March Madness

Lots to report, but first, our thoughts are with Paula, David and family during this time of loss.  We align ourselves with Janet's very thoughtful message below.
 
We are also thinking of Sarah, whose surgery to remove a couiple of growths appears to have been successful.  Grandma reports that the doctors were optimistic and Sarah should be home with Uncle Jim and Aunt Georgia in Florida and recovering.
 
And Annie was also sick, with bronchitis, so sick she thought she would have to miss a trip to Boston.  She got on antibiotics and is better, and is now on her way to Boston.  After a job interview on Tuesday, she will head back home for the remainder of the month.
 
Also heading home yesterday was Joe, from Yemen.  Joe had traveled there for about ten days for work.  He has had Yemen on his mind for some time now, so it will be interesting to hear his impressions.
 
And as they head home, Margaret is leaving home. Today is moving day, as she has found a group home in Washington, and with the good advice of Jeffrey has settled in the Eastern Market area, not too far from Jeff and Melodie.   Moving is terrible, but she has a nice, new place.
 
We haven't written since the first of March when we got our first snowfall since our arrival in the DC area.  The government was on delayed opening and unscheduled leave, so John took advantage of both!  Here with us to enjoy that day was our friend Valerie from Seattle.  She was here to promote her self-published memoire of her daughter titled Maria, who died after a car crash when she was in her early 20s.  A sad story.
 
Mary also got the day off, and a delayed opening the next day.  We have been sending all the good news of the awards her school has been receiving, but yesterday they got an even bigger one: a national award, one of the top ten urban schools in the country.  Is there a connection between these awards and her arrival back there last year?  You bet!  Here's the story:  http://www.ncust.org/dnn/Portals/0/Excellence_Awards/2009WinnersPR.pdf
 
It's been a busy time at work for John.  His office is moving into the Facebook and Twitter and other stuff age.  He is finding himself in more and more meetings where he is by decades the oldest person in the room, watching a good show - but not contributing much.  Life is moving on.
 
So, back to packing; at least it's warm again.  Flowering trees and crocuses are out.  Lucky.  Love from down here