Happy Birthday, Karen!

Karen in many forms
Karen in many forms

When our children have birthdays , it brings back many memories. Kristin’s special day was yesterday followed by Karen’s today.

Looking back I do remember Karen wanting to play with me all the time… jumping into my arms followed by being tossed into the deep end as they got older… and then trying to sneak and grab my beer. I may sound a little prudish, but 2 years old is way too early to start stealing my brewsky!

Here’s a recipe Karen and I worked up!

Happy Birthday Karen!

Roger

Happy Birthday, Kristin!

2009 is another year of events!
2009 is another year of events!

Another year for Kristin, and a wonderful reminder to me of how this all came about. Yes, I remember it had been a long hard week, we just had friends over and then it happened! Kristin made her appearance on the world, but not right away… I finished my beer and it was off to the hospital.  This is how the adventure began…. and continues. Here are pictures of Kristin cooking with me and off at a convention with her mom and sister in Athens this past summer…. always moving.

One of my favorite stories of Kristin have to do with her at West Point. A very nice feature had been done in NY Times Magazine on West Point and … well… I thought I would comment… and the snowball began moving down the hill.

The New York Times magazine published an article on the summer basic training of the cadets referred to as ‘Beast.’ I wrote the following:

The Beauty of Beast Barracks

Published: November 2, 1997

As the father of a daughter who survived this year’s Beast experience, I enjoyed Winerip’s article on West Point’s technique for breaking in plebes.

A big plus for parents: my daughter now knows how to clean her room (in fact, she can clean anything), and her academic work actually gets done!

It was a wonderful article.

Roger Freberg
San Luis Obispo, Calif

The letter had some unintended positive effects.

While many parents and others whined about this or that, my letter engendered sympathy for my daughter… and a protective brotherly nature from the often hazing upper classmen. They thought that she had already been through enough having to grow up with me as her dad! ha!

Funny, not much Kristin can’t do now.   Here’s Kristin’s signature dish!

Happy Birthday, Kristin!

Roger