Mixing business with pleasure, Bob and Camille flew to Denver for a week with family and friends – December 2 – 10, 2018
SHIRLEY
Nothing beats sitting in the sun with a good friend. While Bob was off auditing Kansas farms, Camille ran around Denver with Shirley. This little park, a stone’s throw from Shirley’s home, was perfect for taking in that famous Denver sun.
CATHI AND FRED
As part of the agenda, Camille and Shirley went out to lunch with old friends Fred and Cathi. Camille and Cathi took classes together in the early 80’s, Cathi introduced Camille to Shirley, and a beautiful friendship fell into place. Back in the day, Shirley and her late husband, Ken, operated two recording studios and Fred, a musician, was already a good friend by the time Camille reached the scene.
SKY OVER FORT COLLINS
After two nights in Denver, Camille settled into the familiar guest room at Sharyl and Rob’s Fort Collins tree farm. The next morning she was greeted by an unforgettable display. Bob would fly into Denver later this day and it felt as if the sky was heralding his arrival.
D.E.P. HOLIDAY REUNION
Top row: Rob, Tim, and Bob. Bottom: Sharyl, Margie, and Camille. In addition to putting us up Sharyl and Rob hosted a small Data Entry Products (D.E.P.) reunion. Rob, Tim, Bob, and Camille worked together at Loveland-based D.E.P. from 1990 to 1996. The business made keypads for hospital beds, ATMs, cell phones, and other devices. D.E.P. also manufactured the metal dome switches that give cell phone buttons their trademark snap, a tactile signal that lets the caller know they have successfully punched in each number. We worked and played hard, celebrating milestones as a company, gathering after work on Friday afternoons for FAC (Friday Afternoon Club), at Christmas parties and summer company picnics, and sharing the profits when D.E.P. was bought by Lucas Varity.
JEFF AND TIM
Another co-worker, Jeff, dropped in after we took the above photo. Jeff and his wife Sheila still host their traditional Christmas caroling potluck, an event we happily participated in until we moved from Colorado in 1996. We have many happy memories of our time at D.E.P. and hosted many a party of our own at our old rented farmhouse outside of Loveland. It was fun to get part of the old gang together and shake the dust off some of those old stories from our six years together.
DINNER AT EMILY AND TYLER’S
Bob made our travel plans on short notice, and, realizing it made sense to fly in and out of Denver for his Kansas audits, he decided to extend his stay and bring Camille along. We were fortunate that daughters Emily, Amy, and Molly were able to arrange dinner at Em’s around their busy schedules. Amy flew in from Oregon, bringing Idaho wild rice she harvested by hand, which she cooked along with a delicious curry. The rest of us brought side dishes and bottles of holiday cheer. Amy and Nolan, Emily and Tyler’s three-year old son, keep an eye on the stove. Nolan is Amy’s first nephew and our first grandchild. Later, in the living room, Shane and Molly keep young Nolan happily entertained.
STEVEN AND CAROLINE
Family gatherings are not complete without the girls’ half brother, Steven, and his lovely Caroline.
JUST FOR FUN
And, since our friend, Ned, recently relocated to Denver from Cabin John, we threw him into the family mix. Ned was Bob’s first college roommate at The University of Colorado and we usually stay with him every spring on our way to visit Camille’s family. But not this year. And since we missed Ned this year because of his move, it was good to catch up with him. The year is not complete without a photo of Bob and Ned in sunglasses.
THE WHOLE GANG
Top row: Shane, Camille, Bob, Ned, Caroline, Steven, Emily and Tyler
Bottom: Molly, Nolan, Amy, and Steven and Caroline’s dog.
THE BIG THOMPSON
Bob, Amy, and Camille took a walk down the county road near the farm house we used to rent outside of Loveland. Amy was twenty-two years younger the last time we walked together to the river.
CHANGES
We searched the hill above the river for a house Camille had once coveted and saw nothing but a bronze buffalo. We learned from three farmers, who called to us from the field to watch out for the trucks, that the man who owns the land tore down the house in some sort of divorce-inspired spitefulness. Meanwhile, cookie-cutter homes were populating the flood plain. We all shook our heads at the strange workings of the human mind as a cement truck whizzed by.
SHADOWS
We were impressed by the color contrast of the dry grass against the water, then noticing our shadows on the river, played with them for awhile. With all the other things changing, it was reassuring to see one of the old cottonwoods still standing.
Read about this trip on our blog: Just Desserts on Airbus A320