Rear view volume II

to the fence and stick a leg through so they could claim later to friends that they had "set foot" in Russia (!). While we were there a Russian guard finally arrived on a bicycle, looking slightly embarrassed as several of us pointed at our wrist watches. But he and we all laughed, and it was a mutually enjoyable confrontation.

other than perhaps a tribute to humanity in general, or maybe specifically Norwegians.

spelled and pronounced in English Shaak, which became Shaker in the U.S.). Christian was 14 years old when he was brought to the U.S. by his parents (plus nine additional siblings), and ultimately married another Norwegian named Anna Burnson.

once a young resident of one of the towns in Gudbrandsdalen territory and that she also knew his parents' names. So one day she phoned the Norwegian Consulate office here in Houston. They were cooperative, suggesting that someone in the Houston Norwegian Seamans' Church might be willing to contact an official in a Gudbrandsdalen church since Norwegian churches are noted for their practice of maintaining detailed famiy records of their congregations. So she phoned the NSC's minister, explained her family tree interest, and was told that he would phone some Norwegian churches and see if they could help.

to the Skamsers, so in Oslo Carol studied the city's phone directory and finally found her relatives' name. She phoned them, found that they spoke English quite fluently, and was delighted to be asked to come visit them.

Carol's possible relation to them (which was never exactly figured out, except that they and Carol were obviously in some category of distant cousins). The wife showed us a commercial postcard with a scene of an attractive green valley in which was pictured a neat farmhouse and barn, and explained that that farm was on the outskirts of Skjak and was still occupied by the her great-aunt and great-uncle who would be delighted to have us pay them a day's visit That sounded like a good idea to us, and we told the wife we'd try to do so. Then the wife said, "They don't speak much English, but I know they'll make you welcome." My enthusiasm cooled a bit, but I told her,"Well, uh, I guess we could work around that. I've got a Norwegian phrase book with me."

able hospitality, we bade them and Norway goodbye and went home. It was one of our best vacations.

* * * *

CHAPTER VIII: Kyle Kids' Careers

But eventually his primary interest was in a lovely miss named Marie Crane. Her origin was North Carolina where for a time she was employed as an airline stewardess. She and a friend had moved to Houston to seek other work, and she secured a position with the School of Public Health in Houston's Medical center as administrative assistant to the business manager. Her business location was across the street from Jerry's location,

and that facilitated their first meeting.
The Jerry-and-Marie dating became frequent, a mutual attraction developed, and the day (or night) came when J.M., as the standard expression goes, popped the question! (I have never grasped the logic behind that phrase; why would a question about getting married ever be popped?) Marie accepted, and a short time later, on the 20^th of October,

1973, at 3:00 p.m. the marriage was ceremoniously performed in a lovely elaborate wedding in Houston's elegant Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. It was attended by many, including Marie's mother and sister from North Carolina, as was the subsequent reception and. dinner party at which I was of course inspired to give several toasts, such as:

"Marriage without love is like a glove

Without a mate to match;

Love without marriage is like a carriage

Without a horse attached."

My poetic artistry was better exemplified, however, by this one which was themed to the groom's then-current interest in sailing:
"I propose a toast to those foremost

In our hearts and thoughts this evening;

May their love be true and regrets be few

For the single life they're leaving.

On the sea of matrimony;

That this sea is rough and tough enough

We all know is no baloney!

And a boat that needs no bailing;

May the voyage be merry for Marie and Jerry,

With many long years of good sailing!"

An early post-marriage project was the purchase of a home. With some shopping help from Carol and I, they finally bought a used house in an older residential area populated by similar modest bungalows, for about $25,000 as I recall. It required some cleaning and redecoration, which the new bride and groom did with vim and vigor, and it proved to be an attractive and comfortable domicile for a number of years.
Jerry's job was work and an environment that he enjoyed a lot, but he had opportunity to get a job with California Computer Products Company which he thought might expand his knowledge and experience in the rapidly growing use of computers in industry. That job involved managing sales and post-sales technical support for the company's software in a seven-state region. That, of course, was his first experience in business travel, and he appreciated having trip expenses paid by his employer instead of his parents (as did his parents!).
After a few years both the job and travel requirements became a bit tedious, and he

