What an eventful year! I went to Kim’s Facebook page to pull some pictures to illustrate the year, and she had posted more than 1,000 in 2015! If you really want to know what’s going on, just follow Kim’s Facebook feed. It will be a lot more informative than this.

Kim and I started 2015 apart. I was at my mom’s house in Florida. In addition to visiting her, got to see several old friends. Driving to Atlanta, got to have breakfast with Wendy and Dan. Love being able to join my brother’s trivia team when I visit him, because they almost always finish in the money.

In February the only trip was an hour away, to do a Fulbright talk at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Things were significantly busier in March. Spring break gave me the opportunity to make a number of campus visits for Fulbright. We visited IU-Kokomo, Kentucky State University, IU-South Bend, and IU-Columbus. We also made a weekend trip to St. Louis to celebrate brother-in-law Stuart Wilson’s birthday.

In addition, we had a couple of guests. We were able to see old friends Martin and Mary Catherine Limbird as they were passing through town, and Professor Karl Renner visited from Mainz, Germany. Guests are an excellent excuse for having some wonderful meals, whether cooked by Kim or in restaurants.

Speaking of guests, in April we were thrilled to welcome Toni Pons back from Spain.

He spent the 2013-14 academic year with us. When he asked if we would be able to host him for an Easter Week visit, we were thrilled. Kim worried about how she would be able to entertain him all week, but once his old Muncie Central High School friends found out he was back in town, his social calendar quickly filled.  The day after Toni left, I was off to Las Vegas for the annual Broadcast Education Association convention. I keep telling myself I should skip it, but I keep going. Hoping that Kim will agree to join me in 2016.

In May, Kim decided she should get to take a trip without me since I went without her (see above). She flew to Kansas City to spend a week with Anthony and his family. Kim is always happy to be with her grandsons, whether Luca and Matteo in Kansas or Riley right here in Muncie.

July began with a short drive (two hours) to Dayton to attend the wedding of a former student and Fulbrighter. It was held in the scenic Carillon Historical Park – a perfect venue, in case you need a place.

Later in July Kim and I embarked on a dream trip. After teaching in Europe six times, I thought it was about time that we see more of the U.S. The plan was to drive the east coast, from Key West to Acadia National Park in Maine. A few details (the trip took four weeks, so I really am condensing considerably):

·         First stop on the way down was my brother Tony’s house in Atlanta. On the way there, we stopped to have a meal at an amazing Italian restaurant in the tiny town of Elijay, GA (population 1600). The owner moved from Italy to Hallandale as a child, knowing very little English. In second grade I had the good fortune of being a bilingual speaker who could help him translate until he learned the language (which didn’t take long). It’s off the beaten path but well worth a visit. Met up with old Hallandale friend Mike Borowski and his wife, who live not far  from Elijay (never would have known without Facebook). 

·         Next we spent a couple of days with Kim’s Aunt Trudy and Uncle Carl in Winter Haven, FL. Went to a seafood restaurant there that has become a favorite. Leaving there, we were able to meet up with a relocated Ames friend, Lorilynn, who now lives in Orlando. 

·         Then we went to my mom’s house in Hallandale. Got to see our friends Lou Schiff and Ray Barnes and his family (didn’t know we were celebrating Ray and Albie’s anniversary).

 It was a big thrill to be able to have dinner with my godfather and his wife Betty after who knows how many years (20 maybe?).

Had two fantastic meals with Nicole’s in-laws Sandy and Sheila in Boca Raton: one at a restaurant and one prepared by Nicole and Sheila (Nicole, Joe and Riley also happened to be in south Florida some of the time that we were).

·         In 34 years of marriage and all our trips to my mom’s, Kim had never been to Key West (she made it as far south as Key Largo before). We did all sorts of touristy things, but mostly just walking around.

·         Took my mom up from Hallandale back to my brother’s house in Atlanta so she could spend a few days. On the drive up had breakfast with our old friend Wendy and lunch with Ronetta.

Got to see lots of Anthony’s friends, but also Jon and Marc. Jon was my best man. Of course at 96 (now 97), my mom insisted on working with my brother to prepare a meal for about 20 people. Amazing.

Kim was able to visit her St. Louis neighbor Jill and husband John, just an hour west of Atlanta. Our years in Ames overlapped with John and Jill’s time there.

·         Hit the Blue Ridge Parkway (it’s a national park). We highly recommend it. We loved our stopover in Asheville, NC, and hope to get back there sometime soon.

·         Continued on the Blue Ridge, stopping at Mt. Airy, NC (Mayberry). 

·         Two nights in Alexandria, VA. Got to have dinner with Kim and Dan Mazella, visit the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, and walk around historic Alexandria. 

·         Two nights in Philadelphia. Visiting the University of Pennsylvania wasn’t on the agenda, but happened because we needed to visit the Verizon store, which was across the street. What a wonderful campus! Hit lots of historical sites, and ate well, too.

·         Stopped in Newport, RI, and got to visit with Betsy Shinego and her family. Mike wasn’t there (he was actually in the Keys at the time), but we had a nice dinner. Loved the scallops (this trip was all about seafood – not a regular dinner item in the Midwest).

