Christmas 2021

Happy Holidays, Everyone!  We have been downsizing now for a couple of years; knowing for a while that we needed to move to a smaller home on one level. 

With age, comes the realization that taking care of a large house and yard are not as fun as it used to be. It takes up too much of your precious time and you no longer need so much stuff!!

The decision to move now came upon us quite quickly. A combination of many things including the ever-rising expense of living in the greater-Seattle area and the rising market for houses helped us take the big step.

We went into high gear with the downsizing; we sold or gave away mountains of clothing, furniture, tools, etc.

Then the packing began.  Harold had a “talent” of being able to find cardboard boxes.  Megan would fill 10 or so and announce she needed more.  Before she knew it, Harold would arrive with another “gift” on the front deck. Packing in earnest took about two months. We also spent many hours fixing things around the house and yard (painting, staining, cleaning, weeding, pruning) so it would look good for the market. All you people who have moved (everyone) know

exactly what we are talking about!  It was never-ending, relentless and exhausting. We had some very generous relatives and friends that helped us a LOT.  My nephew Matt and his family were amazing! We couldn’t have done it without all of our family and friends …really!!

    More good friends gave us a farewell party in April at the home of Dave and Kathy Vreeken.  It was wonderful to see so many friends and relatives there. We cleaned out our freezer and gave everyone a parting gift of salmon steaks and applesauce! We packed all our earthly possessions into PODS and then spent our last two nights at another generous friends’ home nearby, as we still needed to sell Megan’s beloved Yukon and do last minute cleaning and then packing our car. After living in the greater Renton area our entire lives, growing our children there, experiencing joys and sorrows there and living in this house for 32 years, it was very painful to leave.

Amongst all the hustle and bustle, Megan was trying to retire after 18 years with the Kent School District (Kentridge High School). Anyone who has retired (most of you?) know what a hassle that is (decisions about pension, paperwork, etc.). So many good friends and good memories. Harold had worked there also for several years as a substitute. Our good friends in the Special Ed department gave us a very nice farewell luncheon and many thoughtful gifts. School was still in session until June 25^th, but the school district was very generous and let Megan teach online as we traveled and even after we arrived at our new destination.

We left our home tearfully for the last time and drove out of Washington state on 3-May. It took us 5 days and 4 nights to get there.

We spent 3 of those nights with good friends along the way.  Bev, Shayne, Barb, Randy and Gloria – we love you!

It was wonderful to see them again and do some catch up.  I just realized how many times we have used the term, “good friends” during this newsletter. There is a reason for that – we have MANY really wonderful, very generous friends and we are so thankful for all their love and support during this time.  But especially thankful for all the memories we have of them and with them throughout our lifetime. Thank you ALL so much.  You know who you are!!!

What’s that?  Oh, some of you are wondering where we went!  Ha!  I guess it would be good to tell you that!  For those of you who don’t know, we moved to Arizona.  Our youngest son, Jacob, moved here with his family during the summer of 2020.

For two months, we rented an AB&B (air bed and breakfast apartment) in Mesa as we searched for a home.

We found a house somewhat close to Jacob’s; about a 20-minute drive. We live in the greater Phoenix area in what is referred to as the ‘East Valley’. Jacob and Emily live in Queen Creek, Emily’s parents live in Gilbert and we live in San Tan Valley.

Our new address:

665 W Desert Valley Drive

San Tan Valley, AZ   85143

Yes, yes, it is quite a bit different than Washing-ton in many ways. Of course the most obvious is the weather. We got here just as the dreaded SUMMER was beginning. It was hotter than Hades!  Check out our car thermometer!  It was 120+ day after day after day.  Everyone has air-conditioning; you learn to adapt.

Summer is when the ‘Monsoon Season’ arrives including a fun event they call “Haboob”.  That is when you get a loud warning signal on your cell phone telling you to stay inside.  If you’re driving, you should pull over to the side of the road and turn off your lights!  Yikes!!  It can be the middle of the day – the sky goes dark with swirling sand/dirt with amazing thunder and lightning.  You cower inside and wait until it passes!

The Monsoons are when it just dumps rain for several minutes.  We have NEVER seen it rain like this in Seattle! Afterwards, if you venture outside, the heat and humidity force you to run back inside.  Humidity?  In Arizona?  What …….?

That season is past and since mid-September, the weather here has been quite pleasant. Going to November football games in shorts and a T-shirt is a new experience. We didn’t start wearing long pants until Thanksgiving!

We have been busy moving into our ‘new’ one-story, smaller house and yard.  It takes a while to make a new house your home.  We have made some major improvements inside and have started some work outside.

After the last Monsoon, we went outside to discover the 8-foot Prickly Pear cactus in our front yard had soaked up too much water and had blown over with the winds. It lay in a crumpled pile. We newbies have a lot to learn about desert flora. 

We know cacti have spines and Harold knew enough to wear thick leather gloves and long pants as he tried to pick up all the pieces. What we didn’t know is that cacti are EVIL!  Not only did this guy have big spines but also millions of tiny, fuzzy spines that are too small to see and too fragile to try to pluck out. They went right through his gloves and clothing.  Tripping and falling into the cactus pile didn’t help.

Harold’s hands, arms and lower legs were covered in tiny spines.  We tried to pluck them out with tweezers, but they just break off.

We have asked Arizonans what to do and they just say, “Don’t climb a cactus.”  Oh, OK … thanks a lot!

There are several things in Arizona we have never needed to deal with before – air conditioning, solar panels, pest control (scorpions!) and irrigation.  It’s a different world.

Did you know …

Frank Sinatra sang about doing things “My Way”, but in nearby Mesa, we do it the …

There are many cotton fields between the residential neighborhoods.

 On 20-November, Harold rode El Tour de Tucson, a major bicycle event 100 miles south in Tucson.  It ain’t as big as STP (Seattle-to-Portland) and not as well supported, but there were 6,500 riders. It was a great ride!

 Megan and Harold attended the rededication of the Mesa Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during November. This was the ninth LDS temple, built from 1922-1927.

Harold serves as an ordinance-worker at the Gilbert Temple -- the 144^th temple -- built in 2014.

 We have connected with several high school friends and former co-workers who have also moved to Arizona.  Lots of fun!