Dear Kent Family Foreigns & Families

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Happy New Year!

 

December 2020

 

Dear Kent Family Foreigns and Families, 

 

Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!

 

I hope this note finds you happy and healthy, and that you’re able to be with your families. As I’ve said a few times on Facebook or via email, I miss you all… as the wood pellets arrive, snowstorms hit, or Bailey starts barking and wanting to play at 8:00pm in the evening! Where are you when I need you? Kidding aside, I have good memories of our best days over the past 35 years thanks to each of you.  

I’m leaning toward leaving the university in August 2021 so I can travel around the country in The Rig (my van) to visit family and former student-athletes. I also hope to spend more time writing what I want to write. (Here's my pre-COVID-19 travel plan in The Rig.) I also have an eye on summer/fall 2022 for a trip to Europe; and, as always, the door is open to your visits. Try to time those Maine visits during pellet-lugging and snow-shoveling time… Just kidding. Kind of. But you could ski! 

This past school year (2019-2020), we welcomed Sebino and Guido. (The boys' blog.) As you may know, due to COVID-19 the boys headed home in March ’20. What a tough way to end an exchange and to leave their friends. Most other exchange students in America went home, too. 

                                      Sebino (left, Netherlands) and Guido (left, Spain) 

                                                                  Click to enlarge. 

 

In the fall of ’19, our favorite German, Felix (2014-15) and our favorite Dane, Espen (2017-18) came for visits. At the winter holidays, my first-ever exchange student--and my most favorite exchange student of ever and ever--Jose Ytuarte (1985, Mexico) and his wonderful family came to ski and celebrate 2020. And yes, of course, everyone’s a favorite!

Jose, Sofia, Sebino, Noemi, Felipe, Guido

Jose lugging wood in 1985. Yup, we heated with wood. 

Yup, we were cold. :-) 

Finally, two parents came to visit as well: Sebino’s fun-loving mom Mariska and Felix’s burger-loving dad, Hans. Those visits were great fun for the boys and me. 

Over parts of the year, Connie and Ben have shared good times with their grandson, Luke. For her 10th year in a row, Connie participated in a fundraising event to raise money for children's cancer. This year, the 26-mile marathon walk took place in Rumford! Connie broke her all-time record for time and fundraising!!! Appropriately enough, Ben had music playing at the finish line! Go, Connie! Go! 

Our big hiking news: Bailey and I made our goal of 200+ hikes in 2020. Last month, we finished 4 hikes in one week—by the end we were limping around the house at night like a couple of oldsters. Then I remembered: we are a couple of oldsters! We’re on either side of 70 years old! I'm hoping Bailey will stay healthy enough to enjoy this coming summer/fall and our trip in The Rig. He's in remarkable shape at his age (10.5 years) for his breed. I've been lucky. Him, too!  

Bailey resting on his bed in The Rig in the National Forest of Vermont. 

Bailey in his seat. 

The Rig at a hiking trailhead in New Hampshire. 

Note the van's license plate: HYOH. Anyone? 

That’s the news from here in Maine. I really do enjoy hearing about your adventures, from motocross races to the births of your children, from your travels to far off places to the small moments that reveal what your life is like as adults. 

This afternoon, Bailey and I will head off in the 30-degree weather on this blue-sky December day for Hike #204. During that hike I’ll be thinking of each of you and the good days we shared here in Maine. Be safe. Stay well. I miss your laughter.  

Love,

Rich

....and Bailey

After a Whitecap Mt hike.  

Black Mountain