Great Moments of 2002

Gail and I started off the year with an Incan adventure.  Overseas Adventure Travels had a number of discount tours after 9/11 and we chose the one to Peru in early January. Our eight tour companions were the most congenial we've ever had and our guide was superb. (See more images here.) In March, while Gail enjoyed her Cabo condo with a friend, I was treated like royalty by my Buddhist friends in Japan.  I gave the invited address at the annual meeting of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, and I was surprised with an honorary degree at Soka University.  The most momentous summer event was of course John and Christina's wedding.  It was a wonderful occasion.  The musical talent from Denmark made the reception a real class act.  (See more images here.)The greatest summer adventure was our second trip down the Grand Canyon, which unfortunately was not as good as our first trip in 1993.  We had too many close calls in some hairy rapids and Gail tore the meniscus in her left knee.  (See more images here.) We had to cancel a raft trip on the Rogue Rivcr and Gail had surgery in Seattle.  Even with the bum knee, Gail joined me on a Thanksgiving trip to Thailand and Cambodia. I was invited to give a talk at Assumption University in Bangkok on Nov. 20. While there we enjoyed the annual festival dedicated to the river goddess.  Way below you will find a picture of us with our "kathrongs," the offerings that are floated on the river.  It was windy and most of the kathrongs tipped over in the choppy water. We then spent all of Thanksgiving week at the fabulous temples of Angkor.  It was even more fantastic than we ever imagined it could be.  The picture below shows Gail at the Ta Prom temple where the French archaeologists left all the trees in place.  (Click here for more images.)

Finally, we celebrated Christmas with Christina and John. Gail's brother-in-law and his daughters were also here, so there was lots of good chatter, laughs, and general celebration. Gail's mom Viola moved to Moscow in March and is doing very well.  She really enjoyed having her granddaughters for Christmas.