Monday Memories

From May 1995:

Dear Family,

Well, it's sure good to hear from all of you again. In these times where everything and everyone seems to be pulling families apart, we need something like the newsletter to bring us closer together.

Well, things here in Portland, Oregon are pretty much the same. All except the weather that is. It's like someone is spinning the "Wheel of Weather". One day it is 75 degrees and sunny, the next it hails. It is still snowing in the mountains and even the foothills. Go figure. We've stopped trying to rotate our wardrobe according to the seasons. We keep packing and unpacking. It is nice to have seasons again though. The little glimpses of summer are promising.

Work for the most part is the same. Michelle's job is getting very busy with the Summer fast approaching. My work recently sponsored one of the largest fundraisers in Oregon. All the proceeds went ot the Doernbeckers Children's Hospital. That was a neat experience. We were in charge of a game booth while a silent auction was being held. Then we went to the oral auction following dinner. They had some of the children from the hospital that have been helped. It was neat to see exactly what can happen as a result of the hospital and donations. Boy, did it pull at the heart strings though. Overall, it was a really neat experience.

Michelle has been taking Golf lessons recently and enjoying them immensely. The first set is a beginners class and next month she will start the intermediate classes. Hopefully she will get really good and can support us! She is practicing so that the next time Dad visits, she can give him a run for his money.

Well recently we decided to try out our parenting skills....No, Michelle is not pregnant. We are however, the proud parents of 8 baby Siberian Hamsters. And yes, we are painfully aware of how fast they BREED!!!! We are on our third litter in two months!!! Why Hamsters you may ask? Well, our landlord pretty much said-small, caged animals only. That ruled out a Malamute or English Mastiff. The hamsters just looked so cute at the pet store. Now, we are not so sure. Two=cute. Ten=Insanity!

We are getting excited for the months ahead. Michelle has a friend from Hawaii coming up to Oregon to get married in May. Then in June we are going to see Yanni in concert. We are really excited about that. Then in July we are going to see the Broadway musical "Miss Saigon". Finally in August, Mom and Dad and Michelle's family are all coming to visit. For those of you who have seen our house, no, they won't all be staying with us. Michelle's grandparents live just up the street in a big house. They will be staying there.

We had a neat experience the other day at the temple. We met a couple from Hawaii. Michelle noticed the sisters Hawaiian jewelry (of course). After we started talking to them we found out that the man was the brother of Patriarch Kamahaua (not sure about the spelling), who was in the Kailua wards some seven years ago. Anyway he had given Michelle her patriarchal blessing. They are here serving a mission. Small world, huh?

As for myself, I am still working and taking a class to certify with the state for my job. When I finish that, I will start taking a few night classes starting in June at the community college. I have also been helping Michelle with her golf and enjoying the relaxation it can bring.

That is about it for this Gleed family. We think about you all often. We hope to see some of you this summer. We love and miss you all!

Note: So clearly the golf thing didn't pan out! And the hamsters? Why didn't I remember that pets are a lot of work before we got the dog?