Don and Kathy McIntyre’s Catch-up Christmas Letter

[See Photos Below!]

Because of unusual circumstances that crowded out various non-essentials, we haven’t sent one of these for a couple of years. The many significant changes that have taken place during that time are perhaps best symbolized by the fact that this letter has gone back to being from Don and Kathy only. Perhaps Blake and Trent will be starting their own Christmas letters soon.

Here is the news we thought might interest you most – kept to one page:We both lived in Southern Cal for almost two years. Then Kathy moved back to WA while Don stayed to teach Humanities a while longer at Los Angeles Harbor College. We are now both back in Gig Harbor, WA. Kathy has returned to her job at the hospital in Bremerton, and Don is now teaching online at DeVry University, and LAHC online soon.

Kathy still thrives in the ICU, and has gained some new training: in open heart surgery recovery nursing and a new certification as a critical care RN. Her preferred task is babysitting grandson Luke who fortunately lives a mere ten minutes away. Luke is 1 & 1/2 years old, calls Don “Pop Pop,” and still lives with his parents.

After talking about it for more than 30 years, we finally started learning ballroom dancing. Kathy is finally learning to follow. It’s pretty darn fun, made even more so by a new group of friends it has brought us.

Kathy’s mom is still sorely missed – two years in January.

Our infantryman Blake (26) is stationed nearby at Ft. Lewis, but will experience his first deployment in 2009. In the meantime he is finishing his degree courtesy of the Army. His fathering is a delight to watch. Luke is very fortunate in both the fathering and mothering department, and number 2 is now in the oven, that is, Lauren. July 4 is the expected date. Lauren is beautiful in every way - raising by several levels the status of the McIntyre name.

Trent, now 22, is a shipping manager at Evo, “the Seattle-based retailer/purveyor of skis, snowboards… and skate, wake and ski/snowboard culture” (From a recent article in Powder Magazine). It’s evidently a very hip work environment; Trent enjoys skateboarding around the warehouse with his workmates. But he has also been accepted to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, where his gifted musicianship would get a new level of training and sophistication, plus a college degree. Hopefully it will all workout.

Life is seldom free of troubles, and seldom without opportunities for joy. We hereby welcome to the family - Judy, Pa Klein’s warm, wonderful fiancé (!).We hope this letter finds you with sufficient joy.

Don and Kathy

Do you need our contact info? Just go to www.donmcintyre.com and send an email letting us know.