SEASON’S GREETINGS
Or: 1 Down, 2 To Go
Changes, changes. One finally is done with school, another will be gone all summer, and a new work schedule after 30 years.
First, Tom is done with his course work at Illinois. He went through graduation ceremonies last spring (hence, the picture). All he needed to do to formally graduate was to complete his student teaching. He’s doing that this fall, splitting his time between Fremd High School in Palatine and River Trails Middle School in Mount Prospect. Hopefully, by the time you get this he will be done. Can’t wait for him to get that diploma (and pay one less tuition next year!). The next step: finding a job.
While he was still in Champaign, Tom was the music director of the Rocky Horror Show. Mom and Dad never had seen it, and sat in the front row. For those of you who know what the play is like, you know they had an interesting experience, to say the least.
Tom got quite a thrill when he was able to march in the inaugural parade with the Colts, the Drum and Bugle Corps he was with last year. It wasn’t so memorable at the time. The temperature was in the teens, and the band members had to be in place very early and wait. And wait. And wait. The parade was delayed, and they didn’t get going until about 4pm. At least his group was near the front, during the network coverage of the parade, so we were able to see his group on TV.
Tom was with the Colts again this summer, but this time as a member of the instructional staff. At least it got him a little better sleeping accommodations on the road (not having to sleep in a room with 150 other people, just about 20.)
Stephen continues to do well as his battle with cancer thankfully is becoming a distant memory. Follow-ups have all been good. But it’s never that far from us. We all wear “Livestrong” bracelets, and we are well aware of how quickly our lives can change.
Now, Stephen is preparing to bike cross country next summer. He will be in something called the Illini 4000. Participants will bike 4000 miles across the country to raise money for cancer research. He didn’t ask for a plug here, but he’s getting one anyway.
He’s a sophomore now at the University of Illinois and is looking into applying to nursing schools. His first choice would be to stay in Champaign, because then he could continue with his a capella group, the Other Guys. The group is back up to eight members, with three new singers in the group. It still takes up a lot of his time (3 hours rehearsing 5 days a week).
His twin sister Katie is progressing in her communications major at Bradley. She was able to survive her dad speaking to her class and two others this fall. Her advisor is one of Pete’s teachers when he went to Bradley. A coincidence, but it serves to prove that Pete is now… old.
Katie is living in a sorority house this year, after she had joined Sigma Kappa last year, and she’s loving it. She now has a “little sister” in the sorority to pamper. And she will be one of the officers of the sorority next year, having been elected recording secretary.
Katie is still playing club soccer at Bradley, with the team showing improvement this year. She’s still playing goalkeeper for a half and in the field for the other half.
After 30 years of working nights, Pete finally is working days. It would have been nice to have had this schedule while the kids were still in high school, then Pete wouldn’t have had to use a lot of vacation days to make various activities that the kids were in. Now Pete and Nancy have to actually talk to each other, as opposed to leaving notes.
Nancy is firmly ensconced as a third grade teacher at Juliette Low School in Arlington Heights. She’s heading up the intramural program again.
Pete’s mother and Nancy’s parents are doing fine. We’re so thankful and fortunate that we can celebrate the holidays with them.
We hope this holiday season finds you well, and we wish you peace and joy in the New Year.
Pete, Nancy, Tom, Katie and Stephen
