A Growing Family Jean met with her doctor on the 7th and got the first look at baby Sitte. She reports seeing wiggling arms (or what would soon become arms) and a clean bill of health. Jean and Joel joyfully expect their first child in early November. Apparently, Luna is as excited as the rest of us! I foresee many more trips to Auburn and Kent/Covington.

We Got Our Shots I tried to schedule my COVID-19 vaccination over the phone and was on hold for 55 minutes.  I finally got through to a lady (on the East coast) who, nevertheless, took my information and promised me an email with my scheduled details.  By the day in question, I had not received the email.  It turned out that she had mangled my simple email address as "SL8@spu.eud." When the error was detected and corrected, it allowed me to book my appointment at the same time and location as Nancy's. So, on April Fool's Day, we went together to the Microsoft campus in Redmond and got our first Pfizer shots. Lines were long but moved quickly. On April 22nd, we returned there for shot #2.  The lines this time were nonexistent.  We were not as anxious about getting vaccinated as others we know.  But we were pleased to beat the rush, since Joe Biden had just made shots available to all down to age 16.

Valerie Grace Disher Baptized, April 18, 2021
at University Presbyterian Church

Valerie's baptism will be shared on YouTube during University Presbyterian Church's worship service on Mother's Day, May 9th.  The actual event was recorded in the UPC sanctuary on April 18th.

Valerie will learn her baptism date, if not remember the event itself. It happened a day before her 4-month birthday.

The video and sound over Zoom was sub-standard, but we did pick up her baptism
verse read by Thomas.  "¹³ Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.
¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NRSV

The gown she wore had been worn at past baptisms by generations of Dishers.

[D]on't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. — Romans 6:3-4 NIV

My Retirement Rocking Chair 

With 25 years of service, SPU awards a "gold" watch.  At 30 years, it's a nice desk lamp.  And at 35 years, the employees often choose a rocking chair.  These can also be purchased for $565.

A rocking chair was the only thing I had hoped to obtain if I retired at age 69.  I was actually a bit sad about not getting to check off that bucket list item.

Then in late March, I happened to search through eBay and spotted a chair of the same type as the ones awarded by SPU (small image), except this one, with an opening bid of $100, had the Wesleyan University (Connecticut) logo.  The $180 shipping price encouraged me to pass this offer by, but on a whim I clicked on the "free local shipping" notice and discovered that the seller was in Seattle.  More sleuthing showed that "bill-in-seattle" was in the University District and offered to deliver locally.  I had to wait a whole week to learn that I was the first and only bidder!  When Bill, who lives in the Ravenna district, arrived with my new chair on April 1st, I gave him an extra $10 for the SR-520 bridge toll, which he graciously accepted.  We had a good chat, and it seemed clear that the chair he'd had in storage for 30 years was going to a home where it would be loved. 

It's become my favorite chair and it stays in the Great room where I can rock my granddaughters, at least when Charis doesn't insist on her turn.  It rocks smoothly and I foresee years of rocking and reading far into my retirement future.

Hits and "Miss" in the April Garden

The most enjoyable part of gardening, the element that turns the work into play, is the "help" of Charis.  Her tiny shovel is not very effective, but she wields it vigorously.  She is good at following directions, and most of all, she really wants to help.

Together, we got over twenty peppers, of four varieties, into ten pots.  The sets of bulb onions we planted, and in which I had at first lost hope, have come up en masse.  Green onions have gone into pots.  Charis helped me plant over two dozen Bearded Iris rhizomes along the path north of the tomato patch, at least until she discovered that it was more fun putting the funny-looking plants on my head as I kneeled beside the new flower bed.  These, and orange Day Lilies, which I planted on the slope north of the kitchen, were gift culls from friend Lynette Cuff's garden.

The one failure were the tomatoes.  Eleven of sixteen plants were lost to a surprise late frost.  But I had nine more tomatoes already moved outside and re-potted, ready to replace the lost ones. Six of these have gone in the ground.  Randy and Don both stopped by and raided my supply of tomato starts I had been growing on the granite bench by the dining room window.  But more than a dozen more tiny tomatoes are just now coming up at the end of April. 

