Author: Aimee October 22, 2008
The Celebration began in summer 2003 to celebrate the graduation of Aimée’s sister, Shannon, from Oakland University. Discussing various options for the party, Gary and Aimée decided to open up their recently acquired property to family, friends, and neighbors. Aimée (as usual) did all the heavy lifting and Gary insisted on live Rock ‘n’ Roll with a touch of blues. The party was a success with about 80 people in attendance. A good time was had by all. Copperhead played until well after midnight and Cal’s (the bass player) ability to play blues is an unexpected treat. Aimée was pregnant with Abi who was born in November that year, 3 minutes before Aimée ’s birthday.
August 20, 2004 - for the previous year, Gary and Aimée had been involved in a fairly tedious effort to enhance the math curriculum of the local school district and we decided to make the celebration a bit more manageable and invited a group of 20 or so parents and kids. Abi, 9 months, was introduced to her first big celebration and Kyle’s future step-mother was among the celebrants. As most of you know, Kyle suffered cardiac arrest just before sundown that evening and spent the next seven weeks in Children’s Hospital of Michigan at the Detroit Medical Center.
August 20, 2005 – Kyle’s recovery has defied all the expectations of doctors and on-lookers (with the exception of those who know Aimée; ) Abi is running and talking; Aimée is pregnant with Ali, due to be born in September. What better reason to have a party? The party gets a name, Celebration of Life, and a permanent spot on the August social calendar. Copperhead gets the official designation of house band. A little over 100 are in attendance. Ali is born 3 days later on August 23rd, over 3 weeks early, on her brother, Austen’s, 23rd birthday.
August 26, 2006 - Kyle continues to make remarkable progress; Ali attends her first shindig but shows signs that she may be a natural (uh oh! – trouble around 2020?); Abi is dancing and makes a beautiful model for her cousin Sherry, photographer extraordinaire; and Greg, Copperhead’s drummer, who is suffering from cancer, gives us a gift of a beautiful performance, his last appearance at our annual celebration. His memory will remain in our hearts, always.
August 25, 2007 – Kyle continues to make a remarkable recovery and is starting to act like a teenager (uh oh!); Austen has moved to Michigan to finish college at U of M (he couldn’t get into a good school like Florida!) All kidding aside, we are excited to have him in our lives and that our younger kids will be influenced by his kindness. Ali is walking and talking and is a wild woman in general and gives great hugs. Abi continues to mature into a beautiful, kind, and helpful young lady. Five years after our first celebration, Shannon has just been married for 2 weeks to the newest member of our family, Dan Sails.
August 23rd, 2008 – Kyle continues to work hard and is exploring his interest and talent of various recreational activities including golf and bowling and turns out to be a great dart player! He begins high school in the fall. Abi will be in the equivalent of full-day kindergarten as she begins her 3rd year of Montessori school and… Ali will be in the same classroom for a half-day. How time flies! Austen has applied to the college of engineering at Michigan. He makes it “home” as often as can be expected of a college student. Incidentally, this year’s celebration falls on Austen’s and Ali’s birthday, 26 and 3! And, it’s Shannon’s turn to be pregnant at the party; she’s expecting October 11! So, next year, we’ll introduce the newest member of our family, Baby Sails!
Rio Vista Farm is the last 11 acres of a dairy farm founded in 1890 by the Kerner family. Fate allowed Aimée to purchase the farm from the founder’s nephew in 2001. The house was built in 1890, and expanded in 1918 and 1968. The original barn, built in 1890, still stands and is used as Gary’s office and for storage of loads of things, including a Harley, a Mustang, old pool tables, and furniture. The tool-shed, built in the early 1900’s is now global headquarters for our growing business, GPS. We continue to evolve what I consider to be one of the more beautiful places I have ever seen with further expansions of the house, future remodeling of the barn, a future small vineyard (for making Grappa – don’t tell Aimée ), an ever expanding vegetable garden, and a brand new blue grass lawn. It will be held in our family – God willing.
–Gary
Tags: Life Is Good
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