In a year that has moved us all to appreciate those we love, we’re grateful to find so many treasured friends and family members in our lives. And in a time scarred by memories of loss, we are honored by the gift of life that we have been given. We’re expecting a baby next summer!

We had planned an extensive trip to Laos and Cambodia for this month. However, because of the terrorism that occurred, we cancelled our trip and decided move forward with our plan to become parents.  We were surprised and thrilled when we learned that we had become pregnant immediately (due in late June 2002).

In October we spent a week in a beach house on Kauai, Hawaii, with friends.  It was a great chance to get away from Silicon Valley, to reconnect, and relax. We stayed in the quiet town of Hanalei Bay, which Chris has decided is Heaven on Earth.

While on Kauai, we had a chance to backpack the famous Na Pali trail, (a ten-year goal for Pat). After 23 miles of up and down on slippery, eroding mud, we concluded that it was a damn hard trail! At one point the obnoxious tourist helicopters started to look like a good way home. In our delirium we may have even tried to wave one down. Seriously though, this is an incredibly beautiful part of the world that can be seen only on foot, with secluded beaches, waterfalls, and guava trees. It was so worth it.

Chris’ brother, John got married this summer in Boulder Colorado, where he’s a professor. We took this as a chance to spend some time with family.  Boulder is in the Rockies so we were able to hike every day. To cool down after our hikes, we went inner tubing in the creek that runs through town.  We LOVE Boulder because everyone has a dog!

Due to last year’s sale of the company that I co-founded, I’ve been able to take a break for a while. I finally had a chance to work on all those projects that have been lurking for the last ten years. 

I spent a lot of my time working in my garden.  This year I was able to work in the garden as it grew through all of its phases.

I’ve also had a chance to complete the design for our house remodel to make room for baby. 

This has been a great time for me, I’m considering what I will do next; I have time to do the things I love; I have time to hike every day; I waste lots of time playing with the dog.  All this relaxation aside, I plan to be back at work some time in the near future.

I feel lucky to be pregnant; now is a good time. I’m also grateful that the nerve pain in my arms has improved dramatically in the last year.  This summer, I received 6 months of intravenous antibiotic treatment to ensure that the Lyme Disease I had as a child was gone.  It’s possible that this treatment contributed to my improvement, but more likely it is that I have learned to respect my limitations. Limiting my daily activities keeps my nerve pain from flaring up. 

Fun things that I’ve been doing…

I’ve become a volunteer mediator for the city of Mountain View.  When residents have disputes, I assist in resolving them.  Also Molly and I make regular visits to local convalescent homes as a part of the “Furry Friends” pet therapy program.