Happy Holidays 2023

Our Year in Pictures

2023 was a travel year for us, together or apart, from New Zealand to New England, from Amsterdam to Denver, from Vermont to New York City.  Makin' up for lost time, we guess.  So many places to be, we sometimes found ourselves in different states, countries and even hemispheres.

Here we find ourselves together in Pt. Lobos (CA), Dunedin (NZ) & at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens  (AZ).  Still smiling after more than 50 years together.

We took a four-month West Coast car trip starting in early February that took us to Redding (Julie & Stephanie), Sacramento, Thousand Oaks (Jamie & Rob), San Diego (dog and house sitting, twice), Sun City, AZ (dog/cat/ house sitting and a wonderful stay with Wynne, the hostess with the mostest).  

In between, Tracy went to NYC to stay with CPA-traveling Jamie for Broadway plays and the Giants opener at Yankee Stadium; then when Tracy left San Diego in early May for her long-awaited (postponed 3x) European cruise with Melinda, Rick popped back up to Sacramento, then flew to Denver to join Jamie & Rob to celebrate Jenna's Masters graduation from CU-Boulder (Environmental Studies).

Quite a year for Jennalee, not all good.  She finished her Masters at CU-Boulder, employed with the state of Colorado a month before graduation (handing out $2 million in grants to get rid of water- guzzling grass, speaking at water forums and working with a state landscape conservation task force); she's making a name for herself and enjoying work and life.

On the dark side, she bid a tearful goodbye to her best friend of 16 years (Obama/Obie), her black cat that she's had from Hollywood-to-Chicago-to-Denver; the best cat ever.  Though he can't be replaced, she and Gamble are trying with a new rescue pup, Indiana ("We named the DOG Indiana," Sean Connery once remarked in the Indiana Jones series).  (Below, Gamble introduces Carol to Indy.)

Gamble, the fiance, is a tall and steadying part of Jenna's life.  He's the cook, dishwasher, skier and hiker, who keeps Jenna grounded (and skiing and hiking).  This year, especially, he was an essential part of her topsy-turvy life.  We're all lucky to have him as part of the family.  Indy & Carol love him, too.

Gamble does marketing for an architecture firm that specializes in senior living communities.  He does their graphic design, web development, branding, conferences and events, and public relations.

From camping in the late 1980s, to hugs 10 years ago and in May last, it's always wonderful for us to see Jamie & Jenna laugh and hug and to bask in each other's successes.  Two very different young ladies whom we are very proud to have produced.  We done good.

T&R in Queenstown (NZ); Boulder grad; Jenna at her college and getting hooded; and Jamie at her 1st Opening Day!

Jameson is not be the only over-worked BattGirl these days, but none can keep up with her energy level, from LA-to-NYC work in her CPA firm (Citrin-Cooperman) to almost daily morning workouts at Orange Theory to dog-walks and travel.

Jamie and Rob celebrated their 15th anniversary in June.  They escaped up the coast twice to spend time in San Luis Obispo, sipping wine and enjoying all of the changes to downtown and Cal Poly (20 years since they graduated).  They also took trips to Denver (Jenna!), Maui (a week before the devastating fires) and Austin (where Rob drove fast cars at the speedway a few weeks before Formula 1 took over the track).  Rob has primary walking duties for Zoey (their 12-year-old pooch who still acts like a puppy) as coyotes are more prevalent in their area.

Our travel schedule was full this year.  We traveled as far south in Arizona as we're ever been:  I-19 south of Tucson, almost to Nogales, to Rio Rico, where our friends Bruce & Renee own 40 acres and views in every direction.  That's their house in the photo on the right: left, the road out to the main road; below, a stop sign we saw in several places.  "Remote" takes on a whole new meaning here.

Family

Travel/Friends

Back in Sun City, Tracy relaxes with Wynne, while I play golf at Wickenburg Ranch with golf buddy Maryellen; she and Jeff  moved from Kent, Washington to Wickenburg - they have quite the beautiful home (and golf course) in the high desert.

Melinda & Tracy in Europe; I believe it was before they had to isolate in their cabin for five days because one of them came down with COVID; illness and rain didn't dampen their spirits, though; they're going again this coming May.

We'd originally planned a cross-country trip back to New England for the fall, but when we scheduled our New Zealand trip, it changed our travel plans; instead, we flew back to join some of our fellow travelers and old, dear (high school!) friends for a retreat at Sherry & Mason's 130-acre farm/ranch near Woodstock, Vermont.

Left, the entire crew: Rick, Sherry, Ellen, Mason, Melinda, Tracy, DeeDee & Ruth.

