With Carolyn, Konstantin and Richard
Our big news this week was that John and I got tenure in the Foreign Service. The cable came out on Tuesday, and there was much merry-making! We didn’t expect to get it this year (it was our first time to be considered). I’m happy to report that lots of folks from my A-100 class were with us on the list (and sad to see a few favorite names omitted). It was great news, and John and I immediately went to Harry’s to celebrate.
The celebration continued Thursday night, when we went with Richard to Carolyn and Konstantin’s neat house on Capitol Hill. It was stormy, so instead of going out to dinner, we enjoyed a nice meal at their comfortable house. And I got to see their dogs, back from Nepal.
Friday night, we went to dinner at Harry’s with Dink, a good friend and mentor from our A-100 days. He’s in town working on a special project, and we were happy to be able to spend time with him. With 20+ years in the Service, he has lots of insight and good advice, and he’s just a darn nice guy and enjoyable to be around.
Saturday night, we drove to an area in NE DC to meet our Juarez neighbors for dinner and a de las Nieves reunion: Neal, TFran, Miguel and Meghan. It was a funky little sushi/tater tots place (yes, what an odd combination!). It was great to have the neighborhood gang back together. In Juarez, Neal was famous for making Spam Sushi, a nod to his Hawiaan upbringing – we did without the Spam last night, and had a good visit.
Last Sunday night, we had dinner with some good friends from Juarez who were in town for just a few days. The husband in the family just returned from being in Afghanistan with the State Department for a year – it was great to hear his stories and observations.
Yesterday, John and I spent the day running errands and test-driving cars. Yes, the Volvo will be going to the country…Arkansas, that is. Looks like Cousin Kay has decided she wants to fly out and drive it home. I’m thrilled that my car of 19 years won’t just be religated to a dealer parking lot (the Volvo is a 1988, and I bought it in early 1991, if I remember correctly). I’m looking at buying a Honda Fit to take to Tel Aviv.
Luckily, the weather has improved markedly, so we’re enjoying some much cooler days. Hope my friends in Arkansas get a break soon, too!
With Kathy, John (and their kids) , Beth, Tom