The fun never stops.
First and foremost, Carl and I became grandparents on December 31. Absolute and beautiful joy - no other words for it! Tjitske and Matt, in case there is still someone out there who doesn't know, became beautiful parents of a beautiful boy: Keegan Charles. He will have his own blogspot soon, being brilliant and all that. He is working one the 2nd as well as the one-before-last letters of the alphabet, but he has his 'o' down pat! I am so glad that Tjitske said I can come anytime and as often as I want. That feels special. Of course there is that 3 hr ride in between. Keegan is just gorgeous and seeing one's own daughter as a parent is an amazing experience.
Keegan was born while we were still in Jamaica, celebrating our 40th anniversary on Dec. 29. We had a marvelous villa with all the trimmings and were surrounded by the best: Sander and Deirdre with their excellent halves Liz and Mike, and also our dearest friends, now for 45 years, Marry and Kees Jongsma from Holland. What a treat! Jamaica was quite amazing and I couldn't get over the difference between Jamaica, other islands, the Dom Rep and Haiti. No matter what anyone sees about poverty and lack of structure: there truly and so sadly is nothing like Haiti. Not even close, and that includes the trips we took deeper into the forests in Jamaica. Sure, there is poverty - just still no comparison. There ARE 'normal' stores, roads, stoplights, better education and jobs...the many we take for granted. Nowhere so in Haiti. It is time! Take charge, Haiti! Give what you have been given and use it well, and boot the rest out. It's your country. Not 'love it or leave it' but 'love it - so fix it!'. That's always been my motto for the USA - but it certainly fits for Haiti! Can you imagine Australia or Russia coming over here to fix our unemployment problems?? Help: fine. Take over? Eh..no.
OneBigBoost. Always on my mind and booming. Look at the website www.onebigboost.org to see what we have done these 13 months, and you can leave messages there as well!. We are truly proud of it, and so grateful for everyone who has sent donations and helped in other ways. It comprises 99% of the project! You can write to onebigboost@gmail.com if you have questions, want to get involved etc.
Last October we, Beth and I, were invited to present a PowerPoint presentation to the PA chapter of the
UN's 65th anniversary. That was really exciting and, among other things, resulted in a local young teacher coming with me on my next trip to Haiti! We've kept the PPT and are now starting to show it at other places: schools, organizations etc. Not necessarily for fund raising (depending on the situation)- often just informative about small things a small org can do, or about the situations in Nepal and Haiti in general.
It keeps me very busy: contacts, planning et, and I love it. I wish I could somehow put in more clay days, but part of the problem is lack of space: I feel claustrophobic in the tiy space I have. I'll get there again.
I am leaving for Haiti some time next week, ow that many stirred-up situations in Haiti have quieted down, and friends there have assured us that it is fine to come now. Katie, the teacher, is coming with me, as is a friend of Lisa's in Germany, Dinah Dreher, for whom OBB has foud a great place to volunteer for the spring and early summer. Lisa has taken on the position as OBB Ambassador to Germany and already she did such a wonderful thing here that will touch many people's lives!!
Our big and most exciting thing this spring is that Carl and I are going to the UK in May, to spend a glorious week with Annemieke, Mark, and their new baby to be born in April. We really can't wait - it is on my mind every day! MORE pictures and stories! More newborn miracles.
In April I am going to Holland for a very short week, staying with Marry and Kees. Reason for the trip: Frans Bruggen is conducting in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (newly discovered violin concerto by Clement), and I will finally be there to enjoy all that 'live'. What a incredible treat that will be..my eyes get warm at the thought. I hope to see him, and visit Mabel and Jan as well as my cousins John and Jany...it will be fabulous. I don't even care what the weather will be like! (can be fierce!)
The trip to Haiti includes a volunteer project at school, meeting with the people of a very successful restavek (identured slave children - the neglected ones) program, meeting friends re a ew hostpital/clinic and setting up the seeds for a micro business for women there (clay project-write for details) and we're looking for small-time investment: a $100-$200 pp (or more) contribution to assure income, 5% interest, guaranteed paid back by the end of a full year. That will set them up to receive a micro-loan in Haiti! Interested? write me for details. A lot to do in 7-10 days, and we'll see how far we get!
Time to go again. Life is good: my best friend as husband, a life with good friends, great family, a grandson who already takes after me (cuddly and expensive to keep), time for Haiti and the many things in other places...great new clay projects (mostly in my mind)not much more to ask for!!
All the best to each of you!
Oh yes: my comp is having problems with 'n' and occasionally with 'a'. When writing pant or band or snap etc, the spell-checker doesn't pick up the missing letters, and I don't want to check it all for the rest. :D
Marianne
