After doing some overseas consulting these past ten years we decided to actually retire as of February, 2011.  We don't have any trips planned for now, and it feels just great!  However, we had two wonderful trips this winter, both half work and half for fun.  In December we visited Cairo and Marrakesh, Morocco (to see Andrew) and in January we worked in Japan and visited Thailand and Bali.

In 2006 we purchased a small Winneabago View RV, and have taken three  big trips (4 weeks to the west coast, 4 weeks to New England, and 5 weeks to the Pacific Northwest) so far, plus some smaller journeys around Arkansas, the Gulf Coast and Colorado.  

Ellis' mother passed away in January.  His 94 year old dad is still living at home with a full time caregiver.  We, along with Ellis' brother and sister, check on Dad fairly often.

We both continue to enjoy life in a university town.   Several years ago we built a large garage with an upstairs hobby room (for the model trains, of course) and an exercise gym. Ellis works on the model railroad as often as he can. Kay is in a book club and enjoys yoga classes several times a week.  Ellis likes to join friends for breakfast at nearby "down home" restaurants, and attending university baseball games is a springtime passion.

Kay started taking piano lessons in 1953, and finally has the instrument she deserves!  We how have a beautiful, totally rebuilt 1923 Steinway Grand.  

Andrew lived in Los Angeles for 8 years, but last emai fall started teaching k-12 music at the American School of Marrakesh, Morocco!  More about him at http://andrew.melton.com  He is still writing music for concert band and has had two published by a national firm.  He continues to write in Morocco, he reports.

Below: countries we've visited. (make your own map)