2000 HOLIDAY WISHES FROM THE FRAHMS

As the new millennium approaches we ponder friends and events new and old, and are pleased to count you among those friends. Bruce’s brother Ken and Sheila again live in Colby, while sister Sharon and Paul have moved 1.5 blocks to a Sharon-designed energy-efficient home. Bruce’s mother experiences short-term memory loss but doesn’t fret over it & maintains involvement in many community projects. Janice’s nephew Duane is now at Kansas State but seldom crosses paths with Jon. The family that keeps 2 horses in our pasture is moving to Council Grove as she’s at KSU to be a vet. While we’ve already lined up new horse boarders, Karlyn will miss visits by the boy & girl about his age. After 17 years and 240K miles our Camry packed in; Janice now has a ’98 Subaru Outback and Jon bought a low mile off-lease silver Taurus.

Our vacations started with an Easter timeshare week in Orlando. We enjoyed Disney’s Animal Kingdom and 2 days at Sea World, but had even more fun at Gatorland Zoo and chasin’ (small) gators in a rented swamp buggy. Priceline’s choice of Tampa for our airport gateway turned out great, as we had fun at the aquarium, on the beach, in seafood restaurants and visited the Florida Strawberry Festival on the drive to Orlando. Karlyn is a confirmed water lover! Our England friend Barrie Blount came early this year and we drove with Helen, Sharon, Paul and Jon to a Lau family reunion in the Twin Cities. Highlights were a boat trip on the St. Croix River and attending Prairie Home Companion. Barrie helped with the early harvest, and inspired us to finally clean out and organize the shop. July’s ARRL meeting was in downtown Hartford (rather than the suburbs). Wadsworth Atheneum art museum, Bushnell Park with its fountains and carousel, and the Old Statehouse, home of the Amistad trial, were within walking distance, and we enjoyed the Twain and HB Stowe homes. We spent a few days afterward on the southern Mass. coast and Saybrook CT, enjoying ocean views, Quahog clams and lobster rolls, and the delightful teen troupe Circus Smirkus.

Bart, a young Dutch man farming with Bruce’s nephews, was visited by his parents. We enjoyed meeting and eating with them. In late August we shared an invitation with Sharon & Paul and radio friends Mike & Patti, to stay at WØTM’s self-designed vacation home west of Vail CO. Operating a contest from a super station at 10000+ft. was a thrill for Bruce and Mike. Radio conditions were so-so. Beaver Creek’s ski lifts and Leadville’s train rides beckoned,so we logged some tourist miles. Sharon’s van was mauled by a hungry bear that broke a partially-open side window and ripped up carpeting and a seat! She, and the insurance agent, now have quite a story to tell. We made fairly frequent trips to Jon’s trailer in Manhattan during the year . Our family Thanksgiving was followed Friday by a 2-stop dinner at Sharon’s & Lon’s with Nebraska cousins – 60 in all!

After 2 years of great crops farming hit a brick wall with harsh drought and vicious hail. The wheat and especially dryland corn didn’t make much, and what would have been a better than average irrigated corn crop was tagged by a hailstorm affecting 7 circles & literally destroying 2 of them (a first in our irrig. corn experience). Prices try to recover but GMO acceptance problems & still-shaky world economy are bearish.

BRUCE had fun at the ARRL January meeting in Memphis. New blood in the local radio club has kept that hobby at the top of his list. Church choir and orchestra still provide performance outlets, and he’s especially holiday-spirited, being tapped as the buffoonish Pageboy in Amahl and the Night Visitors.

JANICE searches the web and microfilm resources for genealogy information, and helps bro-in-law Paul with his roots pursuits. Service to the local and area Head Start councils, and the church’s nursery & preschool committees utilize her interests and talents. Jan. 1 she becomes NW Area KAFCE Director.

KARLYN is in his 2nd Head Start year. Speech isn’t up to par for his age but improves steadily, and he still loves balloons. He likes outdoor activities, especially if they involve animals or water. Although still a lightweight, he’s now at average height for his 4 2/3 years, and enjoys singing.

1553 County Road T (or PO Box DX) Colby KS 67701 785-462-7388 bfrahm@colby.ixks.com