This summer we took a major trip out to California. Brian’s parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and chose to host the entire family at a ranch in Santa Barbara. For three nights the Circle Bar B Ranch was overrun with nearly the entire Birgen clan. There was horseback riding, swimming in the pool, tossing of horseshoes, geocaching, and loud, loud singing. It was great fun to spend time with siblings, cousins, in-laws and parents.
Of course, we can’t take a trip out to California without a few other stops. Before the anniversary celebration, we spent a few days in Torrance visiting Mariah’s Brother Torrey and his family. Our kids enjoyed spending some time getting to know their cousins Kaia and Amber. We made the obligatory trips to the beach, In-n-Out Burger and Trader Joe’s.
From California, we caught the train and travelled north. The annual summer MathFest was being held in Portland, so we made a stop there. We spent a few days exploring the area: hiking along the Columbia River valley, finding the location of the original geocache, staying up late listening to Darby O’Gill (an Irish band that Brian found on Pandora internet radio) and just having a fun time. Once the math meeting started Brian and Mariah had a rollicking good time. Mariah presented on our Calculus redesign and Brian presented on Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock. Jeri discovered Powell’s bookstore in Portland and found nirvana. When the meeting was over, we hopped on the train and headed back home by way of Montana and North Dakota. It was a beautiful view, and Brian even managed to hop off the train in Montana, find a geocache, and get back on before it left.
In professional news, Mariah completed her final year as the coordinator of the Scholars Program at Wartburg. She has led the program for ten years, hosting the Upper Midwest Honors Conference this year. She taught the regular freshman seminar course this Fall for the first time in ten years and observed what a difference it is teaching more typical students. She had to remind them when their finals are and tell them how many D’s they could get without getting expelled. However, they did believe her when she told them that their college professors were not expecting them to feed them back prepared answers, but actually to learn to think for themselves.
Brian continued his service as Vice Chair of the Iowa Section of the Math Association. This year he planned the annual section meeting in Dubuque in October. He developed a major in Actuarial Science for Wartburg College which will be on the books for next year. He is also looking forward to offering his Historical Roots of Math and Physics in Germany course next year. Enrollment was dangerously low and the course was almost cancelled, but with help and luck the travel course will be offered. Just as Jeri went with Mariah to the British Isles, she will be coming with Dad to Germany.
Jeri started high school this year. She is involved in Speech, Mathletes, and Stage Crew. Musically, she is playing the viola in the High School orchestra. Her friend Emma decided to help Jeri train so she can join Cross Country next fall. She also serves on the Teen Advisory Board at the Waverly Library, suggesting which books to purchase. Over the summer she spent a week at the writer’s workshop in Iowa City, which she enjoyed.
Zac is a boy obsessed with Minecraft. He plays online with his friends while watching videos about Minecraft at the same time. Of course, he keeps up on his school work and chores, so we try not to shake our heads to much. Zac is active in Boy Scouts and is making good progress earning his advancements. He went to summer camp this year and is hoping to advance to First Class before camp next year, so he can work towards merit badges, rather than be restricted to the introductory activities. Musically, he is still taking piano lessons and is in his second year as a percussionist in the Middle School band. Mariah is bribing the band teacher (an old student of hers) to tell him that me must continue the piano lessons.
Carrie keeps getting older and smarter. She enjoys piano lessons and gymnastics, except when she doesn’t. She adores reading and being read to, although since Mariah is reading her David Eddings, there are many interruptions with the question “what does XXX mean?” She loves a very complicated plot and often tries to guess what will happen next. Mom is most frustrating when she answers, “Let’s read and find out.” She is getting better at playing well with others and learning to compromise. However, sometimes she can be so stubborn her parents need to be sent to their room. It is a trait that will serve her well later in life, assumes she survives that long.
Brian and Mariah are clearly feeling older, because we are trying to exercise more and get into shape. Mariah has been attending yoga regularly and has been running in some local 5K races. Brian attends a 60 minute cardio combo class twice a week, nicknamed “Death by Beth”. Every week he gets to find a new muscle cluster that is sore from weight training. We are both feeling healthy and hoping to stay on this Earth for many years.
May your future be full of hope and free of anxiety. We wish everyone a healthy and happy new year. May you find yourself surrounded by those you love this holiday season and throughout the coming year.