A highlight of January was a visit from good friend Rani Rusland, whom Claire hadn't seen since her last trip to Indonesia in 1987. Here she is with daughter Lanti, who was our exchange student last year.

Claire saw niece Bonnie Canion during a trip to Louisiana in June.

Before leaving Michigan, we had a memorable lunch at the historic Holly Hotel with friends Joan Morley and Alan Headbloom.

In October we had our first house guest in Pittsburgh: Teresa Almeida d'Eça from Portugal. Teresa, who teaches English in Lisbon, is on sabbatical this year.

Here she is on Mount Washington. In the background you can see Pittsburgh and the convergence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers.

Claire had a chance to practice Portuguese intensively for the first time in decades!

Had it not been for Teresa, we would have done no sightseeing at all in Pittsburgh, and Claire might not have known the names of the rivers. Thanks, Teresa!