Compton Christmas 2001
A Year of Joy and Sorrow
We write this in a somber mood, so aware of the gifts we are given, and that some are taken away. On June 5, Ellena delivered our beautiful Maya Blue. On August 26, Ellena was taken from us by natural causes. Some of the recent good times (and there were many) have been documented (uploaded) into some albums on ophoto.com. (Email Steve if you would like a link.) These two life events make everything else pale in comparison, but we will tell you about some of our other doings anyway. We are both grateful that we got to spend time with Ellena as she was expecting, and later to share little Maya with her. The year started off with a bang as we attended one of the many Inaugural balls being held in the city. A good time was had by all--but the feet were sore!
Steve's office moved downtown near Union Station (in the CNN building) in mid October. He now takes the train to work, so it takes him just a little longer to get there. Within walking distance are Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress, among other things. Security has been really tight around the capital since September 11, as you might imagine. Speaking of the WTC disaster, Steve got stuck in Dallas, ended up in a rented van with six colleagues, and took a road trip home. Steve is eligible to retire in November, and will make a decision next summer.
In July, we went on a cruise to the Bahamas with Steve's cousin Dave Bevins and his wife Molly. It was definitely a case of wretched excess, so it comes highly recommended. It really was a great time, particularly Nassau, where the men enjoyed Cuban cigars and the local libations, the women shopped, and we all toured. Nancy’s main event for the year obviously focused on becoming a grandmother. She attended one baby shower in Pensacola in mid-March and hosted another, along with her sister-in-law, Debbi, and niece, Laura, in the Knoxville area the end of March. And, for a very special 50th birthday, Nancy and Steve were in Pensacola in early July to visit with Adam and Ellena and see our beautiful granddaughter, Maya, for the first time. In conjunction with the 4th of July weekend, we also had an old fashioned family get-together at the Whitley’s and had one heck of a pool party, cookout and good time visiting with the family. Another highlight for Nancy was going to Clarksville, Tennessee, right outside of Nashville, with her brother Lew and Mother to visit with her cousin, Dwight and his family and attend a special showing of the first ever Montgomery County school bus that had been driven by my Dad back in 1937 when he was only 16 years old. The “little Lew” bus had been totally restored and was available for us to see before being transported to the Museum where it will be on permanent display. There was also a write-up in the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle with a picture of the family and the historic school bus. Nancy and Steve’s home project this year was having two bathrooms remodeled in late spring and early summer. Everything’s completed now and we’re ready for guests! We look forward to staying in touch with our out of town friends and family and wish everyone a joyous, peaceful and happy holiday season and prosperous new year! Ellena's Obituary and Some Old Memories Cruising with Dave and Molly The Inaugural Ball A Bus from a Clarksville Past Ellena and Maya Ellena, September 26, 1969-August 26, 2001 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to be planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace...... --Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
