Christmas 1999

Dear Family and Friends,
1999 comes to a close with much change, sadness, excitement, and anticipation. All the things of life which make it full, colorful, and human.
January started with the death of Elizabeth's maternal Grandma. After a long happy life she died almost suddenly, but painlessly surrounded by family. It was but eight months later that Agnes' husband Al died while the Dugan family from all over the States and beyond gathered together for our summer vacation in Sanbridge, Virginia. Again, surrounded by loved ones after many years of joyous, healthy life.
For me my career continues forward and ever expanding. Elizabeth notes that I should explain what people never understand, the educational process of a doctor. I am now finishing up my specialty training in Internal Medicine "Doctors for Adults". I was fortunate to come to Virginia as a medical student, complete internship (which made me a General Practicioner), and unlike the rest of my peers who went out into the fleet to be GP I was choosen to stay for further specialty training. It continues to be an arduous but ever rewarding experience. Surprises along the way, as having never been one for research I have dabbled a little with good outcome, my first project was selected for presentation at the hospital level, then state level, then Navy wide, and eventually at the national conference of the American College of Physicians in New Orleans. Being in the 'right place at the right time' so to speak I became the point person for a tuberculosis outbreak and again climbed the ranks of presentation with the addition of being the Navy representative at the all Army meeting in Houston just a few weeks ago. But as time moves on and I become an attending we are up for orders everywhere from Japan to Annapolis with a slot as the doctor for the Senate in between, none of which are bad duty stations, but with a little luck I have ingraciated myself to my program, made myself an asset with implementing computers and medical informatics and will be selected to stay on as faculty. Afterall, it would be nice to stay here settled into our home.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth continues to excel in all as if she has the Midas touch. She switched jobs from being a Tomahawk instructor to becoming the second in command of a training school for the Navy. Along the way she became reinvolved in volleyball after a nine year hiatus both teaching/coaching and playing on the local club team. But one thing remained constant through the year, every Wednesday night we took Bridge lessons with a room full of people who told stories of the roarin 20s! What started as a simple class in January evolved into a whole series and now we are committed!
So that is some of the change, sadness, and excitement. Anticipation? Elizabeth is pregnant! Due St. Patrick's Day she is well into her third trimester. She has resigned her commission and after six years will be leaving the Navy next summer to be a stay at home mom. All is well, we won't find out the gender, and as far as we know there is only one! With a bit of luck come March 17th I will deliver our baby at the same hospital Elizabeth was born in 29 years earlier!

Dad 2000?