Letters from Dr. Gose

Dear Heidelbergers,

Happy new millennium (even if it technically doesn't start until 2000 is actually over)! Check out our web page: http://globalvillage.pepperdine.edu Hit the Heidelberg page and you will find, among other things, lots of pictures of us (more to come, and send still more), and all the past Christmas letters (in case you have trouble sleeping New Year's Eve). News on the home front: Janice and I celebrated our 25 anniversary this past August. Creedance graduates in April from Pepperdine. My first book is out. Creating the Winning Game Plan. A book for teachers. Check out the reviews on Amazon.com.

I'll turn 53 next week; if you guys are all over 30 now it only makes sense I must be over 50. As a group you are (finally) bringing new meaning to the prime directive to go forth and multiply. Jennifer (and Eric) just had a (checking in at ten pounds plus means I can't say "little") girl. Stephanie (and Kevin and Connor and Drew) is pregnant with her third, due in February. Monica and Jesus are expecting a boy in April. Connie and Rick are expecting twins in February. Kimberly (and Kevin and Luke) are expecting another boy. Caroline is pregnant with her fourth. Jeff (Gillett) and Shelly are expecting in February. Kristy (and Brad) are expecting "Baby X" in June. It's a little known fact about me, no less true because you think it unlikely-I won a baby contest. It was even in the newspaper (maybe because it was such an upset). I mention that these many years later with the thought that it takes one to know one. I can only hope that my Heidelberg grandkids are as smart as they are handsome, because the pictures that have been sent us are an indication of what a great gene pool the (real) Heidelbergers have (or what good taste you have had in mates).

Carlos married Gladys Ortiz (a TV reporter for one of the Mexican networks) on October 30th in Acapulco. Carlos reports that he is still producing TV commercials and says that "in a nut shell I am completely happy." Small world that it is, Brett ran into him at a restaurant in Newport Beach. Kim and Dana have moved to Hawaii. Kim's teaching third grade there. Kim Lambert reports that Janet, Gary, Annie and Ethan are still teaching college in Oklahoma. The Brady (Beddo) Bunch are now in Guam (where I spent first and part of second grade). I talked with Sheldon earlier today; Shannon was at Church...old memories die hard, I could imagine her napping in the corridor. Shannon adds that she is now an official aerobics instructor and also reports that she is "kicking ass." A while back I ran into Jon having an earnest conversation with Madeline Rose in front of the Westlake Theatre. Reminded me of my conversations with Creedance when I would earnestly explain we were at Disneyland to "have fun." Jon, Camille, Madeline and Abigail are doing well. Midori and Bill's Christopher and Brandon are two of those aforementioned adorably cute kids. Midori reports that Christopher is quite the baseball player. At four he says such things as, "I'm going to be a baseball player...probably for the Seattle Mariners, but maybe for the Yankees like Derek Jeter..." Midori and Bill also got to take their second European trip. Just talked with Kathy Bristow. She is back in southern California, VP in charge of Production and Technology for a new Fashion/Style company that you will find in February at Style365.com. Tanja is now officially Dr. Carter and is in a tenure track position in Economics here at Pepperdine. I hope some more of you follow her here. I was unable to get ahold of Zoila and David this year. Anyone have a new phone number for them? Becky and Russ have just taken their business public. We are running out of candidates for their bridal business, but they can be found at http://www.theknot.com. Their Kaley is already singing with church groups and at two Cameron is an athletic prodigy. Becky told me that Diana's Austin just turned two and that they have moved to Colorado as of this summer. Char spent a week on a medical mission in the Dominican Republic; and she climbed Mt. Washington this summer. She is still working as a nurse practitioner at the VA. Audrey (and Sean) are in Granite Bay, California, and I believe still with Aetna Life. Kristy ran into Caroline at a conference in Kansas City of the parents' group (MOPS) that they discovered they both belonged to. Debbie and Tracy and Alexa and Kylie are still in Oceanside. Janille was able to help me "find" Kathy Bristow. Janille and John's son Josh started Kindergarten this year and Christopher is now 2 and a half. Janille reports she is getting back into her artwork. Besides the boy due in April, Monica is celebrating 11 years of teaching. Shayne's Christmas "report" says that "all is well". Carolyn Ford is working as a Communications' Engineer and has renovated her house. Realizing their time will no longer be their own what with the February due date, Jeff and Shelley traveled to London, Boston and Oahu. I talked today with Tom (and Catherine). They really like San Antonio, but he will soon be taking a different job within his company so there's some chance he will relocate in the near future. Brett (and Karen) reports that he is working as VP of Business Systems and that he was on his way to northern California where he was going to catch up with Steve. Danielle (and John) reports that Camille (6) loves school, Tim (4) likes pre-school, Bennett (3) is very fond of books, and that Jacob is happy and easy going and will turn one on January 8th.

