Well, it had to happen; senility has sunk in. You forgot Gail's birthday. First time that we didn't hear from you. I imagine that you have a good excuse, or you'll quickly make one up now. I think that all that letter writing from last year has worn you out, or is it your new job? I would think that elderly (include yourself if you wish) shouldn't have to put in 8 hour days. It would be better if you only did 4 hours at one go. I put in 6 hours and am totally exhausted.

Speaking of your 1993 letters here are the official figures: 46 from you to us and 17 from me (with about 6 from the other three here). Easily the best we have done since I first went into Peace Corps.

Gail mentioned the items that I had planned on filling the page with, so I shall dip back to Dec and give you a few stories about Dad's visit. He was last one out of customs area. Seems that because he had to go to Seattle instead of SF that his bags were on different plane. He was told in Hawaii that they were on way to Sydney. So he had to fill out forms here. Well, we get home and there is a phone call saying that his bags had been on the plane after all and they were brought out straight away. He was lucky as he had everything in the suitcases and pretty much nothing as carry-on. He travels light. Anyway, he was wide awake and had no complaints about the flight. Doug came over the first night for our weekly rock 'n roll evening. Next day dad went to town with me and as we were waiting in line in the Post Office we were accosted by Pat, who gushed all over him in her loud manner. Then we bumped into Mike Sanders down the block. Another day I introduced him to several shopkeepers/clerks that know me from school or basketball days... proving that this is still a small town.

Gail takes the dogs for a walk about twice a month. But Dad loves to walk, so he was out with Cabbie about three times a day. We went to Whites on 4th and went surfing. The next day we went to Conifer Grove to watch Doug windsurf then over to their place (was Pat's birthday). Doug gave Dad a checkup the next day while I went to school.

Then came the big trip with the kids. Dad was impressed with the number of houses and how well they were kept up. I kept trying to explain that NZ is a bloody rich country, only now beginning to have a poor class. But the vast majority are well off. I think he expected to see vast area of just sheep, which is the south island and most of the interior of the north island. But between here and Rotorua are mostly towns and farms. Anyway we did the glowworm cave and he couldn't believe that the lights weren't man-made. And that was the theme of all future sights. He had trouble accepting that nature could do such things. Took in a Maori village that was very dilapidated and not as good as the one we saw with you, up north. Then into our flash motel room, swim in the heated pool followed by a soak in the spa which was attached to our room.

Next day Ne made herself spaghetti on toast for breakfast and that was an eye-opener for the boy from Minnesota. Took in Waiotapu thermal area and started off by observing Lady know Geyser blow. I, like others, had wondered how the thing could erupt at 10:15AM each day without knowing about day light Savings. The explanation is simple. Lye soap bars are dropped into the hole and the soap reduces the surface tension and sets off the gush. We were able to walk right next to the geyser, put our hand into the spray. Then it was a two hour hike past many craters of various colors, across a steaming lake and over pink terraces.. .the best thermal area of the six we have seen. That evening we went to the Kingsgate Hotel for a meal and Maori show. It was set around an indoor swimming pool. About 300 people. 285 Japanese in tour groups and 15 Europeans who straggled in on their own. We white people were put at one table. At the far end was a family from Australia. Next to us were a couple from Italy. He is an engineer for Fiat and had been in China teaching Italian to their car engineers. Another fellow was from Portland, Or and he had just finished teaching for a year in Australia and was on his way home. Before the meal was served we had drinks. Dad wanted a beer, waitress asked which one, he didn't know what was available, so she ran off a list including Lion Red, DB Brown, Steinlager Blue, Steinlager Green (meaning the label color). He chose S Blue and when she left he said to us "I've never had a blue beer before". Was a large smorgasboard setting of NZ-type dishes. Poor Dad filled his plate before we were a third of the way through. He likes to eat, especially potatoes - and he seemed surprized that we had potatoes here in NZ.

I am sure that he thought that he was going to darkest Africa and was probably expecting something like Fiji would be. But here everyone spoke English and it was just like being in the States. About the only difference seems to be that the sports are different. The first few days he would keep asking if that person was a Maori. Nowadays we have an awful lot of what are called "islanders" who came from Samoa, Cook Is, Fiji, Tonga etc.... So most of the time the answer to dad was "no". Then we have the other problem that a lot of Maoris look European due to inter-marriages. So I'd tell him the person he had just spoke to was Maori and he would think I was lying. Some of his impressions (been so long since you were here) were that everything was so green (others from MN have said that too), that every house and yard was so smart flowers galore everywhere, so many luxury cars and no junkie cars on roads, no potholes and that there is no news about what is happening in the States.

Unfortunately, the batteries for my video camera have worn out and I have been told that JVC is no longer in NZ and I can't get new ones. So that limited what I could get on tape of Dad's stay.

That Christmas tree in the photo with Renee is her tree. She got it from a friend as seedling and I planted it. It grew much faster than I had planned and it was up to 25 ft high and growing into our telephone line. So I lopped off the top 15 feet and we had a real tree for a change. Its scent meant that I had to stay out of the room. made a nice change.

Gail got a Christmas card from one of her students: 'You are the BEAST teacher". It was a spelling mistake, we hope.