San Mateo, 9/21/2003





Dear Clive, Mia and Tara

It has been a while since I wrote, so lets get started, although it is hard to decide where. First let me wish Mia and Tara a happy birthday. I know it is a bit early, but at least I am on time. The picture of the parrot on Mia's card was taken during our vacation in Mexico. We visited a large theme park there called Xcarét. One of the attractions was an Aviary where one could interact with the birds. We had a lot of fun talking to the parrots. We really had other plans for our vacation, New Zealand. The threat of war, however, made everything a bit uncertain. We kept putting off a decision and got to the point where we were not going to go anywhere. That's when I decided to put my prejudices about Mexico aside and go south of the border to Cancún. We had a great time there. The hotel was fantastic.



The Hilton Cancún Beach and Golf Resort

It had seven swimming pools and a nice white beach. We also visited old Mayan temple ruins, but most of the time we just stayed "home" and enjoyed doing nothing.



Tara's card has a picture of one of our squirrels. I doctored it up a bit, since they really don't eat cake. Also don't count the candles. I know you're older than three! We have a small army of squirrels in and around the house. A few regulars have been given names, like Betsie, an older female, very smart and really a part of the family. She has the run of the house and burries nuts everywhere, like in my shoes. Then there is BBB or Blacky Blacktop Bode a close runner up to Betsie and of course he is black. There are a handfull more of them but they stay mostly outside. Too bad I cannot declare them as dependents on my tax return. Over the years they have eaten a small fortune worth of nuts. I have dedicated part of my website to them.

Here I should ask about how things are with you. I take it that Clive retired. How is he holding up and is he really thinking about moving to Thailand? You guys still do a lot of travelling. How does that tie in with Tara's school? I know I always had a hard time to make my vacations coincide with the kids' school vacations. Sometimes I had to excuse them for a few days.

Furthermore it has been extremely hot here, but I understand that you had or still are having a hot spell as well. The weather is really out of whack. Did you see anything about hurricane Isabell on the telly? When you see that you stop complaining about the heat. Of course, one of these days we will be hit by The Big One........ That could be worse. Now I wonder what kind of winter we are going to have. Freezing cold or maybe soaking wet. Better clean out the gutters before it is too late. And stock up on small rain gear for the squirrels.

And that is just about all. Ada likes her job at CSAA. What a difference with TWA. No shifts, regular days off, holidays off and no pressure. She was glad that she did not have to be at the airport what with all the cancellations and delays as a result of the bad weather at the east coast. And I am still enjoying my retirement. I don't hear too much from old colleagues other than what Ada hears from some whom she meets at her work. A lot of them were forced to retire or are working elsewhere or worse ended up on the dole. The ones that are still working with AA are not exactly liking it.

Going to stop now. Hope to hear from you more often. All the best and God Bless

Hugh and Ada

Here I am having a conversation with a macaw about our vacation and how hot it was.