Entry14-2000-2005 A pretty good half decade

Jem and I, love this photo.

The 21st Century started out very well for me. Zach, Jeremy, and Julia were thriving so we could start traveling. Your Mom and I vacationed in Paris, Bermuda, San Francisco, and Hawaii. I was in charge of planning, except for the Paris vacation which was my 25th Anniversary present. I love setting up an itinerary, looking for flights, and booking hotels. Its terrific when it all comes together for a fun vacation. We still did one family vacation each summer. In '03 we all traveled to South Dakota with your grandmother Dot. It was a big Kelly reunion. We packed into two vans and toured the state. Who could ever forget the world famous Corn Palace or the loneliest buffalo in the West. I was excited to see Mt. Rushmore and would have loved to climb it. I definitely am drawn to the high places. The first five yrs. of the decade had some sadness. My Mom passed away in '02 of what I think was a broken heart from missing my Dad. Kids, I can't begin to describe to you how much I still miss her. EJ you would have loved her. She was the most optimistic and cheerful of people. All she ever wanted was for her family to be happy. When she died the world became a little less bright for me. In '02 we lost your Grandfather Frank. Frank was simply the most decent man I have ever known. He lived his life with dignity and integrity. I enormously admired him as a husband, and father. It was in his honor that I chose Francis as my Christian name when I converted. Dot moved in with us after he died and stayed with us for about five years. There was a lot of activity in the house as both Jem and Jules became teenagers. I think we got Dante, or Snooks, or as I like to call him, well never mind, as a rescue dog around '01. I am sure our cat Brittany greeted him with a swipe. Zach got into Tufts' Vet. School in '02 his life long dream to be a Vet. was going to be fulfilled. Julia was still dancing at Karla's studio while Jem was playing soccer for Pentucket High School. We met our travel buddies, Charlie and Shirley Blood, while on a flight to Maui in '04. Life was rather serene for us with the biggest worry being whether the Sox would ever win the World Series, particularly after an awful loss to the HATED YANKEES, in '03. We made our annual trips to Stowe. I was confident that life would go on like this for a long time. Do you know the term Godsmack? Its when life throws you a 100 mile per hour curve ball that leaves you breathless. Tune in for entry 15 my children for a major Godsmack. Love you all, Dad