Elizabeth Stevenson Fairleigh is finally doing PR outside of technology, representing a local author named John Fedack who wrote a novel, first in a series, called "Protecting Sharks". The book will be published in a few months – "It's been so much fun to do something different and out of my comfort zone - Check out the site www.protectingsharks.com - You can actually order it now www.unitedwriterspress.com/ps.html - The author used to be a DeKalb County police officer back in the 70s and the book is based on a female protagonist, Liz Chandler. Liz is a strong female character who you can't help but like and care about."

Ann Colona Bennett writes, "My father passed away in September after over a year with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We were fortunate to have many great months. Even having been through it with my mother, who passed away in Feb. 1998 after seven months with pancreatic cancer, and trying to be prepared (whatever that is), I wasn't. Cancer sucks. I now go to Sloan Kettering in NYC once a year to for a contrast MRI of my pancreas as part of a study. My cousin who was diagnosed with mesothelioma is doing very well. As is another cousin who was diagnosed with breast cancer a little over a year ago (and underwent chemo, surgery, and radiation). I have been happy to not feel that "when is the other shoe going to drop" feeling for several months.

In happier news, I am still enjoying my job at OU - an amazing learning curve in academia! So many pieces parts to learn about. I'm taking my first class - Learning Strategies. This is a class that is mistakenly believed by students and faculty alike to be for the stupid kids. It's a great class! The point is to become a more efficient and strategic student. So you can understand more of what you study in less time. I will soon move on to Basic Math. Remember, it's been a very long time since I studied - or did algebra. Baby steps to ease my way back into student mode. I highly recommend becoming a student in your early 40s. It's an entirely different experience!

Jon is still enjoying his classes and is looking forward to study abroad this summer at a business institute in Denmark. After he gets back, he celebrates with knee surgery (this time on his left knee). We're hoping it will be the end of knee surgeries - as he has no more ACLs to lose! He is now President of Gamma Pi Delta, the OU honor society for non-traditional students and has been shaking things up - in a good way!

The cats are thriving, but occassionally cabin-fevered because of the cold. Fortunately, we have been experiencing a warm snap for the past couple of days - over freezing! So they've gotten some relief from the indoors - and each other."

Margaret Shippen Sanders has found some free time since her youngest is in school. She's "finally writing a novel, writing a modern history guide for homeschoolers, and directing our community theatre's production of Godspell. Oh, and I'm trying to get back into shape. I'll let you know how that goes!"

Allyson Parr Beckley writes, "Jennifer Gazzola Parker, Liz Loemker Joyce and I (Allyson Parr Beckley) had lunch together the other day and really enjoyed catching up. We met at Jennifer's flagship restaurant of Fox Sports Grill in Atlantic Station, the old Atlantic Steel Mill area of Atlanta. Liz just finished co-chairing a very successful silent auction event for two of her children's school, The Schenck School. I am just a busy mom of four trying to keep up with all the schedules!"

Congratulations to Pam Clanton and husband Mitch on the birth of daughter Rachel on 1/14/07.

Bradie Barr and partner Tollie have been busy. "Tollie ran the Kentucky Derby Mini-marathon in late April 2006, so the first four months of the year was filled with exercise--I exercised a little--but really--I cheered her on.

Post Mini-marathon, we spent relaxing weekends hiking the parks in Jefferson County. Louisville has the largest urban forest in the country, so we took advantage of our own hometown.

We did our annual Girls Weekend with our moms in Florida. Other trips involved visiting our aging Grandmothers.

Speaking of aging grandmothers, my Uh-Oh (that's what her 30 some grandchildren/great grandchildren call her) finally needed to move to Assisted Living. She had a few falls and was becoming quite forgetful--so we moved her for her own safety. She was not happy about it as she still thinks she is full capable of living alone. She is in a nice place in Richmond, VA where all of her sons and most of her grandchildren live.

I started a new job in 2007--I am still with Thomson Financial, but have left the Sales job and am not the Director of Business Development for our Corporate Treasury Services line of business. It is something new and challenging--I love it so far.

Other than Christmas cards, I have not been in touch with my fellow Scotties--but I look forward to catching up via the Main Events."

Congratulations to Anna Cromer Kelly who received her "third postgraduate degree--this time a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the TAI Sophia institute in Baltimore (Executive format, so I did not have to move!) I am still President of Metro Pain Center and practice medical acupuncture full time. My 13-year-old daughter, Hannah will be attending Science Camp at ASC thsi week (hey Dr. Wistrand!) and my 12-year-old Sam has a busy summer with football and basketball camps. Oh and I got married in March to my acupuncture partner, Mark Lewinter, and will go to Europe in the fall for honeymoon. I loved seeing the campus for the Inaugural of Dr. Kiss. See y'all soon!"

Jill Whitfill writes that she "attended my first professional "librarian" conference at the end of October (the South Central Chapter of the Medical Library Association). Deciding "what the heck, why not", I worked with one of the faculty member's I work with here at UT Southwestern and submitted a paper for presentation. Imagine my shock when it was accepted! I'll have 15 minutes to present the research paper, which basically came out of one of my classes - "Creating a web-based, community resource and asset management system for West Dallas Community Center." What it amounts to is a simple web-interface to give low-income people the ability to barter/trade goods and services (a ride to the doctor for a home-made apple pie, for example). At present, the website has been completed and will be activated in July for use at a Dallas community center that is in an extremely poor area of town (average household income in this area is less than $10,000/year).

