staze.net

Introducing "Beauty"

Every few months our family makes a visit to the animal shelter to check out all the critters. Until now it has always been pretty non-committal - mostly for everyone to say "hi" to our little furry buddies. This Saturday, we ended up bringing a not-so-little friend home - a lovely one year old Shepherd-Husky mix named "Beauty".

It turns out Beauty was given up by her previous family earlier the same morning due to some incompatible moving situation.

It's barely been 24 hours and she is already comfortable in her new home.

Charles A. Gillespie, Jr. (1935-2008)

On our last day in Japan we learned that my father-in-law had passed away. He had been battling cancer for some time, although the timing and suddenness of his death caught everyone by surprise. I feel fortunate to have known him for almost my entire adult life and truly cherished the time I spent with this remarkable man.

I vividly remember the first time I met him - larger than life, in his blue government suit, and my being somewhere well north of intimidated. After all, in my youthful naiveté a career ambassador was some sort of mythical person, like an Obi-Wan Kenobi. He did turn out to have all the steel and wisdom of a Jedi, but was also an incredibly warm and loving person.

Most I will miss the deep, insightful conversations - from philosophy to politics to government policy and everything in between.

The LA Times has put together a small piece on his life and career.

(The picture above taken with the grandchildren at Kirkwood, New Year's Eve 2004).