Merrifield Times

The switch to a large, public middle school from a small, private Christian one last Fall was obviously a significant change for Trevor and Hannah. They have adjusted fabulously to the new social scene of a much more diverse school, their increased academic challenges, riding a city bus to school , and our unusual living arrangement. They have taken advantage of many new elective opportunities like swimming, robotics, wood shop, drama, and kitchen science and earned straight C1's (the best grade possible) in the first trimester. While helping the kids get settled into their new school along with looking for volunteer opportunities, Jolyn was offered a part-time job as the school's Mentor Program Coordinator. She's responsible for over thirty adult volunteer mentors who meet with a student once a week. The program is thriving and it's rewarding to serve at-risk kids by providing them with a caring, consistent, positive adult role-model.

Although our house was on the market , it became unlikely that a move could be pulled off in time for the beginning of the 08-09 school year. Wishing to avoid transferring the kids mid year, we explored renting a place within the Eugene School District boundary. We were blessed with a wonderful offer from good friends to rent the lower level of their home in the District area which had our schools of choice. The rental amounts to something more like communal living than a landlord and tenant relationship. Our two families share meals, evenings, rides, and much of our lives these days. Mike and the kids stay at the “Winter Palace” 3 or 4 nights a week. The kids ride the city bus to school and back unless it's time to return to the “Country House,” where Jolyn stays at night with the furry members of our household. We all spend some of the evening together unless there are other activities (oh, that never happens...). It's not easy nor ideal but it's working out prett...

You know what they say about investments - well, besides, “Oh, crap!” Seriously though, something like “Timing is everything” or “Buy low and sell high” may come to mind. In real estate, “location, location, location” is paramount. In the case of our home , a phrase from Get Smart is appropriate...“Missed it by that much.” The house is only 50' from the Eugene School District boundary where we ultimately wanted our kids to attend. With Trevor approaching high school (can that be...) and Hannah starting middle school (what?), it was time to earnestly explore options, the best (and really, the only) being to move into the Eugene School District boundary. With the kids' private school only an option through eighth grade and an already shaky real estate market, the timing seemed right to begin the moving process early in 2008. Projects began at a fevered pitch in the Spring to prepare the house for listing, including finishing the 900 sq.ft. walkout basement. We managed to “...

In May, Mike sailed in the NOOD (not nude, however) for the first time. Oh, that's the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design. The Seattle event provided three days of racing in Puget Sound for over 200 boats in 24 classes. Whew! In addition, the Santana 20 Class Championships were hosted by the Eugene Yacht Club over the summer. The Santanarama 2008 was great week of fun and competitive racing. Mike's frightful-looking boat finished 6 th out of 39. Apparently, ugly is fast. On a smaller scale, but no less enjoyable, Mike loves racing our 14' Lido with Trevor. They make a pretty good team and managed to take 2 nd and 3 rd place in the Summer and Fall Wednesday Night Series respectively. Trevor was recognized as the “Junior All-Star” in the Lido fleet . After Trevor masters the Zuma, Mike hopes he's ready to take the helm on the Lido.

By now it seems that it wouldn't be summer without a week at Crux Rock Gym . This year it was Hannah that made the most apparent improvement . That was especially evident as Mike watched them climb the local basalt columns. Hannah tackled a new route this year with perseverance and growing confidence. For Trevor , it's getting to be a little too routine. Expect him to look for greater challenges next year. He's old enough to move up and climb with older kids and learn new techniques. Who knows... Maybe he's up for an assault on the North Face of the Uxbridge Road...

No, it's nothing close to the Barcelona World Race (as those sailors spend Christmas in the Southern Ocean). Heck, this wasn't even a race. But it was an adventure. Perhaps inspired by the story of Grandpa Herc sleeping on the Flying Dutchman on Cayuga Lake , Trevor became interested in his own nautical adventure last year. With the realization that Mr. T would become a teenager at the end of the summer, Mike was determined to share the experience with Trevor before another summer slipped by. The plan was modest. They would simply spend the night sleeping on the Lido on Fern Ridge Lake and meet up with the rest of the family the next day for a picnic. The two adventures pushed off from the dock in the early evening. The north wind was fairly strong and refused to die as the sun went down . We found shelter in the lee of a small island and prepared the boat for the night . Although it took a while for the wind to die and the boat to stop rocking, Trevor and Mike mana...

In August, we all made a trip to Portland to see Body Worlds 3 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Real humans. Real science. Really amazing! Experience the human body in all its elegance and complexity in this first-of-its-kind exhibition. From entire bodies in dramatic poses to side-by-side comparisons of healthy and diseased organs, BODY WORLDS 3 is a stunning exhibition featuring over 200 authentic human specimens. See how your body's systems relate to one another and work together to help you function and survive. View firsthand how lifestyle choices impact your health and how muscles and joints work together during athletic performance. It was fascinating and amazing and well worth the trip. We are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made .