Bahrman Bulletin

Last Thursday might have seemed like it could not come fast enough for Becca, but for the rest of us in the Bahrman household, it arrived with mixed emotions. We were excited for Becca to begin this new adventure in life. Tom and I look back on our college years with such great fondness, we knew that Becca was commencing on an endeavor that would forever impact the decisions she makes in life. And we were fortunate to have a weekend of our own college-friends’ visits, bringing those fond memories flashing into today, where new memories are created with our friends.

My dear friend Brena and Martin surprised us with a visit–finally!–to Bend. We loved seeing them and touring the High Desert Museum together. Even though Martin is a few years older than Chiara, that didn’t stop her from wanting to do everything he could do! Later in the day, Tom’s college roommate, Rae, stopped by for a visit. It was great for me to finally meet her and Tom enjoyed catching up on what she had been up to this last decade plus a few. And then Sunday, we visited our friends Tami and Dennis with their family at Cove Palisades. We missed not joining them on the boat, but the chance to visit with them–and see Chiara play with their girls–was wonderful!

With fond memories of our old college days, we packed up the Subaru and headed to UP. Becca had an army of helpers carry her things to her new home: Grandma and Grandpa Bahrman and her mother joined us on campus, making quick work of moving Becca’s belongings into her room.

After a quick lunch break, it was off to shop for the things needed to make the room a home. And then dinner with her roommate, Helena, and her father. It was great getting to meet them. When your child goes away from home, it’s good to know who she is going away with! And the fact that Helena already had her calculus book out and was studying made us feel that much better about the girls living together!

Becca was kept busy that weekend, getting in-depth tours of campus, meeting hall-mates, and learning about what professors would expect of students come Monday. And the parents were kept busy, too. Several meetings let us know what to expect from the next year or two: a lot of expensive bills, and more independence and maturity from our girl. Our part of the deal: to pay those bills and give her space.

Both, we are learning, are easier said than done. While I felt a little like a young twenty-something upon leaving Becca on Thursday evening (Grandma had Chiara so I was footloose and fancy-free!), Saturday afternoon was a different story altogether. With teary eyes, we took our leave.

So far, it seems that everyone is adjusting. It helped that we finished the weekend with another college-friend visit. Petie and Dave were in Sunriver and hosted a wonderful dinner. Thinking of those first college days and meeting Petie, I knew once again that Becca was having fun and meeting people who would be dear to her for the rest of her life.

Becca, in the meantime, had to buckle down and begin classes. So far, so good. She is enjoying them, getting to know several people, finding her way around campus, and getting situated in her room. Exciting times when the world opens up, new connections are made and new ideas explored. We can’t wait to hear more about it when we see Becca next.

I mentioned that the Bahrman ladies were talented quilters, yes? Well, once again they have produced another exquisite piece of artwork–that happens to be warm, too!

When Fern passed, Becca was offered all of her quilting supplies. It was a very generous offer, not only considering the value of the machines and materials, but mostly because of the countless hours Becca spent quilting with Fern. Fern served as Becca’s adopted mother in Oregon for many years. As they quilted, Fern would listen and give advice on life, as well as quilting.

Busy with school, work and swim, Becca didn’t have much time to quilt. Until this summer. Thinking that she needed an activity to fill some of her down-time so that Tom and I wouldn’t harass her too much about sitting around, she decided to make a quilt. And not just any quilt–she was going to design this one herself. Moreover, she didn’t buy one yard of fabric for it–using just the material she received from Fern.

By the end of June she had a pattern developed, fabric ironed, pieces cut, and two squares completed. And then July came and went. And then August came…we all assumed that the quilt, or pieces thereof, would be packed up and stored for a later time. Until last week. Without work to consume her time, Becca picked up where she left off. And without wasting a minute, she began sewing and sewing and sewing. Within a couple of days, the squares were done. A day later, she added the sashing and was quilting. And a couple of days later, she finished tacking the binding on. A quilt–all within about a week plus a little time in June!

It’s a fun quilt. Each square has a “twin” (or in one case, “triplets”), but finding them is a challenge due to Becca’s design. So the Bahrman tradition of beautiful quilting continues. Perhaps one day, Becca will have time to teach me the art.

Growing up on the east side of Portland, we were not afforded many opportunities to play in an outdoor pool. In fact, I cannot recall ever going to an outdoor pool in the Valley. Instead, we would occasionally pack up the car and head east for Kah Nee Tah, where the sun shines regularly and warm springs fill the pools with water warm enough even for my mom.

Gra and Papa Buck decided that their grandchildren needed similar memories and hosted a fun overnight getaway at Kah Nee Tah last week. It was the perfect half-way meeting place where Chiara could see her grandparents and cousins. And the girls had a wonderful time splashing and swimming for two days. Even Becca opted to come along for the trip. Although she was more reserved in her enthusiasm, I have a feeling she, too, enjoyed the sunny days poolside, without having to teach any lessons!

History has a strange way of repeating itself. Who knows? Maybe someday Chiara will be taking her children to Kah Nee Tah and telling them stories of swimming with Papa and Becca, playing with her cousins, and going out to dinner with Gra.

Chiara and I were surprised when we went to the mailbox last week and found a large box addressed to Chiara. It wasn’t her birthday, or Christmas. I hadn’t ordered anything. I was puzzled, but Chiara was estatic. Not only did she get mail, which is cause for celebration, but she received a huge box.

We were barely in the door before she wanted me to help her open it. I was hesitant, not knowing what this could be from Riverside, CA, but there wasn’t going to be any convincing Chiara to wait. So we cut the tape and Chiara opened the lid to find a beautiful quilt! She immediately held it to her chin, then pulled it out and laid it on the kitchen floor to test it out. Thrilled with it, she ran upstairs (well, as fast as she could carrying the quilt) and asked me to help her remove the quilt on her bed. Then she put the new quilt from Grandma Walle in place. She couldn’t wait to take a nap with her new quilt! (This from a girl who fights her nap every day.)

Chiara has been showered with quilts from the very talented Bahrman ladies. Even before she was born, Aunt Fern made her a beautiful quilt. Her Grandma made her a Little Red Riding Hood quilt when she was a tiny baby. And Becca made her the 5 Little Monkeys quilt the summer she worked at A Common Thread.

Grandma Walle had mentioned making a quilt for Chiara, but her eyes had been bothering her. When we were down in May, she mentioned her eyes were much better thanks to cataract surgery and she was going to continue the quilt for Chiara. While many women who are 93 years old would have given up the sewing many years–or decades–earlier, it is not surprising that Grandma Walle is still making beautiful quilts. It must be in the family heritage!

Chiara and I tagged along with Tom to the Oregon Coast this past weekend. Fond memories of Joe and Cora’s wedding and Chiara’s first birthday made it feel like we were headed back to an old friend at Salishan. While it was 90 degrees inland, it was a very cool 57 in Gleneden Beach. Tom spent Friday and Saturday morning at his conference and working while Chiara and I played on the beach, building sand castles and searching for heart rocks (ala Uncle Mike) and shells. On Saturday we drove down 101 to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. That afternoon Tom got to join in the fun on the beach, chasing the waves and flying his kite.

Chiara can’t wait to go back to the beach. While we have several fun trips planned for the next couple of weeks, she asked today if she could go with my friend Amy and her family to the coast this weekend! (Just what Amy needs, a two-year-old  AND eleven-month twins!) Hopefully we can take her back again soon, but first a few other trips…