Perennials catnip and parsley returned, and many green onions wintered-over.  The many strawberry plants from seeds are still very small.  I suspect they'll be a project for July.

Twelve small pots have a variety of Marigolds beginning to come up.  Three large pots for Zinnias, and two for Bachelor's Buttons, got planted on the 27th.  And nine pumpkin seeds went into three pots.  Oregano and Basil seeds have also gone into pots.  So, where should I plant the watermelon seeds??!

Can't Go a Month without the Boys

We nearly missed seeing the Auburn Sleights this month.  But on the 30th, Cynthia brought the boys north, and then we saw Nathanael at the Sitte house.  Jonathan had taken a bad fall off of a chair at home the day before and had a big bandage on his face.  I worry about the little guy because he is a fearless climber.  For that matter, I followed Reuben as he crawled up our oak stairs from our first to second floors. I especially look forward to retirement so I can spend more time with all our grandchildren.

After about 25 years as neighbors, Ken and Lori Smith are moving to a new home on Lake Sammamish.  Lori brought over her daughter Kara's old toys for Charis, and a wind-up swing for Valerie.  She also brought over a 25 gallon fish tank for either Joel or me.  Joel passed on the gift, so I will finally get back into the hobby I enjoyed so much back in the mid to late 1970's.  It's a happy retirement thought.  I'm down to one goldfish that Annie brought home from college in 2010.

On the 7th, I met with the Transamerica rep that works with SPU.  I mentioned that I was confused between what TIAA and Transamerica reported as my retirement savings.  She called TIAA on the phone and discovered the source of my confusion.  I began investing with TIAA back when I was 24 while teaching at the University of Washington.  That little nest egg had grown to over $198,000.  Add that to what I've invested while at SPU, with SPU's matching contributions, then add two house loans, and Social Security of over $3,000/month in a few years, plus IRAs, not to mention what Nancy has, and our retirement income will be substantial. 

I gave my last lecture at SPU on April 14th.  Weeks 4 through 10 consist just of tutoring during office hours and proctoring "exams from home" online and in-person exams on Wednesdays at SPU.  I also held my final monthly meeting with my dean Ross Stewart.  He will head off to his native New Zealand at the end of the month and will not return until after I have left SPU. 

I have heard from Chaplain John Waltner at the Emerald Heights Retirement Community in Redmond that they will not be ready for outside speakers to visit in June, so I will not be finishing up my series on Acts 20-28 until they invite me back.  I understand they do want me back, and I've let them know that as a new retiree, I'm much more open to dates other than just June and July.

Jean and Joel moved into their new home this month.  On the 30th, Nancy and I drove the Hsu dining room table and two pieces of the orange sectional we'd gotten years ago from our Frickel neighbors down to them.  I installed a ceiling light in Joel's basement office with Nathanael's help and replaced a light bulb in the basement hallway.  Most light fixtures were removed when asbestos was removed from the ceilings.  I enjoy the electrical work and will do what I can to install new light fixtures in the Sitte house.

The National Eagle Scout Association reminded me that this month marks my 50th anniversary since becoming an Eagle Scout.

My Quote from April

Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all. If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed. — C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 3, Chapter 8, “The Great Sin” Narcissistic Personality Disorder: A disorder in which a person has an inflated sense of self-importance. Narcissistic personality disorder is found more commonly in men. The cause is unknown but likely involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms include an excessive need for admiration, disregard for others' feelings, an inability to handle any criticism, and a sense of entitlement. (If it's genetic, I'm glad I did not pass it on to my kids.) For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.  — Romans 12:3 NASB

I never clean a clogged drain

unless I can use a plunger.

For 40 years I've been spoiled

by having a wife who is a fixer.

Nancy's personality is that of a

mechanic and problem solver.

And now with Annie in the house,

it's like mother, like daughter.

The best

kind of

warm

diapers

are the

dry ones!