·         Next stop was Boston (west suburbs, really). Got to have dinner with Emil and Nikki Peterson, then a delightful visit to the historic Longfellow’s Wayside Inn.

Loved it so much we went back the next day to take pictures of the grist mill, church, etc.

We absolutely loved visiting Lexington and Concord so much, we never made it to downtown Boston. Got as far as Harvard Square (liked Penn better).

·         A night in Portland, ME. Got to eat fresh seafood on a pier with a former student who went to Italy with us in 2008 and her fiancé. Can’t get much fresher than that. 

·         Three nights in Ellsworth, just outside Acadia National Park. We stayed in a cottage, which my Maine friend tells me is the “authentic” experience.

We spent a day at the more touristy southern part, and I was disappointed. BUT, the next day we were on the Schoodic Peninsula and had a fantastic time. Extremely scenic, and far less traveled.

·         Drove to Niagara Falls, Canada “on our way” home. Our first trip. I had wanted to go for an anniversary a few years ago but we never made it. Everyone told us the Canada side had the better view so we headed there. Stayed at a nice, quiet B&B just a 20 minute walk from the falls. Perfect.

Went under general anesthetic for the first time in my life. I had a growth removed that was attached to my carotid artery. Surgery went fine and I’m OK, but it was a first. Got to see family again at the end of August. Nephew Tim and Beth were married in Chicago: what better reason for a celebration? Had a great time there, and we were able to visit other family along the way. We stopped on our way up to visit Kim's Uncle Dennis, Aunt Bev, and cousin Ted. The following day we were able to stop in Valpo and visit my brother Jim’s family and friends on our way home. We always eat well there. Had a cookout where Jim made Italian food and Carlos made Spanish. 

In September we went to Seattle for Fulbright meetings. Kim had been before, but I had only gotten as close as Tacoma. Redeye flight home was no fun, but while there we had a good time. Kim visited the Chihuly museum while I was in meetings and we spent half a day in the Pike St. Market area.

October Fulbright trips were to Dallas and Kansas City. In Dallas we got to see Kim’s cousins Jim and Linda Sipe, their grown kids Eric, Jim and Amy, and Kathy and Brian Hope. The KC trip was over break so we drove it. Had the experience of a lifetime in St. Louis seeing the Cardinals/Cubs play a NLDS game from amazing seats behind home plate, thanks to the generosity of Kim’s nephew Tom.

Visited with Kim’s sisters Pat and Jacque (and their hubbies) before driving on to KC. In addition to doing Fulbright talks at four community colleges in Kansas City, we got to have dinner with our son Anthony and his family at their home on base at Fort Leavenworth, dinner with Gregg and Mary who we probably haven’t seen in 20 years, and met my old friend Michelle for coffee. When we got back to Muncie, we got to spend a week with Nicole’s in-laws, Sandy and Sheila. Great seeing them again – and more great meals!

Speaking of meals, November had two dates of note. I participated for the fourth time in “100 Men Who Cook,” a fundraiser. This year I made “Drunken Carrots.” Later in the month, we all met up in St. Louis for Thanksgiving at Jacque and Stuart’s. We had so much food we actually didn’t eat the traditional turkey dinner until Friday. Thursday there were all sorts of other foods. Friday morning, Jacque’s twins prepared pancakes as they do for Chris Cakes, the St. Louis company where they work when they’re not trying to make it as rock stars.

Earlier this month we had our annual Open House. Once again Kim pulled off an amazing feat, hosting more than 70 people in our home over a five hour evening. Nicole was helpful during the week but missed the night of the party because she was ill. Kim was lucky to have friends like Suzanne, Deb and Mary who also helped before and during the event.

It’s been years since Kim’s back surgery and it’s likely that she will be a candidate again soon. Several times in 2015 (including the day after the Open House) Kim spent days in her recliner, unable to do much more. In every case she recovers gradually over several days but it’s extremely frustrating for her. At one point she wasn’t able to babysit grandson Riley because she wouldn’t be able to get him up out of his crib (he now uses a modified crib and can get out on his own).

We are proud that Anthony made the Major list. He’s still a Captain, but it means he is on track to become a major (not automatic). He will have to do more schooling before the promotion.

Nicole and Joe were able to stop commuting 45 minutes each way to work in 2015. Instead of teaching GED classes, Joe is now a graduate student in Information and Communication Sciences with a graduate assistantship at the Ball State Museum of Art, and Nicole is teaching preschool at St. Lawrence School in Muncie. It means Kim is Riley’s primary childcare Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but I’m so happy they aren’t driving so far, especially in winter, and especially at night (twice a week was a night class). Earlier in 2015 Kim had Riley five days a week, but now he has started going to preschool with mommy twice a week.

As 2015 comes to an end, we are truly thankful for so many gifts. We’ve been lucky to visit so many places, but we are most grateful for the wonderful people in our lives. If you’re reading this, you must be one of them. We wish you all the best for 2016.