2000
Merry Christmas 2000
It seems to be that time of year again. Time for the yearly
update of Sriner family events for family and friends.
During Easter break this year, we went to
Grayton Beach, Florida so we
could meet up with Krystal and her boyfriend, Mark. We spent a week on the beach
enjoying the Florida weather and sunsets. Ask the family about driving 60 MPH in
a 15 MPH zone to get to the beach for the last chance to see the sunset before
we all went our separate ways in the morning. We came North and they went back
to Orlando.
It was a sad parting as usual.
Is time speeding up, or are Pat and I just getting so old and slow that everything seems to be fast by comparison? We moved Krystal to Florida during the summer of ’99, but it seems like just last summer. Now that I think of it, it was just last summer but we weren’t moving her to Florida; we were moving her back from Florida. Looking back, I am getting frightened. The first time she moved, it was to a first floor dorm room. As years went by, she kept going up. By the fourth year, she was on the fourth floor and it was a walk-up. We got her moved home from college, and it was off to Florida. Before we were completely rested up, it was back to Florida to move her home to Illinois. She could only stand about a month of “Thursday night leftovers” before she knew she had to get her own place. Guess what? We moved her again! This time it was only four blocks away but it seemed like more because she is upstairs again! She is all settled in her apartment and her new job teaching 7th grade English at Franklin Middle School but she is already talking about moving again! If I know her, it will be a walk up mountain hideaway. And guess who gets to carry everything up the mountain? She is definitely a moving experience, but we are proud of her independence, even if she is still bringing home her laundry. But not on Thursday night! Leftovers.
Kim is in her own world either working on her computer
or giving someone at school a piece of her mind if not
the toe of her shoe!
The boys know not to tell any “women
belong in the home”
jokes around her.
Science Fair project
Last winter, she was awarded an “exceptional” in the school
science fair and a first place at the Regional. She moved on to the State
Competition in Champaign
where she received a second place!
We were certainly proud of her. We look forward to a repeat this year!
After a boundary change for the new middle schools, many of
the neighborhood kids had to transfer back to their old 6th grade
school even though we were within walking distance of
Franklin. Fortunately she was in
the gifted program which was centralized this year into Franklin.
Yes, there are two Miss Sriners at
Franklin Middle School! I think they both like having each other around. Kim is doing
well with all her classes and she is quickly nearing the end of my math
expertise. The gifted program is planning an 8th grade summer trip to
Orlando to visit some of
the educational sections of the theme parks. We think it is a great opportunity
but Kim is rather blasé considering all the time we have spent in Florida over
the last two years.
After more than ten years at SIU School of Medicine, Pat has
moved on to a secretarial job with the Secretary of State, Senior and Community
Services Department. The general atmosphere at SIU was getting worse all the
time and most of the long time employees had left. She hung in there longer than
everyone else. She likes her new job but says she doesn’t have enough to do. I
guess you just can’t win. I know I like being able to pick her up at
4:30 and not have to wait for 30
minutes while she finishes up something. Only time will tell how it goes. I
think it is a stepping-stone to another state job.
I am still inspecting homes, but with the soft real estate
market, I have had more time to work on my
web site. I love my
computer, but I was born just a little too early to get into it at the right
time. The kids today graduating in the computer fields have grown up with it.
They are the true computer age adepts. I just need to learn to quit tinkering,
but that is just my nature. I crash my computer on a regular basis but I am
getting better at resurrection. My web site is
www.housdoctor.com.
Last October we were able to be with my sister, Carol, and her
family at the baptism of “Tanner”, Mike and Kathy’s new baby. It was nice to get
together with the family. It isn’t until you get older that you realize how
important family is. Carol and Tanner below.
That brings us to the present. There have not been too
many changes unless you count moving, new jobs, state championships, vacations,
and a potential trip to
Florida.
Just about the same as last year! The biggest and best change has been having
the family together again. It is especially joyful at this
holiday season.
Below, Kim and Krystal decorating cookies on their “snow day.”
I hope this finds you all well. And may the joys of the season
carry throughout the coming new year. May good health and prosperity be with you
always.
With Love and Light,
The Sriners.
Dulany, Pat, & Kim
