Trip to Minnesota -- My annual sojourn to visit family and friends also included my nephew Joshua's high school graduation party. It was a mostly relaxing 11 days, though it required the usual rushing to try to see everyone at least once. I didn't entirely succeed at that, so I'm glad that I'll be back again for a second visit in September. I had quality time jogging Phalen, Round and Keller Lakes with my brother, hanging out with his family and helping my mother play with her computer, but otherwise, the time spent with other relatives and friends was short shifted. See details about some of these folks below.
Visits by out-of-town friends -- I was visited this summer by three good friends, Michael Milendorf (from Boston, originally from Leningrad, USSR), Jaroslav Cempirek (from the Czech Republic) and Yoly Caprow (from Phoenix, originally from San Diego). It was really great to see them! Michael and I spent a lot of time checking out the National Gallery and local restaurants. Jaroslav was particularly impressed by the Halocaust Museum and enjoyed doing the city by bicycle. It had been six years since Yoly and I got together, so we had a lot to catch up on.
Screen on the Green -- Beneath the Washington Monument, now covered artistically in scaffolding, thousands of people gathered on Monday nights to see some classic movies on a big screen. It was a great venue to sit under the stars next to the brilliantly lit monument and share a collective experience with perhaps 6000 people or more as we sat on the grass and watched Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, Citizen Kane, King Kong and Rebel Without a Cause. I've never heard so many people sing together "We're off to see the wizard". The only thing is that with this summer's drought and water rationing in some parts of this region, the Screen on the Green might have been more accurately described as the Frown on the Brown. I also checked out loads of other movies this summer, often in order to seek refuge from the heat. Click to see my recent movie reviews, excluding the classics named above.
Other doings --
-- a road trip with friends Steve, Janet and Carol to Montpelier, Virginia to check out the home of James Madison, American patriot and fourth U.S. President.
-- viewing outdoor concerts by the National Symphony and other performers.
-- there is no better place to be on the planet on July 4th than Washington DC!
The very bad news: The one very tragic downer of the summer (who needs even one?) was that my uncle Ted Wybierala had a stroke, and is currently unable to use any part of the right side of his body. The prognosis for possible improvement is unclear, but for now, it's going to be quite a struggle for him and his family to adapt to the new reality. I've been off their radarscope much of the time in recent years (as I lived in DC and St. Louis, while they continue in Minnesota), but when I was around them more, Ted, Patsy and their kids often seemed like a second family to me, and however distant we are now, they are deep within my heart and psyche. Aside from bringing the family together, the one very good thing to come out of this is that Ted and Patsy have both quit smoking (so far, so good). Their daughter Tammy also quit not long ago.
If a stroke was not enough tragedy for one family in a month's time, Tammy's husband Jeff also recently lost his eyesight due to diabetes. He is going through operations to see what, if anything, can be done to restore some of his sight.
Now the good news:
I am proud of my nephew Joshua (18), who graduated from high school recently and received multiple awards for academics and his volunteer efforts. He is now attending to Century Junior College in Maplewood, Minnesota. Likewise, my other nephew and nieces are doing well. Joel (15) has been working many hours at Burger King this summer. Rachel (12) went with her softball team to the national championships in Indiana. Sarah (23) has been bopping all around the national parks of the southwest with her friends lately, and returns to the University of Minnesota this fall as a senior, majoring in Journalism with a communications and public relations focus.
My brother Dale and sister-in-law Lynn both changed jobs this summer for roles that were either more challenging, more rewarding or more convenient. Meanwhile, they have been doing a lot of home improvement type activities. Lynn got through her multiple operations (involving various female matters) amazingly well. She has a helluvalot more courage than I would ever have. Several of her coworkers very kindly donated leave for her recovery time at home.
My mother keeps busy with politics, fighting for our rights while trying to keep those bloody politicians honest. Meanwhile, she messes with the computer, prepares big meals for the family and trys to take time to relax and enjoy retirement. Ben enjoys getting out occasionally to visit old acquaintances or to play cribbage at the Moose Lodge.
I only had a very short visit with my father, who seems to be doing well -- continuing to work by finding businesses that want to place ads in hotel room brochures. He also works doing invoices for my stepbrother Rich occasionally on weekends. My dad's wife Sue also seems to be getting past some earlier concerns about the possible reoccurance of her breast cancer.
COMING UP NEXT QUARTER:
Another trip to Minnesota and a trip to the Middle East -- plus Y2K!
Check in and let me know what's up with you. You can contact me by clicking on this E-mail address: doman@tidalwave.net.
Review previous newsletters:
Dean's News Vol 2, No. 4, 06/01/99 -- Pacific Northwest
Dean's News Vol. 2, No. 3, 03/01/99 -- Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Dean's News Vol. 2, No. 2, 12/01/98 -- Germany, Poland and Czech Republic
Dean's News Vol. 2, No. 1, 09/01/98 -- A summer romance
Dean's News Vol. 1, No. 4, 06/01/98 -- New York City and Minnesota trips
Dean's News Vol. 1, No. 3, 03/01/98 -- Arizona and Colorado trip
Dean's News Vol. 1, No. 2, 12/01/97 -- Venezuela and Trinidad
Dean's News Vol. 1, No. 1, 09/01/97 -- Toronto and Niagara Falls
-- For those who may have missed my change of address: The new address is: Dean Oman, 1523 North 16th Road #1, Arlington, VA 22209. The telephone number remains the same: 703-524-7641. My email address is now: doman@tidalwave.net, although the old one doman@nicom.com should function through the remainder of this year. Likewise, my new web page address is: http://deanoman.com/index.htm.
Best wishes to all,
Deano