HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM THE FRAHMS

Our always-busy lives are hectic but rewarded by the continued presence of foster son Karlyn. While Janice enjoys even the mundane tasks of nurturing a young'un, we all bask in his fresh outlook and demeanor. A '95 4WD Explorer now bolsters our fleet of 14 year-old Toyotas.

'97 travels started in mid-January with a pleasant Amtrak ride to Albuquerque, made beautiful by remains of a blizzard days before. While Bruce attended ham radio board meetings the others enjoyed the Spanish/American history and cuisine. We'll try the train again! We spent early June traveling to Richland WA to celebrate the graduations of KC and Kendra Mitchell and visit their parents. The Snake River valley, an ice cave, Wallace (Dante's Peak) ID, the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody WY and hot pools at Thermopolis kept our interest on the long van drive. Supper with '79 shipmate Dorothy Bishop and ex-Yellowstone ranger Norm in Bozeman MT was great fun. Norm's work on the wolf reintroduction project is emphasized in a gallery of beautiful artwork in their home. Their expert advice on Yellowstone enabled one day there to be fruitfully busy. One starter, 2 thermostats, 1 fuel pump, 1 clutch fan and a radiator cap after starting, we actually made it home! July saw us in CT for another radio meeting, followed by visiting seaside friends in Gloucester MA. Travels continued as English friend Barrie visited us, and we attended an Omaha reunion of cousins in Bruce's mom's family. She capped the 3-day event by breaking her hip; she and Bruce spent an extra week there going through replacement surgery. Bruce's anesthestist Best Man Jerry Hayden and family saw to arrangements, housing and entertainment. Helen is doing well now and will have her arthritic right hip replaced (intentionally!) in January. Soon Barrie and Bruce were driving northeast yet again, visiting the Oshkosh air show for a few days. We enjoyed a timeshare trade on the shores of Lake of the Ozarks Thanksgiving week.

A very dry winter and spring boded ill for wheat prospects, but May rains gave us just under average crops, while KS as a whole did very well. We had an excellent corn year. A vicious early October wind knocked down some fields (and Bruce's radio tower) and a 20" November blizzard put a hiatus on cutting. What would have been our 2nd best crop ever was relegated to still-notable 4th place, but it was our slowest fall harvest ever at 7 weeks.

BRUCE bought 'the latest' radio gear and is scheming a new 80' tower for antennas. He's equipped the Explorer for mobile hamming too. Music activities now include presidency of the orchestra board.

JANICE is waist-deep in mothering and loving it. Service as state Program Chair for FCE is made easier by retiring from Southwestern college board after 12 years. Thursday is 'mad night' when she does genealogy research while Karlyn's grandma keeps him.

JON enjoys the intensity of block scheduling. Focusing on 3 computer classes is balanced by a new endeavor, Spanish I. Having 4 Sr. level classes as a Jr. seems to suit Jon. Extracirricular interests are growing as he's been on Scholar's Bowl, math relays, programming olympiad, and is in technology, science and math clubs. We're proud of his 29 on the ACT.

KARLYN is changing rapidly in the post-18 month spurt. A late walker, he's gaining language and physical skills at a fast pace. Special activities include eating any kind of food, music and swimming.