Friends and Family

Ozgur continues to be part of my life and it is thanks to him I am able to do these Christmas updates. I design them but he does all the technical work to make them happen. He has a job he loves at the British Consulate in Istanbul and never ceases to amaze me. This year he coordinated Prince Philip’s trip to see a car factory, when he and Queen Elizabeth were in Istanbul, and actually got to meet the Queen. It is so much fun to follow his career and I am very proud of all his accomplishments since he has been back in Turkey. My friend Kate and her husband went to Istanbul and Antalya in October spending time with Ozgur and his family and experienced the same, warm welcome that I did a few years ago. They are a wonderful family and it is such an honor to have them in our lives.

                                   
                           Prince's Philip's visit to TOFAS car factory. Ozgur on the far right.

                                      Kate and Eric with Ozgur's family in Antalya

This year my former roommates and I went on a mini cruise from Vancouver to Long Beach, California for our yearly girls get together. It was so much fun to get all dressed up for dinner, take in the shows and enjoy the glitz and glamour of a Princess Cruise.

                                                      Our glamor portrait

                                                     More glitz and glamor

                                                   Princess Cruise Ship

I am taking a creative writing class at the college which is fun and challenging. I also continue to take private Spanish Lessons from my friend Paloma. It was her brother Juan Carlos who was living with me for a year while he got his PHD from the University of Washington. He is now living in Washington D.C. but he and his wife Loretta were back in Seattle in September for a family reunion. Their mom and sister were also here from Spain. It is always fun to see them again as I have also spent time with them in Madrid. This year we did a boat cruise of Lake Union and Lake Washington, walked Discovery Park and spent a great day at the beautiful Bloedel Reserve Gardens on Bainbridge Island.

                                                   Laurie, Chuspa and Juana

                                                   Juan Carlos and Loretta

                                                        Bloedel Gardens

It’s fun to keep up with my friend Lilia Elena’s little angels. Robert is now four and we enjoy our times together. Ana Lilia just had her first birthday the first of November. I certainly am lucky to have sweet little people like them in my life. Also, I am always on the lookout for update photos of my niece Krista’s little boy Caden who is a year old now. My brother Jeff and his wife Rhonda are having great fun being grandparents.

                                                       Lilia Elena's Family

                                                            Ana Lilia

                                                   Rhonda, Krista and Caden

                                                       Jeff and Caden

So it is fun to look back at the year. I am so blessed with wonderful friends, family and an ability to travel to new and exotic places.

I wish you all the best for the New Year with good health and happiness at the top of the list.