Changes, changes, changes! Well, the past two months have brought numerous changes for me, both professional and personal. First, the professional ones---

Our new ship the Alliance, a Universal class ship is a bit smaller than the Endeavour and the sick er I mean, Medbay facilities are not as large, but they are adequate for our purposes.

Much of my staff has been reassigned. Those i will miss the most are Renos Farallon and Samantha Beckett. Renos is now on Earth completing his medical degree while Sam in now living on Deep Space 13 with her husband Al. It's more stable there and maybe Sam and Al will be able to work out their marital problems better than on a starship preparing for battle. Oh, I know, our mission is to negotiate peace between the Federation and the Khynah, but everyone knows there is little chance of that happening without a fight! I do not look forward to that.

Now for the personal news--Two weeks before Simon and I left Xanor II, his son, Parker arrived. He and his group of archaeologists received permission for a dig there. Parker said he wanted us to meet his new girl and naturally Simon and I thought this meant he had a new girl friend. What a surprise! His new girl turned out to be an adorable, chubby 10 month old girl with curly black hair and sparkling blue eyes! Yes, that makes us grandparents. Somehow I always thought I would be a parent before a grandmother. Life has a way of throwing us curves from time to time, doesn't it?

Simon is ecstatic over the news and with one look he fell instantly in love with little Sara. Well, I did too. How could you not? Sara is such a friendly child, always smiling and giggling and so crazy about her daddy!

Parker's wife--they were married two months earlier-- is Anna Chamberland, an Ambassador from Earth. She is sort of a roving Ambassador as she has no permanent assignment. I think Parker said her speciality was Planetary Law or something like that. Anna is 45 years old and Parker is 29. Not that it matters any, but somehow I think Simon can't quite take that little fact in. Doesn't bother me any. I know age makes no different whatsoever as long as they are happy together.

Simon is a full Commander now. He seems more satisfied with his new rank and new job. I think he was becoming just a bit bored being the Chief Geologist. Now he has a whole staff to command while Cam is stationed on the Bridge.

Our living quarters are basically the same as on the Endeavour. When I mentioned to Simon that a few flowers would help make the place feel more homey he surprised me with six dozen red roses! Not quite what I had in mind, but since it was Valentine's Day, they fit right in. The latinum heart shaped locket with our pictures in it didn't hurt either! He is such a romantic! And to think, all I sent him for Valentine's were a dozen heart shaped balloons!

Each time I come home to Earth, it gets harder and harder to leave. Is it because I'm getting older? or maybe it's because I have Simon now? Maybe it's time to think of retiring from Starfleet and making one place a home. Private practice on Earth sounds like a good idea, but maybe not just yet. Besides, Simon would probably never leave Starfleet. Better not say anything to him about my thoughts on retiring. I don't want him to worry about that now.

Well, it's almost 0200 and I'm just getting ready for bed. Tomorrow we begin our new mission. I will be up at 0600 so I'd better try and get some sleep, though that's not likely. I am never able to sleep the night before beginning a new mission or assignment. I've been like that since my Academy days, so I don't think tonight will be any different. Simon, however was asleep five minutes after his head hit the pillow! How I envy him sometimes!