Year Of 2021
2021
The Clark and Frange clans have come through 2021 with gratitude, despite the many challenges that we see in our worlds, both immediate, and more so in the many contexts and cultures that we see, hear, and read about. We realize constantly how fortunate we are, and hope that this increasing acknowledgement of our own privilege will help us be better citizens in our local and more broad worlds. First, a couple of whole family photos from two times we were able to gather together (amazingly). Char, Jeff, and Banks were able to visit Tory, Adam, and Isla in California both in July and in December 2021.
California July 2021 (Isla 9 months old)
Matching Christmas bottoms and top knots (Isla 14 months old). (OK, you have to look closely to see the top knots :>)
Family update
A quick update on all of us!
Char knows how much the Duke students appreciated being back in person at Duke this Fall, although the hybrid teaching logistics were challenging to say the least; lecturing in a mask to a large room of masked students is not ideal. Quilting, needlepointing, and knitting help keep her sane during this time!
Jeff hopes for many things in 2022, including days with lessening COVID, more time with friends and family, and health care companies that make a difference for quality of life and health. A highlight of 2021 was flyfishing in Alaska in August with Banks, brother Rod, and other friends.
This fall, Banks has taken a new job with Veterinary Emergency Group in White Plains, New York as the Education Program Development Director, and is applying for graduate school in psychology for the fall. He completed a 4-month stint earlier in 2021 administering a high school at an Emergency Influx Site on the Texas border for ~1500 immigrant unaccompanied minor boys. He found it to be perhaps the most gratifying professional role he has held. All these young men were reunified with sponsors, leading to closure of the site — a good reason to end a great job.
Tory continues to love working for E3, helping governments and utilities create carbon emission reduction plans. Adam is a clinical technician at a Kaiser glaucoma ophthalmology clinic, and hopes to start a graduate nursing program in the fall. Tory and Adam have realized that Isla is highly amused and comforted by music, and by certain music in particular. Of particular note are songs by Stevie Wonder! To name some titles that are appropriate to our newest family member, “I Just Called to Say I Love You” depicts the innumerable Facetime calls we have; “I Love Every Little Thing About You,” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” illustrate how Jeff and Char love being grandparents; and “A Warm Little Home on a Hill” describes where Adam, Tory, and Isla live in San Francisco.
The song that particularly puts an instant smile on Isla’s face is “Superstition.” With that in mind, we suggest a superstition that each of us holds!
- Char is superstitious about where she sits and what she wears to give Duke’s basketball team the most help at games.
- Jeff believes that he will catch more and larger trout if he is not clean shaven.
- Banks knows that the classiest way to gauge a wine’s quality is not by smell, taste, or sight — but by listening to the “ear” of the wine.
- Tory thinks that your day is more likely to be good if you start with avocado toast.
- Adam is sure that neighbors are more likely to slam doors when the baby is asleep.
- Isla’s superstition is that she can make adults play her favorite song if she fusses.
In a wonderful gift, Banks created a beautiful and creative family crest to depict the humor, passions, and pastimes of the Clark family! It now graces the home page of this site, but we will also paste it below. Can you identify the meaning(s) of the various components? Kudos to anyone who can figure out the symbolism of the birds (Hint: They are swallows).
With love and care for each of you!
The Clarks
