This is the first time I've ever ventured into the "blogosphere" so I hope this works. Just to keep everyone updated (thanks for the baby announcements--CONGRATULATIONS!)
Our "baby, Rachel, (23 yrs.), was just awarded a Fulbright scholarship (obviously she inherited Cox brains!) She's been living in Germany off and on for about 18 months, and her Fulbright plan is to do a study on a Germanic people group living in Romania. The tentative plan is for her to live in Romania from Sept. '08 - June '09. Beyond that, who knows?
Lisa (27) was planning to open a printmaking/art gallery in Little Rock in Jan., but right after Christmas her financial backer pulled the plug! Lisa visited a friend in NYC while she was contemplating her future. While she was there, she was told that "moving to NYC was a collective bad idea that people kept doing anyway." She was also told that jobs were available but one must live there to get a job, and that if one were going to move to NYC, one should do it while one was young and had the energy, and it would help if to have some $ to help along the way until a job appeared. Based on that sketchy advice, Lisa packed up her Little Rock possessions and her dog, Luca, and moved. Her brother Sam, on leave from his Merchant Marine job, was so kind as to drive her to NYC right after Valentine's Day. It snowed the day after they arrived (Lisa had found temporary lodging--oh, the stories I could tell you; the temperature/weather; sub-letting from Craig's list; 4th floor walk-up; subway; shopping for food; life in the "hood!)) Sam, used to life on the open sea, Hawaii specifically, stayed only as long as was absolutely necessary! He then hightailed it back to Dallas. More on him in a moment. Lisa found a job through a friend from high school, and has found an apartment with a college friend in a much safer neighborhood. At the present she is working as an artist's assistant and seemingly settling into the NYC life. There's a reason that they say "youth is wasted on the young!"
Re: Sam, he decided that in spite of the economic advantages of life at sea, family and friend relationships tipped the balance toward life shoreside. He was offered a job as manager of the soon-to-be opened Dallas branch of the Houston-based Scott-Macon heavy equipment (construction cranes) Co. He is presently living at home, working at opening the Dallas co., and planning to move into a house with his very good friends from high school in June. We are delighted to have him back in Dallas, at home, and are very grateful that he has re-connected with his good friends (whom we know and really like.)
Randy and I continue our full time jobs, waiting to see where our offspring venture next. Stay tuned....thanks for reading this ramble. Love y'all! Lou

Jackson Oscar Burford

Jackson Oscar
April 6, 2008
9:10 a.m.
6 pounds 11 ounces

Congrats Nate and Julie!

Ian Louis Olsson

Well, it's been a while. Hope all the family is surviving this flu season. We are well here in Dallas and have some exciting photos to share of our newest family member (if Nate and Julie haven't welcomed their bundle yet). Ian Louis Olsson made his debut on Janurary 12, 2008. He came about 10 weeks early so he weighed only 3.9, but he is so strong and really doing well. He has been in the NICU all this time and Lara and Ben think he will come home in about a week or so. Prayer is amazing.

On another note, we planned a last minute 3rd generation ski trip to New Mexico but most everyone's schedule was conflicted so we will plan for next year. Do we have a big reunion in the works at all? Always love catching up with such fabulous kinfolk. :)

Love,
Jenny

North to Alaska

Herb here...........
Gee, I was wondering....you know the expression, something about what if a tree falls in the forest and if there is no one to hear it......something. Anyway, what if I type something in this blog and there is no one who reads it? Or cares?
Tiffany and I are slowly getting our act together, making rudimentary plans, writing our wills.......all in anticipation of leaving Rockville on July 15th for Alaska. Should be fun. Actually, this is Tiffany's fault. Seems last year when we rode the rental bike out to the reunion, Tiffany struck up a conversation with a biker at a gas station who remarked as how they were returning from Alaska. So (regretfully I suspect, in retrospect), she said,"Hey Herb, let's ride to Alaska next year". Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........
What with having had a successful 7,000 mile ride last summer, I got the hots for a Honda Goldwing like the one we rented. Tiffany, bless her heart, in a moment of temporary insanity, conceded that it was OK, go for it. Seems I found a used'06 Wing in the Washington Post ( a great newspaper, I might add; lots of great writers and investigative reporters). The seller, about my age, but four inches shorter had had the bike for only four months and had put only 3,222 miles on it. I think personally, he was just too challenged, height-wise. The price was reasonable for this type of boy toy at age 64, so now we have the wheels and the desire and the time and the decidedly lack of common sense that just maybe we can pull this off.
This may be the first of an installment. We plan to get a MacBook Pro to take along and with the Garmin GPS I just bought for the bike, I think I can keep a running log of our trip. We shall see.

return to dallas

While Patricia was in Canada seeing her newest grandson, I was in Dallas seeking info on my father. I used the Harris home as a base and Jan drove me to Bonham, Tx. We talked to many VERY interesting people and got a lot of tips and helpful info but no real answers. Jan then drove me to San Saba to check on the grave sites at the Green plots. They were still there. I then ordered a stone for myself. I expect to need it in about thirty years.
While Patricia was in Montreal, her sister called from Seattle and said that their mother had fallen and was in the hospital in Kamloops. Patricia flew back to Plant City (her visit was over anyway) and immediately flew to Seattle and then on to Kamloops. She is there now and will return to Floriduh in two weeks. They are trying to arrange for a person to come to their Mothers house two or three times a week to check on her. She refused to consider a nursing home. Just another speed bump.
Don, you look just the way I remember.
David

Reunion information

To everyone, this is Nancy,if you are coming to the reunion please email me don't think that I will get on the blog and see that you are coming. I am not into blogs yet, and haven't had time to learn about it. I would not have know that Lou and Randy and Don and Elaine were coming if Janet had not told me on the phone that you were on the blog. This old lady is still in the dark ages for awhile.
Love you all,
Nancy

Greetings from Tulsa

From Tipis to Towers in Tulsa - This photo was taken at our last stage performance. Don and I square danced in the annual Red Glove Review's production Tipis to Towers and Beyond for the purpose of raising money for cerebral palsy. Four square dance couples participated in the celebration right after "Teddy Roosevelt" signed Oklahoma into statehood! It was fun to see the history of Oklahoma in story and song. Surprisingly no talent agents have contacted any of us for other casting calls! Now to the real reason for signing on Jen's blog. We plan to be in Post on Thursday or Friday, so see you there. Also big thanks to Jennifer for the site. Technology can be so handy!