2005 was a year of new things for some of us and old things for the rest.  Gavin graduated from Essex High School and started at the University of Vermont working towards an electrical engineering degree.  Gavin worked much of the summer at the world-famous Joe's Snack Bar in Jericho .  His Austrian and Dutch genes were putting him in good stead for keeping the kitchen in perfect cleanliness.  He also took a summer course in English at UVM to jump start his studies. He adapted quite well to the rigors of college study, putting in long hours of study, and using his dad as his tutor in several subjects.  Gavin is living at home instead of at the dorm, and Louise loans him her Saab to commute the 15 minute drive to campus.  He has his last final on Tuesday and then the anxious wait for the first "report card."

Meghan returned from nine months in Rome , Italy , working as an au pair, and is now director of a preschool in Burlington .  She lived with her mother until she could find the right apartment near her job.  She was also waitress at Chili's for extra bucks, which helped with settling in to her new place.  Her apartment is great, very interesting layout, close to the Burlington bike path and a quick bike ride to work or shopping. She still uses her Corolla that she had in college to get around.  This last Thanksgiving was her first with us in Vermont since 2002. The last time Louise and I had with her was when we visited her in Thailand .  She is home for a while I hope, although she still misses Rome a lot.

Louise's lumber brokerage business is doing great, with her side business "L. McCormick Lumber" almost doing better than her main business selling for distributors.  I am still working at the Department of Health doing the behavioral risk survey.

The four of us went to Illinois for the McCormick family reunion. Almost all of  the descendants of my mom and dad, along with spouses (spice), step-children and partners, were there at a little park near Champaign . We played extreme croquet, McCormick style sans "poison,"   and volley ball.  It was perfect weather, and a gathering that will be long remembered.  Gavin and Meghan left a day early, while Louise and I traveled over to Macomb , IL , to see the town where I was born and where my parents are buried.  We stayed at the Pineapple Inn and walked the neighborhoods of my childhood. 

Hoping you the best in the new year.