Here I am at work on April 26, 1993. It's 3:45 in the afternoon. A lot has happened over the last year. Darren took the SAT's, did well, pulled an 1145 and decided to apply to Hamilton - early decision, and was accepted. That was an easy and painless process after Eric. Darren finished his Eagle requirements in December and received his award at a dinner last Friday. Eric was master of ceremonies, they both did a fantastic job of speaking - we're very proud. We now have both boys in very good liberal arts colleges. Over the years, Eric has been more focused on academics and Darren on the social aspects of school. Finding professions that compliment these talents is the real challenge. They should both do well.

Eric is now a junior at Haverford, still interested in medical school. On April 17th, he took the MCAT's. He thinks he did well on everything except Biology - his favorite subject.

It is now June 2, 1994. Eric did fine on the MCAT's, 11's and 12's; and exceptionally well in his fall semester (3.7). He applied to a number of medical schools over the last summer and interviewed this spring. He graduated in May and has been accepted at Stony Brook, but decided to defer entry into medical school for one year. One cannot imagine the pride we feel for his accomplishments. For graduation, we bought him a 1990 Jeep.

Darren spent his first year at Hamilton. He chose some very difficult courses for his first year. In time, he will find his niche. In the meantime, he is definitely enjoying the college life. We bought him a 1983 Jeep at the end of his first year because of the many dollars his attending Hamilton has and will save us.

We are now overstocked with cars (7) and are also attempting to sell the house on Welshbush Road. Our credit line is just about out and we will need to fund Darren's education this year ($8,000) and both Eric and Darren next year ($??). Not having much luck selling anything.

In March of this year, Utica Mutual implemented a plan to reduce the management staff by cutting out the middle layer. Both system managers’ positions were eliminated. Fortunately, they created new positions for both of us. I am now the agency-company interface manager. This was about 10% of what I was doing. The new position requires more traveling and is more marketing oriented. It may work out, but I see it as a short-term focus for the company - probably 3 - 5 years. I miss the people management aspect of my previous position but enjoy very much only being responsible for myself. The travel is good, but that enthusiasm will pass.

It is now October 6^th 1994. Gloria and I just returned from a user group meeting in Florida and three days of Clearwater beach - I needed that. Job security is still a problem. The position is not well defined and my responsibilities and duties are vague. I may be in the position less than expected. Gloria is also having difficulty at her job. Her new boss, is requiring that the nurses’ notes be typed and feels that is a ploy by her boss to bring in a friend. She's not happy. Ah, for retirement.

Darren is doing much better this fall and still having a good time. He will probably choose Communication as a major - a good choice. With both Eric and Darren, in their sophomore years, their attitudes seem to have changed towards us as parents. They were more appreciative of what we do and have done. In a way, it makes it all worthwhile when that happens.

Eric is currently working as a phlebotomist and a waiter. He is also taking an EMT course two nights a week, belongs to the Forestport volunteer fire department and is assistant scoutmaster of the new troop 9 in Clinton. He also travels to Boston to see Sue once a month and she comes here once a month. He met Sue (Mackenzie) last summer. She is from a well-to-do family in Barneveld. They are quite serious. He still wants to buy a motorcycle, which we object to, but are helping him look for a good deal.

It's now January 20th 1995. Eric bought a motorcycle in October - a Kawasaki 1000cc. Shortly after that, I saw a second hand Suzuki Intruder 1400 cc in the paper, offered by a local used car dealer. I couldn't resist. He took the customized, two seat 76 Cadillac Saville I had bought a few years prior in trade. Since October 21^st, I've put 1000 miles on it including another hundred last weekend - it got up to 65 degrees in mid-January - unbelievable.

Eric quit the job of being a waiter and is living at home for the winter. He's looking for a second job to finance his motorcycle trip cross-country next summer. He is having doubts about Sue, his girlfriend, and has decided to try being just friends for a month. Gloria finished a phlebotomy course and Eric just took the state EMT exam.

Darren did very well this last semester. He keeps improving and has expressed desires to become a lawyer. He continues to work part-time at Communications and Development at Hamilton, has become a member of an accopella singing group called the Buffers, and had a radio show with his roommate last semester. He's still with his girlfriend from last year - Joanne and is having a good time.

Almost a full year has passed. It's now January 7, 1996. Much has happened. I've had four bosses over the last year. I first worked for two different senior vice presidents before moving to the marketing department. The last year has been spent implementing electronic data interchange (EDI) between the company and our agents. It puts me on the user side of the equation relative to data processing - I know where the bodies are buried so I'm quite effective.

We had a ball on the bike this summer, I think we put about 8,000 miles on it - I love it. Gloria joins me most of the time. This winter it has been below freezing since October, which was the last time I took it out.

Gloria is still working at Hamilton, and just finished a chemistry course at MVCC - an "A" of course - sometimes being a perfectionist pays off.

Darren is a junior at Hamilton. He did exceptionally well in his second semester last year and during the summer took two courses at Utica College with B's in both. Last summer he ended the formal relationship with Joanne and has dated a number of women since. He remains a very good friend with all of his past romances - a near impossible task for the rest of us.

Eric spent about a month of last summer traveling cross-country with John Kelsey. They started off on bikes but realized that their butts wouldn't last for the 6000 + miles. When they reached Columbus, they turned around, came back and took the Jeep. They saw the sights of the country and took many pictures - it was very fulfilling. While he was gone, he gave serious consideration to his and Sue's relationship. He decided that she was the one to spend the rest of his life with. They became engaged shortly after returning and have now planned an August 17th 1996 wedding.

In August, he started medical school at SUNY Stony Brook. He loves it and is doing very well - honors in most courses.