When my wife was still alive, the chore of writing notes on Christmas cards was her responsibility, and, like everything else, she was good at it, customizing them for each recipient. She usually started in November and completed the task early enough in December to ensure they would all arrive well before the holiday. We regularly criticized those folks who resorted to standardized printed letters with a scribbled autograph at the bottom. Now that I have inherited this privilege, I have reconsidered this criticism. It turns out that most of the people on our Christmas card list are primarily interested in our welfare and appreciate an update, even a standardized one, so that’s become my practice.
In retrospect, 2023 has been a good year for the Oylers, in spite of the problems our country is facing domestically and the rest of the world, globally. Let’s begin with Beth and her family. Rachael navigated her first year at Bryn Mawr nicely and is well on her way to a double major in Political Science and French. Actually, she will earn a Master’s degree in French, thanks primarily to a pair of Study Abroad summers in France. In addition to coursework and orchestra, she is working at a Writing Lab and serving as a TA (teaching assistant).
Beth is now Chairperson of the East Asian Languages and Literatures Department at Pitt; separately, she is heavily involved in the Japanese Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. Last summer she took a group of Pitt students to Kobe, Japan, for a Study Abroad program. Mike has no difficulty keeping busy either – flying, instructing student pilots, and doing occasional writing and speaking about Slavic languages. Both he and Beth taught weeklong courses at Chautauqua for the second year, providing me with an excuse to spend a week there with them. The two of them also presented papers at a conference at West Point dealing with military events depicted in the arts and letters.
John’s involvement with Beigene has kept his family busy moving around the world, focusing mostly on China and the United States. Consequently, Lai An, now ten years old, has seldom had the opportunity for traditional schooling, relying primarily on tutors and home schooling. This Fall she was enrolled in an International School in California and introduced to the rigor of a formal educational program. This was further complicated by the fact that sixty percent of her classes in this school (including mathematics) are conducted in French. She has responded to these challenges admirably, while still continuing to be tutored in Chinese.
Beigene continues to grow and prosper, with an earnings growth rate that should surpass the break-even point next year. They have successfully completed the vertical integration of their business – research and development, clinical testing, government approval, manufacturing, and sales – and horizontally with 10,000 employees scattered all around the world. John and Victoria are kept busy attending company events. They did, however, find time to adopt an English Golden Retriever puppy this Fall.
Sara and Jim now have two children in college. Ian is in his fourth year of a five-year Fine Arts Theatre program at Colorado University; this Fall he directed a student production of “Dog Sees God”, featuring the Peanuts gang as teenagers. I was thrilled to attend Nora’s graduation at Rocky Mountain High last Spring, and watch her give the Valedictory speech on behalf of her class. She is now a Freshman at Oregon State, enrolled in an Environmental Sciences program in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Claire is a Sophomore at Rocky High, following the footsteps of her siblings, with special interest in choral music.
Sara is busy managing her Molecular Ecology Laboratory at the USGS Fort Collins Center. Recently she became involved in the Department of the Interior Bison Conservation Initiative as a member of a working group whose goal is to preserve bison as healthy wildlife. Its Bison Metapopulation Management Strategy depends upon her forte, genetic analysis of the 20,000 animals on federal lands and building a future plan depending upon it. She gave a plenary paper on the general topic of wildlife genetics at a conference in Poland last summer.
I am the classic triple threat nonagenarian (stumble, fumble, and fall!). My health is generally good, except for occasional dizzy spells. I am fortunate to be able to meet with our Book Club once a month, our Bridgeville High School brunch group every two weeks, my 97-year-old friend Larry Kennedy once a week (we are currently study/reading James Joyce’s “Ulysses”), and two Dravo friends (Bill Rutter and Ed Coleman) monthly. I gave two talks to the Bridgeville Area Historical Society this year – “Bridgeville’s Early Railroads” and “Native Americans in Bridgeville”. I enjoyed keeping in touch with the Pitt Civil Engineering Senior Design program both semesters this year, by mentoring a team and by participating in the final review of all the projects.
One of the highlights of my week is pulling together enough scribbling to produce my weekly column. As long as I am able to take in summer festivals, attend plays and concerts, visit historical sites, and interface with my family and friends, there will be no shortage of subjects for the columns. It is interesting and frequently surprising to observe the feedback I get on them. It certainly reinforces my opinion that we each have a different collection of niche interests.
We hope to have the whole family together at Beth’s for Christmas; I do wish my wife were still here to see how the grandchildren have matured. She always loved the Christmas season; I have fond memories of her listening to “The Messiah” and singing along while she baked Christmas cookies.
Yes, 2023 has indeed been a good year for the Oylers. We all wish you a Merry Christmas and an even better 2024!