It's a Girl!

Celebrating all three of them home

When I was a financial advisor, clients would eagerly show me the latest photos of their grandchildren. I tried hard to be interested, but they could all sense that I wasn’t as enthusiastic about their new grandchild as they were. “Just wait,” they said. “You’ll get it when you have one of your own.” Well, guess what? I get it now.

Our first grandchild, Hazel Hampson-Kelemen, was born in London last Sunday, following a difficult 28-hour drama as Shanti’s husband, Alan, tried to keep his Australian parents and us appraised on What’s App. Hazel weighed 4 kg (8 lbs., 13 oz.), but spent her first few days in the NICU because of a buildup of meconium in her lungs. (BTW, Hazel is the name of Alan’s grandmother who had a huge role raising him as a boy.)

Hazel Hampson-Kelemen

Proud and happy parents, Shanti and Alan

Thursday was a big day, because all three of them now live as a family in their London flat. So, in all this doom and gloom, there are still moments of joy and beauty. And speaking of beauty, the first full day of spring is one for the record books in terms of beauty.

The Oregon State Capitol

Cherry blossoms and azaleas on the capitol mall 

Unlike so many people who are going to be physically and financially devastated by the Covid 19 outbreak, we are merely inconvenienced. We’ve been social distancing with walks and bike rides, and pleasant unstructured time together. We feel as close as ever and are making more effort to check in on others and find humor wherever we can.

I’m enjoying even more creative time in the kitchen and playing/practicing more on my electronic drum set. Kathy is busy knitting baby stuff and with a lot of technology/computer/video conferencing things for Assistance League. And we’re both probably spending too much time online and watching the news, but every now and then, we find something hilarious or heartwarming. The reality of a quarantine will really hit home for us when we start cleaning our closets, the sock drawers, the spice cabinet, and some old files in the den. Meanwhile, we have enough toilet paper, rice, beans, soap, chocolate, and alcohol to see us through, and we hope you do, too.

So those are our bright spots, circa DCV (During Corona Virus). What about BCV?

Well, it was fun while it lasted. Ever since we returned from Sri Lanka on Feb 4, our lives have been full of typical winter activities: Pilates, kettle bell, and group workouts, drum lessons, Rotary, Assistance League, Capital Manor board, socializing, wine tastings, fund raisers, and the 70th Annual Salem First Citizen Awards banquet, where our good friend (and my successor) Brenna was named Salem’s Outstanding Young Professional. (We’re so proud of her. Click Here to see a short-but fun  video intro to the evening.)

Brenna, Salem's Outstanding Young Pro of the Year
with husband Ben and us.  We clean up well.

In between all of that, we went to Breckenridge Colorado for five days to celebrate my 69th birthday with daughter Skyler and Spencer, her boyfriend for the past 12 years. His family lives there, so we had some unbelievable meals and some outstanding snowboarding. I can’t believe I held up for three full days on the slopes at 11,000 feet altitude. Maybe I will make it to age 70 and beyond as a snowboarder, albeit slower and off the double diamond runs.

Breckenridge, Colorado

With Skyler, my 33-year old  snowboard bud.  We started learning 

together in 1998.  Over all these years with our various injuries and

surgeries, we're still matched for speed, ability, and egging each

other on.

Hang in there. Be kind. Be generous. Keep distant—but connected.

“What We Can, While We Can”