Haven't heard anything about Cristina. I hear Kevin and Michelle camped out and got lucky in obtaining Duke basketball tickets. I was bitterly disappointed Mark and Michelle didn't send pictures of Miles and Zachary with their Christmas card this year (it's not like I didn't do their wedding ceremony or anything, hint, hint, hint...As I mentioned above, Stephanie, Kevin, Connor and Drew are looking for another family member in February. As of now they've opted not to know whether their third will be a boy or girl. Their Connor is now in the first grade, Drew has great appreciation for his older brother, and when I called Kevin and Stephanie were just getting back from a ninth anniversary dinner. Erin has left the University of Chicago to return to Monterey and finish her degree there (and I need a new phone number, hint, hint). Cindy and Arno and Anika sent us a great Christmas photo that also featured a dog and horse. I've got a phone message out there for Sarah, so it makes me pretty confident that she is still in Connecticut. Talked with Brian (Sweetness). He and Ronda and Elias bought the house they had been living in and Brian is now working as a Hospice nurse. And, small world, Midori ran into him while Brian was working in an emergency room in Austin. I just found out that Jeanne married two years ago and I am hoping to catch up with her in the new year. Connie (and Rick) is building a business dynasty, which together with being pg with twins brings a whole new meaning to labor management. Kim, Scott, Luke, Micah, Isaac all went to Europe this past summer with Let's Start Talking, and we are going to do our softball class one more time in honor of Creedance's last semester. Dane (and Maya and Lisa) are currently vacationing in California and we certainly hope to see them. Dane will be starting a new job with General Electric Information Systems in Germany. He reports Lisa understands both English and German quite well. Patrick is abd at USC and has been winning awards (and a bit of cash) for his research. Haven't been able to get ahold of Michaelann this year. I have heard she is having a lot of success with her children's stories. Anyone have a new number for her? Midori tells me Kelly (and Kelsey and Kinsey) are doing very well. Talked with Dena (and Carina who is now in second grade). Dena is now working in securities and is about to take a Series 7 license test. Couldn't locate Maz this year but apparently he has been espied here and there and is doing well. Steve (and Fred) have managed to buy a place in San Francisco. And Steve continues to go through promotions not unlike I work through a bag of iced animal cookies. Alumni continues to have a listing for Jon Rankin, and I really would love to hear him sing one more time...Kowanda reports that she and Ron and the kids are "doing great here in Central Illinois." She said it's "hard to believe Derek is almost 8, Doug is almost 5 and Karina is now 3." And they are about to celebrate their 12 anniversary. Don, Kim, Jordan, Corinne, and Elise made the move to Connecticut where I understand they have bought a great new home and participate in a very active Church. I've got a call into Jeff, and if I'm not sure where he lives, I do know his voice on the answering machine so I know he's close...Haven't heard from Cara this year. Does anyone know anything about Jan Strand Selby? Kristy and Brad and Toby stayed with us one night over the Thanksgiving break! Frankly Toby was the center of our attention. Didn't even think about being nostalgic for any old times. I miss Karin. She is still working with John Watson and Athletics here at Pepperdine. Creedance will be taking Brad's sister for acting next semester. Brad tells me that he, Margaret, Hannah (1st grade) and Benjamin (a.k.a. "Turbo" Thomas, almost four now) are still enjoying Colorado. Brad is still coaching basketball (Coach of the Year last year) and teaching English. I think Julie has moved to Texas? Paul (and Konni and Zachary) have a new daughter (8 mos.) Kara Jane. Paul has opened his own law office in Camarillo specializing in criminal defense. Kimberly and Kevin will celebrate their 5th anniversary on January 7th. They found out they were pg the week after they had started a major reconstruction of their home. The Christmas picture of Carrie and Andy's three girls is just too cute! Carrie also continues to work in Adult Education in Huntington Beach. David's Gayle wrote me that they are all well and that Alyssa's in second grade and Chris has just started kindergarten. And that David's enjoying his studies in missions. Eric is making a major career move to San Francisco, Jennifer is finishing her doctorate asap at Rutgers virtually abd. She is also being recruited by Pepperdine to come teach here when she is finished. Todd and Kimberly and Emily and Daniel are doing really well in Kentucky. I feel so much more secure when I have had recent phone conversations with all of you...you may remember I "lost" Todd two years in a row...I think the rumor that Tim (and Nicole) Young now owns AOL was overstated, but I understand that he is not unhappy with his AOL stock. Nicole is a TV producer/editor. They have been doing a lot of scuba diving; and they planned to spend Christmas with the Wolfords. I haven't heard from Paige for awhile. I always worry that I've left someone out. What with all the lists I work with that I always plan to better organize-next year, or in the next millennium, whichever comes first? Anyway, it's always great to think about all of you. As Rick told Ilsa in Casblanca, "we'll always have Heidelberg." Merry Christmas and Happy New Millennium!

michael, janice, creedance