Happy Holidays from Pensacola

It is with great joy that we dispatch season’s greetings to friends and family this Yuletide. For the first time since 1995 we celebrate the holidays on the North American Continent. The chill in the December air (hey-50 degrees is cold when you’ve been living on a tropical island for 3 years), the proximity to family (far less daunting to be separated by the interstate system than the Pacific Ocean), and the fellowship of the Central Time Zone (we’re finally on the same side of the International Date Line) promise to make this a banner season in the Navy Bonniwell household.

The theme of our past year has been geographic transition. We moved from Guam in June, returning enthusiastically to our homeland but leaving behind some wonderful memories and great friends. After visiting many of you Northerners in July, we landed in Pensacola to get started on our new tour here. We found a nice little house to rent in the nice little town of Pace, which is just a nice little drive from Pensacola. While adjusting to life in the Continental 48 has proved to be quite an undertaking, the positive aspects of stateside life are being relished. We enjoyed immensely our Minnesota visit in July. Paula delights in taking advantage of the domestic long distance rates. Dan truly cherishes the ability to watch the Vikings on the actual day of their game; although the adage "be careful what you wish for…" seems to apply this season.

The year’s conclusion has us more or less settled in our new digs. Dan is stationed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field "up in Milton". He flies the T-34C "Turbo-mentor" as a primary and intermediate stage instructor pilot with the Shooters of Training Squadron SIX. Sylvia, meanwhile, is stationed at S.S. Dixon Intermediate School in Pace as a third grade student. Paula and Natalie put in full days at the domicile working on projects and preparing Nat for school. Sylvia’s working hard to master her multiplication tables, spelling, and cursive handwriting. Natalie turned four December 4^th. She works hard at her favorite pastime, dress-up clothes, as well as playing computer games, puzzles, and learning her letters. Both girls are enrolled in dance and gymnastics classes. Between all the activities and all the activity, Paula does well to keep up.

The great milestone of Y2K coincides with our big decision: where do we go from here? With Dan’s service commitment expiring in May 2002, it’s a vexing question and one we wrestle continually. We have no idea what the answer to that question is. Making the Navy a career, trying for the airlines, flying for the Reserves, and inter-service transfer are all viable possibilities. The only certain thing is that the next couple of years will be interesting, challenging, and monumental.

Best wishes and warmest regards to all.