We
want to wish you a Happy Christmas and hope the
New Year
finds all of you in good spirits and still better health and harmony,
with yourself, your family, the neighbors, the environment, your new
dog, cat, car whatever.
For
the first time in 6 years we have all been able to spend
Christmas
together here in beautiful “Los Gatos” CA. This time, we have been able
to wrestle the forces of dispersion and it has been a real blessing to
pull everybody together. We are also delighted that our families are all
in good health, good spirits, and had the wisdom (Tia
Mercedes ) to send us a huge box of “Spanish Turrones.” May the
Lord Bless her in her good judgment and diligence.
The reunion, while
planned, was not without its share of thrilling episodes, as
Blanca missed her (non-refundable, hello! – this is where the
thrill lies) flight from Jacksonville on the 21st and had a
flat tire on the 23rd on her way to the airport – (also on a
non-refundable ticket). OK here is where the irony of this flat tire
tale resides. While Blanca is calling Dad
in distress from Florida to notify him that her Left Front tire had been
punctured by a bolt on her way to the airport, Dad answers his cell
phone from “Good Year Tires” at Los Gatos Blvd in California where he
has taken his car after his Left Front Tire was punctured by a bolt, at
literally the same time!!. We cannot remember, in the last 10 years or
so either Dad or Blanca having a flat tire!
So there it goes for you statisticians. She finally made it and of
course she got a very warm and overwhelming welcome ceremony from all of
us. Blanca is still living in Jacksonville and she takes “good care” of
the house from time to time.
Mom, dad and Lamberto
have all (at least
until Lamberto goes to College) moved to
Los Gatos, California to be closer to Claudia
and so that Lamberto can attend a “Silicone
Valley” High School.
Lamberto
finally has the chance to fulfill
his wish of returning to his roots in California, his birth State. He is
attending Los Gatos High School, where he is getting above average
grades (an improvement) and has already scored two goals in the just
started season playing on the Junior Varsity Soccer Team. He has been
heard saying that he and his friends “live for soccer.” Watch out
Ronaldo!! This Christmas, Santa Claus brought
Lamberto a 100cc dirt bike and he is already getting
mud-spattered in the Santa Cruz mountains.
You may think that
Lamberto looks kind of weird in this year’s
Christmas picture. Please be aware that his eyes were slam shut in the
original photograph, and dad had to scramble to find a pair of “wide
open” extra eyeballs in his laptop. Initially we were urging dad to
improve the transplant results, but when he informed us that the only
left over resources for body fragment pictures were the arrest and
criminal records of the Santa Clara Police Department, we decided to put
up with Lamberto’s somewhat creepy look as
is.
Mom has a new job in California and she is
already known around the school district as an absolute sensation and
savior to her school, Scott Lane Elementary. She is teaching bilingual
education, so she teaching in English and Spanish and English as Second
Language. She is working really hard and has earned her reputation with
every drop of her sweat. Dad did put together a webpage of her comings
and goings as of last summer in the educational arena, if you’re
interested:
www.ffranco.com/teacher
Claudia graduated from law school this past
spring and took (and passed!!) the California Bar examination in the
summer. It’s official, the world has yet another lawyer… and dad has
found a greater passion for lawyer jokes. [
click for lawyer joke.]
Claudia is working at Morrison & Foerster (MoFo)
in Palo Alto, California, in the business group… working very long hours
but learning a whole lot about making money while not getting in
tribulations with Eliot Spitzer.
Marte and Claudia
are coming up on two years married and going strong. They were also in
Athens this summer, where they watched Marte’s
sister, Kerri, win the Olympic
GOLD in beach volleyball. Surely
Kerri could not have done it without the Walsh cheering section, led by the
mighty voices of Claudia and
Marte. Before going to Athens,
Marte and Claudia
went to visit the family in Spain. Marte’s
Spanish is not very good, but he was a hit (a colossal and very
improbable undertaking) with Abuela Maria in Barcelona. We have to thank
Lamberto for counseling and guiding
Marte prior to Abuela María’s encounter.
Lamberto, after years of skirmishes and
confrontations with her over any and all matters of life, was able to
provide Marte with tactics and in advance
warnings that did permit him to avoid some of the most dangerous initial
pitfalls and minefields. Good teamwork, excellent result.
Abuela María has
announced her plans of visiting us next Christmas, this Is not only
great news as we always treasure and cherish the opportunity of spending
time with her, but for what it represents, as of her state of mind and
almighty health, to initiate plans for a 6000+ mile trip when pushing
89. But what the heck, George H W Bush parachuted himself this year at
80... while of course we do not expect her to disembark in the same
fashion…yet, who knows ??
Later in Madrid,
Marte had also the opportunity to meet all
1575 members of Mom’s family and his
communication skills in Spanish improved dramatically and exponentially
as more and more sangria was being splurged. We do not remember
anything, but can attest to it after reviewing the corroborating
incriminating videotapes.
The
Borges clan came all the way from Brazil to
California for the holidays.
Barbara ran a marathon this past May. She
completed the marathon and came in third place for her age group, but
barely! In her usual dramatic fashion, she attempted to kiss the
pavement seconds after crossing the finish line… only to pass out cold.
[click for pic]
She had to be carried to the infirmary and then resuscitated, but she
made it to the award stand with as much consciousness as you may sport
after a Marathon. While she was recovering in the medical tent,
Gustavo rolled his eyes while she was
attended by two hunky ER technicians that resembled
George Clooney and Noah Wiley. She
completed the marathon in 3 hours and 31 minutes. The next time around
she is going for under 3:30, although she has already bested dad’s time.
(…yet dad still claims that the longer the time, the more bravery and
heroism are exhibited …..well, we do not see many sports authorities
supporting this viewpoint… Gold Medal to the last one ! come on, get real
man !)
Gustavo called it an end to his illustrious
career in swimming totaling four Olympic medals. He competed in the
Olympic Games in Athens, Greece this summer and then carried the
Brazilian flag at the closing ceremonies!! He had the privilege of
staying aboard the Queen Mary II, which also hosted the NBA basketball
stars. Barbara was seen trying to sneak in
through a port hole, just so she could shop at the Harrods store on
board, but all she got was a Cadbury candy bar that
Gustavo was kind in enough to share with
her. Now he has moved on to less competitive endeavors… although, he
must be missing the competition because we played some board games over
the holidays and he wins every time….or else…..
Gustavinho and
Gabriella are as cute as ever. Gustavinho
is five years old, but as tall as a seven year old.
Gabi is two years old and possesses the
most disarming smile you have ever seen. They are still attending a
British school - where Barbara also teaches
- and get around pretty well in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Gabriella is the youngest in her class and
pretty smart with a 4.0 grade point average in pre-school. The
Borges family expects nothing other than
over-achieving, even at age 2!! Gustavinho,
on the other hand, is a bit of trouble maker. His last infraction, which
sent him to the principal’s office, was playing tennis with his shoes in
music class… don’t ask! Will he follow in the footsteps of
Gustavo Borges
or Gustavo Kuerten?
