summary of 2007

Mexico City, December 31st, 2007
[haz click aquí para leer en castellano]

Dear friends and family:

Before 2007 wanes, we wanted to remember some of the highlights of the last twelve months. Our lives have changed inevitably since our first baby girl Padme's arrival. She turned one year old during 2007, and every new step in her development --these happen daily now-- brings us happiness.

visits

This year, again we were lucky to not only spend time with our Mexican family but also to be able to visit our family overseas. We spent a few days in Washington DC in March, with Susie, Alfredo, and their kids, so they could meet Padme. In April we flew to Peru; we spent time in Lima and Ica, so that Eddie, Mamu, and the rest of the Peruvian family also could meet her. In Ica, we enjoyed the sun, the dunes, and great food.

Marcela visited us from Santiago de Chile. I had not seen her in almost ten years, so we were very happy to see her. Also our compadres Erika and Eduardo, and their two children Sofia and Marco, came to Mexico. They came to study Spanish and stayed a few weeks in Mexico, so we visited several towns together --Cuernavaca, Tepoztlan, Malinalco, Teotihuacan--, and some interesting places in Mexico City. And we had a short vacation in Boston, spending time in some of its excellent museums and with our good friends Mitsue and Jerome.

happy birthday

Padme turned one year old in August. According to Western astrology, that makes her a Virgo: loving and patient. Her mother loves this. But to Ricardo, the case clearly demonstrates the scientific superiority of Chinese astrology, according to which Padme is of the Year of the Dog. Or, as Padme would say, "the Year of the Gua Gua". It is absolutely true that Padme adores dogs, especially her two housemates Khala and Soma. If more proof was needed, Khala and Soma love her back dearly. (Although we have an unfounded theory that this has less to do with the stars and more with Padme's having learned to fill their plates with dogfood.)

at work...

In 2007 Cecilia returned to the ENCRyM, the school for Restoration, Conservation, and Museum Studies in Mexico. She is now part of a team that is designing a postgraduate specialization program in Photography Conservation -- an ambitious program that will begin in 2008. She is also working at the Museo Frida Kahlo (the "blue house" where Frida lived), and at her private workshop.

It was a regular year for Ricardo. Working for a company as big as Oracle has its rewards, but also brings complex challenges. To balance his professional interests, he continues to produce --together with Jordi and several friends-- Hablemos de Cine, a Spanish-language audio program which is transmitted around the world over several FM radio stations, Internet radio, and as a podcast. The program has attracted a large and varied following; the experience has allowed us to learn much about the cinematographic art and industry, and to meet interesting and fun people.

goodbye 2007

Few things can be as exciting as seeing a child take his first steps or say his first few words. Yet we lived exactly that in 2007... and it still feels like yesterday! However, all our friends who are parents agree on this: it gets better every year. If they are right, then we have many years of happiness ahead. We say goodbye to 2007 with this video, which we hope you enjoy. We wish you and your family health and happiness in 2008. Write soon and we hope to see you!

with love,
Padme, Cecilia and Ricardo