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DEAN'S QUARTERLY NEWLETTER, Vol. 9, No. 3, 03/01/2006

HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS OF WINTER 2006:

Visits to Minnesota in December:

The death of my uncle, Ted Wybierala, from kidney failure (as a complication from a stroke six years ago) brought me back to Minnesota in December to attend the funeral. I’ve spent a lot of time with the Wybierala family over the years, and I know it certainly hasn’t been easy for my aunt Pat and cousins Lauri, Mike, Mitch and Tammy to struggle and cope with the loss. It’s been a very long winter for them.

Aunt Pat asked me to sing at the funeral – Amazing Grace and Follow Me. Ted and Pat had always been the most enthusiastic supporters of my music, so of course I would do it. Keeping my composure as I sang and faced the family was probably one of the more challenging tasks I’ve ever undertaken -- a task made somewhat easier by being positioned mercifully distant from their direct eyesight.

Though my uncle’s death made December a deeply sad and solemn time, it was also an opportunity to feel warm in the company of my family. My brother, his family and I took my mother out for her 75th birthday (with cousin Glen). My father and I got together a couple times. (He turned 75 in January). My stepfather Ben and I played cribbage several times at his nursing home. These were far more pleasant moments in an otherwise difficult week.

Visit to Apache Junction, Arizona and San Diego, California in January: My mother and I relaxed at her winter retreat in the Arizona desert, joined by her cousins Glenn, Wayne and Wayne’s wife Ferral, who own the property next door. We enjoyed daily walks and the desert scenery in the shadow of Superstition Mountain.

From Apache Junction, I flew to San Diego to visit my good friend Hatem and his new wife Ismet. I met Ismet briefly at their wedding in August 2004, but this was our first real opportunity to become acquainted. Ismet is from Pakistan originally, and spoils all of their guests with her Indian cooking – lucky Hatem! They both seem lucky to have found each other.

Otherwise, the winter was mild and uneventful. The College Perk Coffee House has become my second home. I feel I fit in with the assorted collection of regulars and eccentrics that hang out there.

Recommended movies: I haven’t seen many movies lately, but the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line ***1/2 and the tragic documentary about poverty and environmental destruction in Africa Darwin’s Nightmare *** are both quite worthwhile. Movie Review Page (No reviews have been added since spring 2005)

My address in Maryland: Telephone numbers:

Dean Oman Home: 301-931-1144

10405 46^th Ave., Apt. A204 Work: 301-504-2317

Beltsville, MD 20705

For those wishing to visit Washington DC, my new location is not nearly as convenient as my old place, which was within easy reach of all the attractions. Still, friends and family are always welcome, and my new apartment is larger and more comfortable than others I have had.

COMING UP NEXT QUARTER (Spring): Trip to Arizona and California

Check in and let me know what’s up with you.
You can contact me by clicking on this E-mail address: mailto:%20mail@deanoman.com.

Review previous newsletters:

Autumn 05 – Dean’s News Vol 9, No. 2, 12/01/05 – Minnesota, Toronto, Boston

Summer 05 – Dean’s News Vol 9, No. 1, 09/01/05 – Washington, Oregon and Northern California

Spring 05 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 4, 06/01/05 – Joshua and Dean’s Great European Adventure

Winter 05 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 3, 03/01/05 – Minnesota and Bahamas

Autumn 04 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 2, 12/01/04 – Boston, Orlando, plus new digs in Beltsville, Maryland

Summer 04 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 1, 09/01/04 – Toronto, Minnesota, San Diego, Chicago

Spring 04 – Dean’s News Vol 7, No. 4, 06/01/04 – Italy, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, New York City

Winter 04 – Dean’s News Vol 7, No. 3, 03/01/04 – Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Arizona

Autumn 03 -- Dean's News Vol 7, No. 2, 12/01/03 -- Minnesota

Summer 03 -- Dean's News Vol 7, No. 1, 09/01/03 -- California and Toronto

Spring 03 -- Dean's News Vol 6, No. 4, 06/01/03 – Minnesota, Boston

Winter 03 -- Dean's News Vol 6, No. 3, 03/01/03 – Arizona, California and Colorado

Best wishes to all,

Deano

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