Comments:
2014 update - Well, since my last news here in 2009 ("just got back from a road trip to Santa Fe . . ."), I have been through (I should say stumbled through the horribleness and then the sunrise after) a divorce, have re-married (to Brian, with two kids from his previous marriage), and repaired relationships with my ex-husband (Eric Decker, MCHS 1988). . .
Through all this we continue to enjoy exploring and outdoor adventures, hiking, kayaking, biking, etc., and life in general in our small town of Lanesboro, named one of the "Best Small Town Art Places in the Nation". The kids are in all sorts of sports and activities. My parents live an hour away (Kasson, MN) and my mom is in great health; my dad had a severe stroke in 2002 but he is doing OK. My sister (Karen, MCHS 1990) is in Rochester, MN with her family, and she is still my best friend!
I work with awesome colleagues at Lanesboro Arts Center, where I do project management & programming & marketing (and a hodge podge of everything else). My husband BRIAN is an ER nurse, is crazy about bicycles, and writes poetry. He puts up with my fast pace and adventure mentality. GABE just graduated from high school and is deferring his enrollment at Oregon State for a year to do his own Independent Study Social Studies project as he leaves to backpack in Europe next week. He'll be there 8 months and will see friends -- also Anne Lamazouade in France (MCHS 1988) & family & volunteer with HelpX. MAGNOLIA is in 10th grade and busy with volleyball, traveling to Cuenca to visit Kathy Alvarado's family (MCHS 1990) last summer, and school clubs. ESME is 11 and in 6th grade and she is full of spunk; she plays volleyball, too, and joins us in 15-30 mile bike rides. OLIVIA is in 3rd grade in Rochester and likes art and exploring and writing. DONOVAN is in 1st grade in Rochester and he is a dinosaur & reptile encyclopedia; he is also really good at soccer and riding his bike fast. We have a puggle, Georgie, and a black cat, Frida.
So, keeping busy and trying to stay two steps ahead of everything!
and supporting the kids in their various adventures like Gabe's trips to Norway (2010) and Australia & Hawaii (2013),
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Just got back from a road trip to Santa Fe, NM. Lots of mountain hiking and exploring, and eating green chile sauce etc.
I'm living in Lanesboro, Minn., population 788, where I walk the kids to school, then down to the art center to work (programming & marketing). Eric (MCHS88) is a high school English/theater teacher in Rochester, 45 min. away. We lived in Santa Fe, NM for a year right after college graduation (Northwestern Univ in Chicago)! I like to go biking, family hiking, take the train to Chicago, play neighborhood pick-up baseball and poker, draw and write poetry, advocate for progressive politics (living min. wage, etc), volunteer at school, and cook. My dad had a massive stroke 6 years ago so I'm in the "sandwich" of caring for my parents and my kids at the same time.