Happy Birthday, Kimmy!

I feel I must send out this blog-tastic birthday wish to our dear old friend Kim R. We know that your life dreams are being attained by completing medical school, but there was a time in your life when your goals were simpler and recreation oriented. We are now going to take a moment to remind you of that.

This is one of Vince's favorite pictures. It is of an ill fated cross country ski trip that started with Kim falling into a pit underneath a spruce tree. Helplessly stuck Kim shouted,"Vince Help Me!" Vince left you there saying, "Just a minute!" He then dug through his pack, found his camera, took this picture and then helped her. Kim was pissed about this picture for a long time. It still makes Vince laugh.

Here is the picture of Vince being humiliated fishing. This is of the time Vince and Kim were salmon fishing outside of Anchorage on Sheep Creek. There were hundreds of people fishing on both sides of the creek. After hours of standing there one fish was caught, by Kim. (see above picture). It was a ten pounder, puny by Alaskan standards but a small fish is better than no fish. After another hour, with no fish being caught by anyone, Kim catches ANOTHER fish. This time a 35 pounder with hooks from other fisherman broken in it's mouth. Because she had already kept one fish she had to let it go. Before they knew it a man from the other side of the river in chest waders was halfway through the creek shouting, "They are (catching so many they are) letting them go on the other side!" Vince really laughs at the memory of this...

Me, I laugh at other memories that I did not photograph when they were happening. Like the time the tires nearly came off the car when we were driving to Homer after you had them rotated in Anchorage. Or the time we got the red truck stuck in Dales driveway, AGAIN. Or the time we watched the turtles in the mystic waters of Tinian. Ah! The list goes on...

Kim, when you finish medical school, please remember that I have needs. I will need you be living in a tropical climate with a sweet little cottage that I can mooch off of you in! No, this place is not Bethel.

We love you Kim. Hang in there, we know you will make it!

Alana and Vince