Winter '88

Earl, Chris, & Vibeke Cory
29758 Quail Run Drive
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

(818) 707-3540

Dear Friends,

Time again for the annual letter from the Cory's.

If you didn't already known, we moved last year. Yes, after fifteen years at the Cory Ranch, we moved. During the year we have had our front landscaped in brick and plants, no lawn to mow. We did the design ourselves and had Roger Mede, a friend and professional landscaper, do the real work. The back yard has been planted, the decks, patios, and covers are still on the drafting board.

Vibeke turned sixteen this fall and is in her sophomore year in high school. Her main interest is still drama. Her new school, Agoura High School, offers an excellent drama curriculum as well as dance. This year she had a major supporting role in the school play, The Miracle Worker. Also this year she discovered "The Lord of the Flies", E. M. Forster, John Osborne ("Look Back In Anger"), and Lillian Hellman. Her class was invited to be bit players in a fight movie being filmed at a studio in Hollywood. Look for her at ring side. Eating in the studio commissary was the most memorial part.

We have been up to other things this year. Chris left Hughes this month. We knew you were waiting to hear that. She was with them for three years, a record. On December 7 she started to work for Relational Technology Incorporated, RTI, as a Southern California Technical Support Representative. RTI is the sponsoring company of the computer users group she had become involved with. They came to know her and her knowledge of their product and make her "an offer she couldn't refuse."

Earl completed his fifth year at EATON Corporation in Westlake Village as a Systems Manager. His staff has remained stable at one. This year he continued his activities in the Digital Equipment Computer User Society (DECUS). He continues to be on the symposium committee and travels to Boston and other places for planning meetings and symposium.

The big event of the year was our trip to The Netherlands. The three of us traveled to Amsterdam where we were joined by our good friends, the Meyers, from Berlin. The six of us spent two weeks on a 13 meter (40 ft.) diesel powered "Lake Cruiser" touring the northern part of the Netherlands, Freesia and Groningen. We brought with us the "fixins" for several Mexican dishes and ten Jiffy PoPs. The Meyers son, Philip, is the first person in the world to make Jiffy PoP without burning it. He kept five to take back to Berlin with him.

The third week we stayed at friends, Enno Brands, house in the city of Apeldoorn. He loaned us his house while he vacationed in the sun in Corsica. We purchased weeklong passes for the National Railway and saw many Dutch cities, museums, and other sites. We had to purchase umbrellas and wore sweaters all the time. We see now why he went Corsica.

We were able to meet some old friends and make several new friends while we were there. They have promised to come to visit us in the near future. We ate a lot of Cheese, European Coffee, Dutch Chocolate, vegetables, veal, and German and French Candy Bars.

Vibeke was able to meet people wherever our boat docked and has established communication with several kids her age. Some of the letters are very interesting since they are written in half Dutch and half English. She keeps her Dutch Dictionary on her disk in anticipation of the the next letter.

The next to the last day of our trip we rendezvoused with the Meyers at Alkmaar, a cheese market town. We exchanged farewells and gifts. We were able to find a popcorn popper in Amsterdam and presented it to them. Philip held it on his lap all the way to Berlin, just waiting for the moment to try it out.

Earl was forced to go to Hawaii again this year on business.

Vibeke, Chris, and Earl attended as many plays at the Los Angeles Music Center and in Hollywood as the budget will allow. As a family, we enjoy attending plays, musicals, and concerts. Vibeke and Chris saw David Bowie again and went to "The Cure" concert.

In the past year we have had one tragedy. You may remember that two years ago Chris ran over our old cat, Mama Gata. She survived that and the move, but not her age. She was buried under the apple tree in her own casket with her favorite items to take her to the "heavy-side layer" to join the other Jellicle Cats.

We have a new new family member, an all black cat who is mostly Siamese. Vibeke has named it "Cosmic Dude", but we just call it Cos. He is a typical kitten, wants to play with everything and everyone.

It has been mentioned that we never mention Chris's Keeshund, Bear. She has not changed; "Hyper" as ever. She enjoys the yard and runs up and down the hill in back.

Well that's our life in 1987. We would be happy to hear from you and what you and your family have been doing.

We accept, letters, phone calls, visits, etc. at our new home. If you are ever out our way, let us know and maybe we can get together and relive over old times. Our phone(s) are:

(818) 707-3540 and (818) 707-3542 (our recorder)

Hope to hear from you soon.