Watley 2014-2015-2016 FAQ's
OK, this is it. I'm doing a Christmas letter. And I'll try to answer all your many questions about our riveting life... :)
1. Why haven't you done a Christmas letter in two years?
Fair questions. In 2014 I was diagnosed with a recurrence of that pesky breast cancer--same type of cancer, same spot on my body. I had six rounds of chemo, different drugs and they were really, really tough. We followed that with a bilateral mastectomy. So, basically, that year I was just bone tired. (BTW--I'm doing well now and can do pretty much anything I want to do, though I do have to ration my energy levels a bit.)
Last year, well, life just got busy and I didn't feel it.
2. Where have you travelled for vacations?
In 2014 Loy and I fulfilled a dream of mine--to visit St. Kitt's Island in the Caribbean. Our friends, Steve and Phyl, joined us at a beachside house with a pool. It was such a nice time! Walking the beach, reading on the verandah, driving on the wrong side of the road. We actually stayed on Nevis, the sister island, where they chain up their cows and let their dogs and chickens and goats run loose.
In 2015 we took the whole family to Estes Park, CO, where we rented a house with a pool. Everyone was able to be there for at least part of the week. We hiked, mini-golfed, rode bikes, and swam lots in the heated pool. .
In 2016 Loy and I have been on sabbatical, but our vacation was probably the trip to Door County, WI. Another cottage on the beach with trees and calm and peace. (Getting a theme to our vacations?)
We also took AMTRAK out to Portland, OR, just because. We had always wanted to take a cross country train trip, so we just did it. Train travel is nice. The train staff actually treat you well! We got a sleeper car (which includes all meals in the dining room) and read and napped and road the 32 hours away. It was fun.
3. What exactly does one DO on sabbatical?
Wesleyan has a very generous sabbatical program. Every sixth year a professor can take a year off to do something that will benefit the university. It could be writing a book or taking classes or doing research. Loy teaches Business Communication, which is a rapidly changing area, with Facebook and Twitter and email. So he is interviewing three groups of people: recent employed alums to ask what they wished they had learned before working, people who hire these recent grads to ask what they wish the new hires knew, and professors who teach Business Communication to see how they teach the class. After all this research, he will revamp the NWU curriculum. Basically we have picked out places we've wanted to visit and gone there. There are NWU alums almost everywhere!! So far we've hit Detroit, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Huddersfield, Portland, Albuquerque, Washington, DC, Omaha, Lincoln, and Phoenix will be right after Christmas.
4. What's all this about Kitt going back to school?
Yep. I am currently taking social work classes at NWU. I'm not sure if I will complete a second bachelor's degree, but the classes are very interesting. I've had to write about a zillion papers on different topics, given presentations, written my obituary, and shadowed a social worker in a nursing home. My dream would be to have a part-time job in medical social work, preferably with elderly or low-income people.
5. How are Loy's parents?
Loy's dad lives in a very nice memory care facility in Sioux Falls, SD. It is heart-breaking to go visit him as he can no longer speak or walk unassisted or feed himself. He is as ornery as ever, though! He keeps all the staff on their toes with frequent falls out of his recliner and being compelled to walk even when he needs help. Dolores visits him most every day and takes good care of him.
6. Where are all your kids?
Alexis and Corey live in Papillion, NE. She is still an actuary with Aetna and loves her spreadsheets and analyses. Crazy girl. Corey always has a few irons in the fire. He is still working on civilizing the 40 acres of land they own in the Loews Hills.
Grant and Angela and our three sweeties (Payton, 4, Carter, 3, and Jaxson, 1) still live in Sioux Falls. Grant resigned from his coaching position and is now working at the 605 Running Company, the shoe store the three boys own. He still gets his coaching fix by coaching people/teams for marathons. Angela stays at home and deals with the littles. She's the calmest mommy I've ever known!
Logan and Jenna are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Baby W, a new little Watley girl due to be born on January 17. Logan works at Javlin in Omaha as a CPA. Jenna still teaches 4th grade at West Dodge Station Elementary.
Paul still lives in Dallas and is the Digital Marketing Specialist for the Salvation Army of Texas. He asked his sweetie, Beth Solomon, to marry him and a wedding is planned for June 2017. Beth teaches 5th grade and we love her.
Luke, 11, still gets to come visit us every month or so and we love to host him. He's gotten so tall and skinny!! He loves sports, especially running. He's always got a plan to become a scientist or an inventor or a sports star.
7. What's up with moving to a lake?
Loy's dream is to live on the water. He would really prefer the ocean, but I have mileage limits so that I can see the kids and grands. So, we found a house on a sandpit lake just north of Ashland, NE, and moved very quickly to live the dream. Ashland is just about exactly halfway between Lincoln and Omaha--30 minutes or so each way--so we can commute to jobs or kids easily. I am not above buying a lake house to lure my kids to visit!!
8. What is your new address?
679 Serenity Pointe, Ashland, NE 68003
Email: kew1019@gmail.com
Cell phone: 402-309-9479.
9. Can we come visit?
Definitely!!! We would love to have you come visit!! Just give us a call!!
We hope you have a very blessed Christmas filled with family and friends and laughter!!
Love,
Loy and Kitt.
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