I will graduate on 8/11/07 with my Master of Science in Library Science (Medical Informatics). I start on my first job interviews in July (the job in my current department didn't pan out), so I'm very excited about life at the moment. My goal is to work in community research and clinical information.

Oh, I also received a travel scholarship to the conference from a list-serve, HealthLine, for medical librarians that will be matched by the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Science (that's where my degree is coming from.)"

Susan Morgan and her family "survived the first year of seminary at Nashotah House in Wisconsin. I was able to reunite with Anne Coulling who lives in nearby Milwaukee in the fall. We are still hoping to get the families together. My kids (Talley, 12, and Mary, 9) love the midwestern summer! We are headed to a family vacation in Hawaii soon, and then back to the daily grind."

Kristin Sojourner writes, "Not sure where to start...

Larry and I divorced last July 2006. I have since bought a new home, a 1924 Craftsman farmhouse in Niwot, Colorado. I love my little house, old and cozy. I am close to my friends and love the community. Everyone around me is exapnding and remodeling, so I take this as a good sign. That new bath room (I only have one!) will be added.... oh...shortly. Within the next few years. (My daughter is so upset about this!)

I have a lovely artist's studio, a converted barn, where I am painting, sketching, writing and giving massage therapy. I also have a large garden, which is keeping me busy this summer.

Last school year, I worked as a 4th grade teacher with Aurora Public Schools and have since taken a job closer to home teaching music K-8 at a local Catholic School. I am excited not to be making that drive to Denver every day and teaching a subject I love. Back in the saddle again!

Ben graduated from high school with honors, an IB graduate. He will be attending Sewanee next fall. I am so proud of him.

Meri and Sam continue to do well.

I took my three children and mother on a European vacation over Christmas break and have redefined the meaning of "adventure vacation". I think mine is more real than those versions where you bike, swim, ride camels....Try heaving your mother, children and all of your bags on to a train with 2 seconds to spare in Belgium.......I can do anything! Even climb Everest. Cake. Story later...

This summer, I am taking it easy. I am going to visit a friend at the Outer Banks. I might book a trip to Ireland. Or maybe Belize. Haven't made up my mind. Starting new job mid-August. Life is good. Slow right now....write, if you like The chance of a reply has increased significantly with the end of the school year. And, should anybody need a travel buddy for a fun vacation, LET ME KNOW!

I have a myspace page and anybody who wants to be my friend, sign up and share my page with me. I have been posting lots of writing and some photos....The link is: http://www1.myspace.com/reloc.cfm?c=2&id=0328934D-7CC9-41DC-A784-F33402F5CC19 Hope to see you on my friends list soon!

Congratulations to Eileen Altman who received her M.Div from Pacific School of Religion on May 20th. "I have been called to serve as the Associate minister of the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Palo Alto, CA beginning July 2nd. My son Peter (age 12) and I continue to live in Santa Cruz." [pic]

The Walkers' misadventures continue. Sarah's boyfriend Greg moved in with us in March. He has no family in the area, and ran into some financial problems, so he's sharing a room with Michael. Larry says he feels he's living in the fraternity house again!

Thanks for the prayers for Sarah. She is currently seeking a second opinion on the lump in her left breast since it is so large that removal will mean permanent disfiguration and therefore some type of reconstructive surgery. She has also decided not to return to ASU in the fall and is going to pursue a different avenue of education.

Michael completed his junior and senior years of high school concurrently and graduated in May. He's planning on attending Mesa Community College next year and hopefully play baseball for them. He's pretty sure he wants to pursue a career in accounting, but I'm sure he'll change his mind several times before declaring a major. [pic]

Larry is still stateside J and was just promoted to Commander. He's still flying to Ohio every month for his drills and it appears he'll be going to Bahrain in September for a couple of weeks. (I'm going to Ohio with him this month, but he's on his own for Bahrain.)

As for me, I'm just as busy as ever. About the middle of last September, I looked in the mirror and decided that if I didn't do something drastic, I might need to buy a larger car for me to fit into. It took me two weeks to get enough courage up, but I joined LA Weightloss and have lost 45 pounds and have gone from a size 12-14 to a 4-6! I also chaired my school's annual auction again this year and we brought in a record $30,000. Not too shabby for a school of 65 students. I also finished the year teaching 6 classes, including biology – yes, you read correctly! I'm not sure what I'm teaching next year, but definitely no science. I'm not sure who it was harder on, the kids or me.

Last week we pulled the kids out of bed at 4:15 am, dragged them to the airport, and took them on a whirlwind mini-vacation to Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland for two days. Next week is Vacation Bible School at church, so I'll be busy with the little ones. Then the following week, Larry and I fly to Akron for his Navy weekend and then I'm on to Boston a week with my parents.

I pray you each have a safe, relaxing summer. Please keep your class news coming. We all love to hear what's going on with each other.

Blessings,
Ellen