Another year, another pile of memories. It’s been a big year, especially for the “kids”. You can find all sorts of info on their goings on if you find them on social media such as Facebook or Instagram. To summarize:

Rio graduated from UGA this month and the future spreads before him – an open book. His degree is in Biology, but he also got a Music Business certificate. His initial goal is to focus on music both as a player and as an engineer. He is playing in a couple of bands and works on some personal projects as well. He is living with a few friends, but as I write this, he is in our basement wailing on the drums.

Anise will graduate in May 2016 so she has been going through the medical school application process. She has had several interviews and already has an offer to attend Mercer University in Macon. We’re not sure what she will do yet. She has also been deeply involved in Asura, the UGA Bollywood Fusion dance group she has been in for a few years. They travel all over the country for competitions. She has also been active in Freedom University, an alternative educational opportunity for undocumented students as well as other related groups. She has also been working at the Black Fly Lab, the Psychology Department Lab and volunteering as an interpreter at a free clinic. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in Spring.

Savanna graduated from high school where she was honored as Athlete of the Year. She lettered all four years in Cross Country, Soccer and Swimming. She was Captain of all three teams her Senior year. She then enrolled in UGA this fall. All three of the kids were at UGA for one semester! She has been working at local landmark Cali N Tito’s and worked as a lifeguard at the YW and Green Acres. She has already changed her major once in her first semester, so the future is still wide open.

Akemi, of course, plays tennis as much as time allows. Her high level of play keeps her in high demand. She had to cut back some as she took a 3/4 time job working at a Japanese trading company earlier in the year. She is getting good training in accounting and other administration functions. So, new job – new car. Picked up a new Honda Civic Coupe. Pretty sharp.

Other than work, I have become an even crazier cycling fanatic. The 2015 goal was 5000 miles which was passed in November. That has prompted a 6000 mile goal for 2016. Still swimming on other days or going skiing, though that dropped off more this year. Hope we can pick it back up next year. Was elected President of the Green Acres Pool and dealing with all sorts of issues with that responsibility, though it is all worth it when I can swim outdoors in the summer. Motorcycle projects plod along in fits and spurts as do all my myriad interests and unfinished projects.

This summer, Rio, his dog Marlo and I drove out to Colorado for some mountain climbing and camping. We did a warm up three day trip in the mountains behind Vail. Beautiful solitude. Then we did a one day ascent of Mt. Massive, the second highest peak in Colorado and third in the contiguous US. Pictures elsewhere on this site. In between we stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in Denver. After the first week, Akemi flew in and joined us for a series of less strenuous day hikes to Red Rocks, RMNP, etc.

So now, we are empty nesters, though having all three kids in town means we get to see them frequently. Otherwise, it is pretty quiet around here – except for the cat – Haku. He had some kind of accident that we can only surmise about. It is a “tail pull injury” that has caused his tail to lose function. He also temporarily lost other functions which caused a couple weeks of anxiety and treatment until he came right. He is a lot less keen on going outside now, so whatever happened to him has made him extra cautious and more of a homebody.

Best wishes to all of you for 2016. May it be even better than 2015 in every way!