Wishing loved ones well tonight

We've been thinking a lot about our friends and family out west these past few days because many people  we care about are affected by the wild fires plaguing that part of the country. I heard from my son-in-law, Robert Shay, today, who said the air quality has been very poor in both Boulder and Santa Fe -  his two homes (he and my granddaughter, Katie, are in Boulder, and his wife, Kate, is in Santa Fe), but they were hoping for improvement soon. A recent trip with Kate to the Mayo Clinic for a check-up on his myeloma brought good news on that front, however. And we learned from Tamar that Max is enjoying being at Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, very much. So family in Colorado seem to be ok.

Rob's brother Neil and his wife, Sue, run the Bluebird Hill Winery in Monroe, OR. They are much closer to the fires, and we were worried about them. We were glad to learn that fire does not directly threaten them, but the smoke in the air is so dense, they cannot go outside, and the grapes need to be harvested. We send them good wishes.

Our friends in Salem. OR are not faring so well. Fires have been within 15 miles from Salem, smoke is really bad, and our friend, J. E, Seibert has decided to leave Salem and spend two weeks with her brother in Denver. We hope she will be ok and can return to an unscathed home! Bonnie and Roger Hull are at home in Salem so far as we know but must have to stay indoors. Bonnie, who is an artist, has a show up currently at the Hallie Ford Museum, but between the COVID pandemic and fires, it can't be a very good time for visitors to the show. We wish them well. Fire has already ravaged some places dear to us in Oregon, especially in the Santiam Highway region. E.g., much of the town of Mill City, where a coffee and bakery, Rosie's, has been a must-stop for us for years, is gone. J. E. said Rosie's may have been spared, but who knows if it will survive as a business. 

And finally, our friend, Jerry Hochberger, has been in the hospital for a few days. They're been working on getting his various blood counts and levels back in good order and he may come home today. We send him and his wife, Maggie, love and good wishes.

There are others as well - e.g., my godson, Tom McKean is in California; my niece, Suzie, and her family are in Everett, WA, Susan and Christian in Boise, ID.  And of course Paul, Jenny and Max are in Alpine, WY. We have a lot of folks we care about out West!  We are thinking of you all, tonight, and sending love and good wishes.

Jerry and Maggie Hochberger

Robert Shay

Ellen and I with Neil and Sue Shay at the Bluebird Hill Winery in Oregon

Bonnie Hull at work

With J. E. Seibert and Bonnie and Roger Hull, in Salem, OR

A scene in Mill City, OR, a few days ago

Rosie's Coffee House and Bakery in Mill City (in better days)