H-XM-1999

Christmas 1999 Greetings to All

We hope this finds each of you enjoying good health and a good life. There is something special about this time of year. It begins with a bit of Bah Humbug, coming so soon after Thanksgiving. Then the "Holiday Spirit" seems to slowly soak in, and we go through a transformation. I believe the "spirit" enters our being though memories from the past – especially those precious ones of childhood – when all the world was a marvelous wonder. My, but we were fortunate to grow up where there were many aunts, uncles, cousins and a winter season. Where the sky held clear crisp stars in a dark blanket over fresh snow – the joy of riding sleds, and making snow men – the images are many and varied. It was a period of hard times, but we children were oblivious and convinced nobody had it better. I chose "Old English" font in red for the title. Images of English Christmas settings have been handed down to us, as well as Santa dressed in Red – with such a heading the letter seems off to a good start.

Darrell and Mary at 19th BG reunion Cincinnati OH 50th Wedding Anniversary Sept 18 1999

This was a special year because it was our 50th wedding anniversary. September 18th happened to fall at the time we were at the 19th BG reunion in Cincinnati, OH. Monica and Bryan took us to get our pictures taken – mother held her mouth right but I forgot to shut my mine!!

Bryan, Monica, Darrell, Mary, Julia and JR; David and Mary could not make it.

Our kids sent greetings and gifts of remembrance to us at the 19th BG reunion in Cincinnati; and part of us got together for a dinner upon our return. I wrote a "trip report" about our 19th BG reunion, illustrating events with photos.

That trip was even more special because sister Marjorie, Mary’s playmate and classmate through grade and high school, joined us for a trip to Washington DC. That part too, was the subject of a trip report – still in the works.

I'm becoming convinced we should mail a CD as a Christmas Card, so we can share photos of the years events with you. Most of you have computers and all can have access by asking a friend to show you "your card". I'll set this up so you can brows the CD as if browsing the internet -- you can click your way forward and back. (Note: This has been converted to .HTM format for Intranet viewing from a CD.)

Late 1998 we had the large Carob tree in the front yard cut down and the old man in the photo worked up many a sweat using a chain saw to slice it up. He has since lost 40 lb by avoiding carbohydrates. More recently, Julia followed the same path and has lost 25 lb.

Carob wood has a texture similar to walnut with almost white sap wood and redish brown core wood. It's beauty was the reason for all the effort. I used chain, large sabre, band, hand saws plus planer, shaper, bench saw to convert awkward chunks to 6" thick segments that could be aligned and sliced into boards. In the process I burned out the motor in the planer. Below is a Table-Bookcase with ends made from many small Carob boards. Biscuits were used when gluing edges together. Counter sunk wall board screws were used to hold book shelves, then the holes filled with Carob plugs -- what looks like rivets are the plugs. The top is from a desk started some 20 years ago and never finished -- all the wood is from our yard. I also used some of the wood to finish a desk for the Patio computer – it has beautiful Carob pull out writing boards.

There are book shelves on both sides with drawers pulling out from one side.

The patio enclosure has a double pane sliding door at each end and two large double pane sliding windows on the side and one on the end. The outside material is compositions board, which at first I didn’t like but was to find much better than I thought. It’s tough stuff and will last a long time – and is unappetizing to termites.

This much was completed when we went to KS for our Bobbitt family reunion. While we were in KS the ceiling was being put up.

While the patio was being enclosed I made a shelf system above my computer desk. This was a big help by lifting scanners, printer, switch boxes, power boxes and hubs out of the way. What you see are two Pentium II computers with two 17" monitors with the computers interconnected. These connect to two computers on the enclosed patio, Mary's below left and mine below right. These connect to the machines inside for a 4 computer LAN hook up. Phone and TV cable also run to each of the four machines. We can watch TV or DVD discs from any station location.

Each of the above boxes hold archive material covering a specific program. Those shown cover F84F at GM KC, Navaho, Minuteman I, II & III. These hold the source material for documents with text and photos now on CD. These are destined to go to the Oberlin Museum. The see through containers permit seeing photos of what is inside, and the end shows an index page of content. These need not be opened as the content has been saved on CD ROM. 

Left is Mary's patio computer. Right is the Patio computer with entertainment and photo transfer options.

From here Mary's been emailing the kids and Marjorie. All the computers are connected

The patio ceiling is pine strips painted with satin finish clear Varathane. Mary's 70th Dec 4, 1999, was celebrated at home with Monica and Bryan

Two of Mary's paintings, left 1999 2nd prize, right 1998 1st prize at Garden Grove Art Guild

Mary and others gathered on the patio to make decorations for their Gold Brush Award’s Dinner.

We stopped at the Oberlin Museum and scanned these 18__ photos. Above was take near Trar, KS

This is two photos spliced together, photo taken NE of Oberlin

Unfortunately not all went well -- sister Phyllis Brown and cousins Caroline Sixbury and Diann Simpson passed away. Cousin Eilene Laird took the photo of the stone George had set up for Phyllis.

Phyllis Landau Brown 1999

We should end this letter on a happy note.

This is a copy of Julia Comstock & Francis Bobbitt’s marriage certificate.

The Bobbitt Cousins, descendants of the above union, gathered in Oberlin the summer of 1999, to recall times of youth. A separate photo file has been prepared covering that event.

A Happy New Year to All