palmdale for my sciatica.

April 16: Another MRI.
April 23: Neurosurgeon visit. NO SURGERY!

May 9: Mom and Aunt Kimiko fly to Japan.
May 12: Mt. Wilson hike. 14 miles; 11:24:00. First summit hike with Pam.
May 13: Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
May 16: 1,000,000th crunch at 0607.
May 26: Failed summit attempt of Half-Dome with Pam.
May 29: I propose to Pam while at her house.

June 2: I ask permission for Pam's hand in marriage. Permission granted. We later go to Whitney Portal to survey our "wedding chapel." Pam's first visit.

June 11: I move to the first floor of the office building. I finally get an office with a view.
June 17: Father's Day. Happy Father's Day, Dad!
June 18: 100 days since my father's passing.

July 5: Moving day. Good-bye, Orange County.
July 9: Mom returns from Japan.
July 14: Wedding day at Whitney Portal.
July 22: Auction. Everything sold.
July 24: Goodbye, Shelby County, MO.
July 27: My wife and I complete the honeymoon "loop." Mom returns to Japan.

August 6: Mt. Whitney attempt aborted due to work conflicts.
August 14: Training starts.
August 15: Pam's birthday.
August 24: My back "blows out" again.
August 25: We accept counter offer on house. The 45-day escrow starts.

September 15: Mt. Whitney attempt with Pam, Wes, and Sandra. I fail to summit. Pam and Sandra's first summit, Wes' second. Veronica was to go but had to back out due to family matters.

September 22: The first September snows fall in the mountains at the 6,000 foot and above.
September 29: My wife's last day at the Lancaster office.
October 1: My wife's first day at her "new" office.
October 6: The escrow signing and final walk-thru.
October 12: Training over.
October 13: The move from Southern California to Northern California
October 15: My first day.

December 25: Our first Christmas.

December 31: The end of the year.

And other notable events of 2007...

DUSTING

It is snowing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To my Mom and family over there in Japan and here in the States, my wife Pam, Jaymi and Casey, Joe and Ina, Joey and Brittney, Kuma and Jingles and Emerald, TeamBruin, Mountain Joe and family, Kandy Koyote, Kindra and Daphne and the TFG gang, the ODC gang, Bob and Jayne and Sarah, Ken Mc., Kurt and the SMI gang, Wendela, Garv and Heather.

Life here in the North Aerie has been rewarding...there is snow in them thar hills and quite cold, too! I have gotten my money's worth of all of the cold weather gear I have purchased over the last couple(?) of years from REI and Adventure 16. There is nothing like being all bundled up in down and fleece while sipping a hot cup of coffee in the backyard watching the sunrise with a slight breeze blowing in your face.

Oh, and I forgot...there is an option of sitting in the inground Jacuzzi, too, but it is too small for us.

T.G.F.M.

Today I received a Christmas card from my mother who lives in Japan. In it my mother talks of how she is getting by without dad. I know it is very tough for her without him. The family over there is doing their best to make this the best Christmas possible for my mother. The family will prevail.

My father-in-law said it best when I read the contents of the card while we sat at the dinner table: Thank God for memories. Couldn't have said it better myself.

I am not a religious person, but I do thank a Higher Power for all of my memories.

Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad...

And Merry Christmas everyone!