Text Box:   A New Generation of Smiths!

Text Box: Smith Family Newsletter May  2008 -1

Text Box: The last picture to the right represents our first trip back to NY since our departure in June of ‘02.  It was a happy occasion, and gave our family an opportunity to get together to celebrate  the lives of our two grandchildren, Tim and Lana.  Each took a different path.  Tim chose  a hands on approach to life up front, with educational pursuits later.  Lana chose to delve right into the academic pursuits and move into the work force more slowly.    Timothy is now 23 years old and working with his father In New Haven, CT.  They both work for Applied Spine Technologies, a company that has given people with limited spinal movement a new lease on life.  Dad is Sr. Quality Assurance Technician, and has been working with this company ever since he moved there in 2005.  Tim connected with his dad, while they were both still in Texas and decided to move to CT with him when Tom changed jobs. Even though he started working right away, he still didn’t know what he wanted to do for a career.  Tim frequented his father’s place of employment which gave him an opportunity to see professional people at work. He watched his father make significant contributions as part of a highly specialized team of professionals.  Tim apparently made a very good impression on the people at his dad’s job, because when the job position of  Operations Technician opened up, he applied and  got it.  Career wise, this was a big step in the right direction.  He is working very hard, learning new things every day, and  is even beginning to talk seriously about going to College.  There is no doubt in my mind that he  will continue to make a meaningful contribution to our world.  We can’t be happier with the way he has grown up!   Lana will be 21 in October, and a Junior at St. John’s University in Jamaica Queens, NY.  When I watch Lana’s progress I feel I am watching a flower bloom, in slow motion!  Her career goals are a little unclear yet, but this has not slowed her down academically.  She has ended her fourth semester with a 4.0 and her GPA is 3.56.  This was only part of her education!  The last two years has been a course in Life 101.  I still remember the last anxious moments before our whole family left her on campus to begin her new life in August of ’06.  By the end of Freshman year, I noticed a certain maturity developing.  She moved into an apartment off campus, but close to the University, with friends.  She appeared to be the leader of her group of friends, finding the apartment and actually moving in.  Things seemed to be going well, until one morning at the end of February, when her apartment house caught fire.  She grabbed her cat and ran out saving her self, but loosing most of her stuff.  She knew well, how lucky she was!  This was in the middle of the school year, which again meant she needed to find a new place to live, and relocate which she did, without missing a beat!  Lana continues to have an interest in math and computers, with a possible application in cyber crime or some area of criminal justice.  There is no doubt that she is climbing the ladder of success!.        

Text Box:  The pictures above include one taken at St. John’s University when Lana moved in on campus in August of ‘06.  I love this picture of the three of us! Everyone is so happy!  The picture of Lana is the one on her campus ID and the one of her brother was taken in Texas, before he moved to CT with his father.  If the youth in this country are anything like our grandchildren, this world will be in good hands.  I see two young people growing into two mature young adults, taking responsibility for their actions, for themselves, and striving to be the best people they can be.  What more can we as grandparents and parents ask for?  I can’t tell you how proud Bob & I are of them both!

Text Box: Smith Family Newsletter May  2008 - 2

Text Box:   May In Myrtle Beach

Text Box: May in Myrtle Beach means motorcycles.  There are two rallies in May.  First is the Harley Davidson Rally which goes on for about ten days.  Then, over the Memorial Day Weekend, is the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.  The first rally seemed to have bigger bikes with older riders and the atmosphere was filled with the typical Harley bike ‘roars’!  The noise level was quite high as there probably was at least a hundred thousand bikers in town.  The second bike event was mostly younger riders, on what we refer to as ‘crotch rockets, and there was a distinct high pitched ‘whine’ sound.  The smaller bikes had a tendency to ride faster and weave in and out of traffic more.   Having been bike riders in our not so recent past, we kind of enjoyed walking through the various vendor tents, looking at the new bikes and people watching.  It was not unusual for people from the campground to take chairs up to the main road in the evening and watch the bikes go up and down the highway.  Each morning there were both positive and negative editorials and comments in the morning paper.  Some ‘locals’ barely put up with the perceived inconvenience.   By the end of May the weather took a warm turn and Bob & I finally took to the beach armed with our swim suits and chairs.  The water was warm.  The Carolina beaches really are beautiful!  The difference between our off season visits and now is the number of people on the beach, and the absence of the larger birds like the Pelicans that frequent these areas in the winter. This is the year that the beaches get a ‘face lift’, but it doesn’t appear that this will start until August.  They will lay pipe to transport sand from off shore on to the beach.    Then there are Saturday mornings and breakfast with Pat  & Roger. As I mentioned in the April newsletter, we inherited this job from Paul & Angie.  Pat & Roger have been putting out a breakfast for the campground on Saturday mornings for the past 10 years or so.  They live here in a park model along the Inter Coastal Waterway.  Roger loves to cook and it is he who decides what will be served each Saturday morning.  It is usually all you can eat pancakes with some arrangement of sausage, bacon and eggs.  Except for the first Saturday, my job has been to cook the sausage or bacon.  When I get home after cooking 200 sausages, my cats follow me around the motor home because of the aroma I carry!  Bob is the server, bringing the prepared food to the tables.  Roger is in charge of the eggs and pancakes.  There is usually another couple helping as well, which changes from week to week.  We never know how many people will show, so as people show up, we can hear Roger ask, “How many did you say?”, as he starts pouring batter on the grill.  Pat gives out the cups of juice and keeps track as orders back up.  In between Pat & Roger will get into a little ‘tiff’ over the count.  Then Bob, chimes in with “ Now, now, Children!” and everyone laughs!  The money made goes to the campground activity fund.  We enjoy helping out.        

Text Box: The first two pictures at top of column are from Bike Week, as Bob & I walked around checking out many of the custom bikes.  The next four pictures  are of Bob & I working the Saturday Breakfasts here in the Briarcliffe RV Resort, along with Roger & Pat.  On this particular day, Roger is making French toast.  We had 76 people on this Saturday.     When we pulled in, neither the flowers nor the wall were  there.  The weeds had taken over the grass and a portion of the patio.  The patio was about six or more inches lower than the wall of dirt.  I looked at that, and decided I didn’t want to look at that for two months.  I thought I would get a few rocks to push the dirt back and a few flowers near the light post.  Before, I knew it, I was at Lowes buying about 20 interlocking edging blocks, flowers, a watering can, and some mulch.  Might as well do it right!  Since then, I have been enjoying the view!