Shoesession

Catherine and I just returned from the airport. We sent Victoria back to her family in Germany. Her parents are having problems that everyone must be present to discuss. We knew as early as last year that they were having difficulties and seemed to be about to split. That's why Victoria asked Catherine if she could live with us. She did very well in her first quarter at university and her teachers love her. Several of her professors and schoolfriends were there to see her off.

Already we miss her terribly. We are hopeful that she will be back with us in the spring, once the issues at home have been sorted out. She was a great friend to our 4 year old daughter Karin. And when she returns, so will those delicious boots....

I guess we will not be seeing Victoria for awhile. After she returned to her mom in Germany, she took leave from her studies and enlisted in the military.

Catherine and I are so brokenhearted. We hoped she would come back to stay with us in California.

Catherine is expecting a girl who will be named Violet after my mother.

Vi was born 26 September. She looks so much like Catherine's baby pictures.

Our niece Victoria's friend Hoang has taken a leave of absence from university and enlisted in the US Army, just like Victoria is doing in Bundeswehr. I should mention that this was a purely economic decision. Hoang was working to help support her mother and younger sister whilst maintaining a full course load (her drug-dealing dad is nearing the end of a 3 year jail sentence if I recall correctly). I guess it was all too much. She came over last week to say goodbye. Catherine and I told her that she will always be welcome in our house if things get difficult at home but she already made the commitment.

any pics of her waering the boots.