Another Grandbaby coming

Just wanted to let you all know that my daughter Dawn is expecting again. This came as a surprise to us but Dawn and her Husband are very excited about having another baby. This will make their third. Chance is now five and will be starting kindergarden in August. Kennedy is now three and thinks she is the princess of the family. Needless to say she is hoping for another brother so she can remain the princess. With Pat and Rita just having another boy I couldn't let Mike get ahead of me in Grand Children. Just kidding. Love Judi Frensley

ANDREW IS HERE!

Andrew Joseph Northen was born today - way ahead of schedule - at 8:11 AM in Paoli Hospital. He weighed in at four pounds, fourteen ounces and is nineteen inches long. Despite his small size, he is healthy and doing fine. Though he was not expected until mid-July, Rita was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia last week and the doctor decided that for the health of both mother and baby, Rita should be induced this morning. Though not ready to run a marathon just after childbirth, Rita was feeling reasonably well considering all she has been through these last few month pregnancy. Rita and Andrew plan to stay at the hospital for about three days. Meanwhile, Pat is making the rounds on the telephone to let everyone know the good news and convincing Connor that it is just about time for him to move into his new bedroom.

Poetry Contest Winner

Some say that late is better than never, so congratulations to Ed in being one of the winners in the annual Triton College Poetry Contest. Each spring Triton College in River Grove, Illinois sponsors a poetry contest in which three topics for poems are announced. The best poems on each topic are picked as winners and appear the next year in Ariel , the literary magazine that the college puts out. Ed entered his poems in March and found out at the beginning of May that one of his poems, “A Portent of Passing” was chosen. Here are the first few lines from the poem:

Standing in the doorway
My mother's body is thin
Frail as rice paper

Weakened by pneumonia
And eighty years of hardship
She survives her pilgrimage on faith

The entire poem will appear in Ariel XXIII which will appear in spring of 2006.

Race for the Cure

The Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure is a run that takes place annually in many major cities around the United States to raise money for breast cancer. It is widely participated in by women who are breast cancer survivors as well as those just trying to help raise money for the cause. In May of this year thousands in Philadelphia gathered around the famous art museum in rainy winter, many wearing the emblematic pink ribbons.

On June 4, Maura participated in Seattle incarnation of the race along with friends and co-workers. Though her picture does not appear among the race winners, she was able to raise over $100 for the cause. The Seattle race is reputed to be one of the tougher courses. It is great to have a family member represent us in such an important event. Thanks, Maura.

Trout Unlimited

Carmen and I recently attended a Idaho State council meeting for Trout Unlimited and she was elected Vice President for the State of Idaho. She has been president of the local chapter [Hemingway] for the last year so needless to say she is getting well entrenched in the conservation efforts.

Guide season has just opened so Carmen will be doing some guiding. The river is still quite high so it will be a fee weeks before Carmen gets any trips. The true season usually starts about July 1st.

-Ed

December in Argentina

Past Northen family vacations have been in Central Europe and the British Isles in the heat of August. This year’s will not only be in during the cooler part of the year but in South America. We are in the process of planning our next family vacation and it looks as though it will be to Argentina over Christmas vacation.

Maya is doing all of the research and contact work, but it looks as though we will probably be leaving Christmas night. First, we will be hitting the big city, Buenos Aires, and staying at the Marriott Hotel . Buenos Aires is both the capital and largest city in Argentina and it is also located in the east part of the country right across the bay from Uruguay for those who want to take a side trip. Next, we will be making a complete change of venue and go up to one of the most spectacular sites in Argentina – Cataratas del Iguazú or Iguazú Falls. Reported to make Niagara Falls look like it is standing still, Iguazú Falls is located in the tropical rain forest at the extreme north of Argentina, almost bordering on Paraguay and Brazil. There we will be staying at the Sheraton. We’ll be returning to Buenos Aires for New Years and then going on to a third and very different part of Argentina. This is the Mendoza in the famous wine country located in the far west of Argentina almost to the Andes and Chile. Here our hotel will be the Park Hyatt.

It should be an exciting trip. Maya is setting this up through Chimera Travel, so if you have any ideas, let her know.

Bronchitis Blues

Poor Rita can't catch a break. On top of an injured leg and pregnancy (with all its attendant discomforts), she had bronchitis over the Memorial Day weekend. Not only did she spend the holiday in bed but her birthday as well! Suffice it to say, a doctor was not be sound. Luckily, for Rita, she is due mid-July, so she won't have to wait much longer or go through the hottest part of the summer pregnant. For those who haven't heard, Pat and Rita will be having a boy and have already picked out a name - Andrew.