Lower left, the female croquet brigade took on Mason - and lost on a last second miscue.

Rematch!!

It was a terrific visit; the two nights of charades were a highlight (at least for the winning team).  We were entertained, too, by the utter beauty of our surroundings and an abundance of fall foliage.  Prior to arrival in Vermont, we spent a week on the Maine coast, one of our favorite things to do.

Clockwise, from above left: Tracy amid pumpkins in Salem (MA); Rick at an iconic Maine signpost (note names of local towns); Rockport (MA) Harbor Motif No. 1; Rockport moonrise; Tracy and more pumpkins in Salem (note her witch's hat); Mason getting DeeDee & Rick lost in the woods; Woodstock (VT) and the Ottauquechee River; a leaf; one of Sherry's horses; two classic New England covered bridges; and their small barn/shed.  Bottom, a short walk from their home.

We were supposed to be in Italy with these Vermont retreat friends in September 2022, but Rick came down with COVID the night before we were flying out.  Major Bummer.  Our "make-up" trip (i.e., our travel-coverage-insurance trip), without our travel friends, was  in November when we went on a fabulous trip to New Zealand.  If you're interested in more details, please click on Auckland!  Pictures below are the Inner Harbour of Auckland and Milford Sound in  Fiordland National Park.

Who knew two chefs half a world away could be so creative?  Left, in Europe, Tracy insisted she wanted "Nothing" for dessert.  That's exactly what she got.

When we flew to New Zealand on Oct. 30, we hit the International Dateline around midnight, which means we went straight to November 1, skipping her Witchy Day bDay.  We may need a Supreme Court ruling on this, but does that mean she gets to be 69 for a whole 'nother year?  She certainly believes so.

Yes, Your Pets Really Do Love Us!

Here's a menagerie of pets that we stayed with in their homes or had come visit in ours.  Our personal travel keeps us from owning pets right now, so we appreciate the opportunity to spoil yours.

Top row:  Eleanor has been back several times to our home (including now); Barley came to see us for an energetic week in January; Rick took care of a wary Khali several times (she warmed to him when he fixed her auto-food bowl).

Middle:  We were back sharing Jackson & Spartan's lovely San Diego digs twice; Packer towers over Tracy in Sun City (AZ), while Rusty looks on, stunned

Bottom:  Wynne's Annie put up with us at  her place in Sun City; Raya was a cuddle again for us in La Selva Beach.

Parting Shots:  Rick gathered with a group of (mostly old) Capitol friends at Mary's sprawling horse ranch near Clements; Tracy laughs with Ruth and DeeDee at a Padres game in San Diego (we leave in two weeks for 16 days with them in Costa Rica); Rick broke his foot in May (an avulsion fracture) just walking down the 17th fairway (kept him off of the course for six weeks).

Robert, Carolina and Sofia came to visit last summer; pic at Lake Cushman; (both Liz & Ellen made it to our place this summer, but I have no photographic proof!); Jenna came calling, too; we spent a gorgeous November morning at Pt. Lobos with Randy & Karen.

(Almost) last but not least we have to acknowledge the joy we get staying connected to friends and family with our daily game fetishes:  Wordle & Connections.  A friend in Alderbrook told Tracy he didn't do the games; he thought them a silly time suck.  She told him it was an excellent way to stay connected to his kids on a daily basis.  Hadn't thought of that, he replied.  Two weeks later he thanked her for that suggestion!  He's a regular now.  Sometimes you get lucky; other times not; we find it a great, daily personal challenge.

On a very sad and personal note, we mourn the loss of one of the greatest people who ever entered our world:  Former Sacramento Mayor and state Assemblyman Phil Isenberg, Rick's boss for his first 13 years in the California Legislature ('83-'96).  He was a terrific person, extremely intelligent, creative and kind, and Rick looked forward to going to work for this man (and the staff Alison built around him) every single day.  They worked primarily on state water issues, Mono Lake and, eventually, redevelopment law (and "other duties as assigned").  

Jenna was born during that time; years later, Jamie asked Phil to officiate her marriage to Rob.  Just before flying to Denver in May for Jenna's graduation, Rick had lunch with Phil and his wonderful wife, Marilyn.  Little did he know...

He is missed by all lucky enough to have known and worked for or with him over the years.  R.I.P., Phil!  The best.

A particularly FUNNY and recent Jenna effort!

Whether you made it this far or not, we appreciate all of you and for being in our lives.  We remind you to hug your kids, parents, friends and families as you make it through life.  And please make it a point of stopping by our little slice of Northwest heaven if you are ever up our way.

Happy Holidays, and let's all have a wonderful 2024!

Rick & Tracy