Keep the news coming! It is always great to stay in touch. I am just an email away. Some of us are staying in touch through Facebook, too. Thanks to Torie and Barb for sending their news. Torie Hoveman Seeger is still enjoying her work at the Research Foundation for The State Univ. of New York as program manager for childcare subsidy and licensing training projects. New York is working on a number of quality initiatives for child day care. The one she is involved with is the review and upgrading of the approval process for distance learning courses for child day care providers. Torie is on the board for the New York State Association for the education of young children currently serving as the recording secretary. The Seegers are working on retirement in the next year or so. That has been another learning experience in their life together as a couple; all for a positive outcome and well worth the challenges! Torie wrote, “With my Mom’s passing after Christmas last year and my second granddaughter’s birth just days later, this Christmas will be unique.”

Barbara Woolmington-Smith reported that their lives were turned upside down earlier this year when Craig ended up in the local intensive care unit with the flu and then double pneumonia. He was very, very sick, but due to being strong and healthy, he recovered fully and went back to work within 30 days. “We call it the local miracle! It was tough trying to make sure his needs were met, along with running the business by myself, but all my family and friends pitched in and helped me to the max. When they say, ‘it takes a village,’ I know the full meaning of the phrase! I have not been doing much modeling this year because of Craig’s illness and working longer hours at our management business.” Barb has been keeping up with her Etsy.com shop for hand knitted boutique baby clothes. Anyone who has a grandbaby please check it out: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BabywearbyBabs. Barb and Craig were planning a vacation in Key West this February to give them some time off to relax a little. The Smiths are hoping for retirement, but it is still a few years away. Larry and I visited Scott and Lois Vandermark Moore in November. Their daughter Sandy married Danny Ferucci in May 2012. It was a beautiful beach wedding on the Eastern Shore in Cape Charles, Va. I am busy with being second vice president of The Krewe of Les Gals in Pensacola, Fla. We celebrate Mardi Gras with a tea in January to welcome the newest members. The Les Gals Ball will be held in February 2013. It is so much fun! I am also a member of Pensacola Impact 100. It’s a philanthropic group of women who make an impact locally with grant money. Pensacola has the largest Impact group in the United States. Our daughter and son-in-law had our first grandson Jacob Lawrence Koppes on Oct. 5. Larry and I flew out to Seattle, Wash., for the happy occasion. We met up with Mike and Megen Mack Opsahl ’77 for lunch at a restaurant on Lake Washington. It was fun catching up on all the years after Hood with Megen and Mike. Our son and daughter-in-law are in the process of adopting our second granddaughter Chloe. She is darling and a very happy baby. As I write this column, my husband Larry is facing his third amputation of his right leg. He had surgery scheduled in early December 2012. Hopefully when this issue is published, Larry will be healed and getting fitted for a new leg! Wishing all the best in 2013!

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