The Harrell's Herald

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ON THE MOVE Although, Jack and Dea are still in their house on Terrace, everyone else seems to be on the move. Jack's Dad has moved to Pennsylvania to live with granddaughter Lenore. It has been a major change from California, but he has been enjoying the change, has learned how to use e-mail, likes Lenore and Danny's friends and has taken pride in teaching them how to play Cribbage. We look forward to a visit from him in January to catch us up on all the details.
Dea's Mom sold her mobile home in a park just north of Santa Barbara and is now living in Atascadero. Dea's brother bought a new home there which has a separate apartment that is perfect for Mom. She frequently goes to the "big house" for meals and takes her turn at doing the cooking. Jack and Dea were able to visit in mid November and were very impressed with Mom's new surroundings. Plans include the purchase of a computer in the near future and we look forward to introducing Mom to the joys of e-mail.
Kristen, as a college student, moves at least twice a year. Her summer residence was a new one this year, but she returned to the dorms in September. She continues as an RA so has a private room. But, the big perk this year is that she has a private bathroom. For a college student, that's a real plus.
Then we have Hugh, who had firmly declared he'd never move in with a girl friend. He met Jess during the 1997 holiday season (see companion article). He already knew a move was in the near future as his lease was going to expire soon. Then he lost his job. (The computer field is notorious for rapid job turnover. See companion article.) Economizing became a top priority and Jess was pretty special! So, joining she and her roommates became a happy, practical solution and Hugh moved in. But the apartment was a little crowded, interest rates were dropping and Jess had been planning to buy a home when the market indicated. Yup, she bought a 3 bed room home and Hugh has been learning all those "handy man" things. With help from family and friends, they've refinished the hard wood floors, put in a new toilet, added windows, etc. They do have a third roommate who helps with expenses and they seem to be enjoying the whole process of making the house their home.
Now remember we did say interest rates were dropping. So, Roger and Pam decided it was time for them to get back to active house hunting. They, too, have found a wonderful 3 bed room home. They will have less fix-it work to do, just a bit of painting, but their move is going to be complicated by the holidays. Escrow closed the first week of December, but the previous owner cannot move until the 22nd. The positive part of this is that family and friends will be more available to help them. It seems that a big red bow on the front door is more appropriate than a wreath for this year.
All sets of parental units are very pleased. The two homes are within 15 minutes of each other, within 10 minutes of each of the "girls" parents, and less than a half-hour from our El Cerrito home. Since, parent homes had been used for storing extras that didn't fit in small apartments, we too will have more space. Best of all, it's great to share their excitement and happiness.
KRIS IS A SENIOR? Kristen has reached another major decision point. She is officially a senior and could graduate in June with a degree in Psychology. However, a bachelor's degree in Psychology does not relate to much in the work force and she never intended that to be the goal of her college career. So, to do a double major or to go for a Master's degree or a doctorate, and then to choose what major to pursue are the questions. Because of her aptitude, grade point, and extra-curricular activities, she has many viable options. She is making use of the career counseling at Udub and has just recently completed an interest survey. It is not surprising that again the options are extremely varied. Looks like winter break will include a bit of brain-storming and evaluation. Wish her well.