California Wrights Christmas Letter 2011

Wrights, Berlacks and Ungers at Homewood Retreat


2011 Christmas Letter, California Wrights

Pictures on picasaweb.google.com/terryw100

We have had another exciting year of exploration, family outings and accomplishment, and health issues. There is a polyp that has grown in my sinus, and neurological complications that have delayed much needed surgery still in progress at this writing.

Our year started with me and Judy on a 3 week trip to the Big Island to sight see and visit friends. We explored all the canyons, beaches and haunts developed over the years, with the addition of a walk on a moving lava flow and a two mile hike in a Lava tube. Next a desert-Benton trip with Judy and Kailen to Saline Valley for President’s day. The whole family reuned in Homewood for a ski vacation with Carolyn’s crew and mine.

After a break in Sonoma County, I met Judy in Las Vegas for a camping/visiting trip across the Colorado Plateau, taking in ruins, canyons, rocks, hikes out to Taos, and return via Canyonlands Maze district, Bryce and Zion.

Next, Judy joined me on a high water trip on the Carson River with Tom Donovan and crew. Then back to a brief visit with sister Cindy and Ronnie and off again to Kate Wolf Folk Music Festival with the popcorn crew. A visit to Benton followed, with the Saline crew at the hot springs and a potato gun shoot out.

Back to Sonoma County, I faced my overweight issue and concentrated on getting more fit and losing weight. I have lost 26 lbs now by counting calories and watching intake, and working out at the gym.

A fun family river trip on the American followed in August, then I headed off to Benton and Burning man. A new camp with friend Canyon, Earth Guardians and a field trip and lecture (250 people) led to a full experience there. Judy joined me in Benton afterwards for the Millpond Music festival, we visited old friends and played in the mountains.

Back in Forestville, I saw an ENT doc and set a surgery date, only to have it cancelled because of neurological complications. I have been here now since late September, sleeping fitfully and seeing doctors of all types, I expect to get the final word on surgery on the 21^st December and be done with this issue early in the new year, this will be a relief.

Heather and crew are flourishing; she is a busy mom and in Law School now, and hobnobbing with the local lawyer set. Shasta and Jevria are active in soccer and are avid readers. Brian is working hard at his bookkeeping business and coaching soccer. Heather has supported me in my medical adventures and has been a great help.

Kailen and Zoe bought a cute house in San Jose, a picture postcard bungalow on the northwest side of town. Kyvi is growing fast, talking up a storm and playing with a great store of creative toys. Kailen is working hard at Google, and Zoe is in graduate school for speech therapy. I saw Kailen give a presentation on google programs at a local high school, he was great and personable. Tom Wrights daughter, Emily visited in the fall en route to look for a job in California.

All our love to you for the new year

Terry terryw100@gmail.com

Seasons greetings 2011

Zoe, Kyva, Shasta, Heather, Jevria, Kailen and Brian
Terry and Judy Wilder xmas 10

Season’s Greetings from California Wrights

Pictures on picasaweb.google.com/terryw100

We have had another eventful year, and thankful for strong family ties, exploration, good health and fun times. I am dividing my time between Forestville and Benton homes and travels to Tulsa and other places to meet up with my love Judy Wilder. We have been to Portland, Oregon, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Carson river and just returned from 3 weeks in Hawaii on the big island reveling in tropical explorations. We met up with the eastern family in Frog City including Kailen, Zoe and Kyva and Jim (Zoe’s dad), said farewell to the Camden house, which has now been sold, A reunion with Wally Grover and his family in Lake Sunapee complete with display of restored fire engines segued into a visit to Cindy in Franconia and a return to Greenleaf hut (see my blog for the story).

My big event at Burning Man was lecturing to 350 people on the local geology. The event ended badly with a fire that destroyed my pickup and camper on a desert highway in Nevada. I spent a fun amount of time with insurance claims and buying new stuff, including a new Toyota Tacoma and pop top camper like I had before in time to spend 12 days in Saline Valley over Thanksgiving. .

I also completed the text and illustrations for the new edition of my Tuolumne River guidebook which will be published in April by Riverbooks.

Heather, Brian and clan are flourishing at the Douglas lane house, Brian coaching soccer and doing accounting, and Heather just landed a new job doing legal assisting. Shasta and Jevria are busy happy kids, doing well in school and playing soccer. Kailen is working hard on Google Earth and Zoe is in graduate school working toward a degree in speech pathology. Kyva is walking, talking and doing all the things an almost 2 year old does. All kids love books and learning new things.

We send our greetings to you and wish you a great new year.

Terry, Heather, Kailen, Brian, Shasta, Zoe, Jevria and Kyva.

Terry- Po box 279, Forestville, Ca, 95436

Heather Wise 5490 Douglas Lane, Sebastopol, Ca 95472

Kailen Wright, 1237 Manet Dr. Sunnyvale, Ca. 94087

Emails: terryw100@gmail.com

Kailen.wright@gmail.com

Chaycha@sonic.net