was pleased to be offered and accept a job back in M.D. Anderson in 1975, in their Department of Radiotherapy. It was a job which appealed to his creative interests. One of his particularly useful efforts was to design and develop a Radiotherapy Patient Inform-

ation System. Another of his achievements was to resurrect, redesign and rewrite a breast cancer treatment technique, the results of which were published in some medical journals, showing that radiation treatment was often a viable alternative to radical surgery.
An event of great importance occurred in1977, the reason for joyous celebration by all the Kyles-- the birth of a baby girl! Jerry M. had informed us of the impending event shortly after Marie had reported her pregnancy to him, and he was thrilled and excited. In a joking comment to me (well, half-joking, maybe) he exclaimed, "Dad, I'm

too young to be a father!" I considered telling him, but didn't, that when he was born I was three years younger than he'd be when his baby would arrive.
Carol and I were at a big party given by Dr. Stephen Thomas and wife Eileen, who

were special friends of ours, the evening of December 23. J.M. and Marie had been invited, but didn't show up when expected, There must have been a total of 2 or 3 dozen other guests, all singing Christmas carols (mostly off-key as the result of too many toddies) with great exuberance as the phone rang. Eileen answered and told Carol it was for her, from son Jerry. We weren't expecting the baby's birth for a week or two yet, and before she answered the phone she turned pale and gasped, "Omigod! Somebody's had an accident! No other reason to call me here this time of night,--oh, no!" But as she answered the phone and her facial expression turned from apprehension to excited joy I correctly expected the nature of the message. And when she laid down the phone and made an enthusiastic public announcement to the guests that Marie was in labor and J.M. had taken her to the hospital, they responded with cheers and many spontaneous and beverage-enhanced toasts to Marie, Jerry M., and the about-to-be born family member.

tion being Kelley Michelley. She was a cute kid, adored by parents and grandparents as she grew into adulthood with a pretty face and figure. After fine scholastic records in high school she began college at Southwest Texas State at San Marcos. She enjoyed her stay and scholastic environment there, but decided to progress to the University of Houston where she graduated in January 2001 with a Bachelor's degree and a 3.8 GPA in psychology. She continues there for two more years studying for a Master's degree in social work. During the summer of 2001 she was fortunate in getting a job in Harris County's Mental Health & Mental Retardation Association, where she obtained valuable experience as a case worker for families with juvenile offenders and problem children.

him give thought about whether other employment might offer more soon-to-be-needed

financial assets. So another job change for J.M. occcurred in 1979. He had heard that Exon Production Research (where I had worked) was in great need of additonal help to assist in computer processing of a large volume of seismograph data being obtained by increasing activity in that type of oil exploration, both domestically and worldwide. For immediate help they wanted to use computer experts available on a consultant basis, and rumor had it that the rate of consultant pay was extremely generous, in excess of that of regular employees (which is logical and equitable, since consultant work is usually not on a steady basis). Another advantage for J.M. was that consultants could take days off more or less when they wished, and his annual vacation could be scheduled as to dates and length of time more or less whenever he chose. His only job complaint was that his lack of knowledge about seismic prospecting meant that he never understood the technical significance of the tremendous volume of numerical data he was computer-juggling.
After a few years Exxon offered him a job as a company employee, based on recom-

mendations by Exxon employees he'd been working with who were impressed with his job performance. He turned down the offer, preferring the consulting arrangement. But in 1986 the oil business suffered a general relapse; many companies trimmed payrolls, and Exxon cancelled J.M.'s consultant's contract. So, back to a job search.

was the design and development of commercially useful online interactive data search programs, which interfaced with Telescan's software and its database of over 10,000 stocks and mutual funds. He developed products which were commercially lucrative and contributed to a quadrupling of the company's overall revenues in four years. And a not inconsiderable informal company benefit to J.M. was his convenient access to data on stocks in which he was interested, which was a substantial aid in managing his personal investment portfolio.

previously developed and incorporated in Telescan's technical systems. He left the company and later that year acquired employment again in the computerized geophysical

data business, based on his experience and reputation for such work with Exxon. The company was Western Geophysical Co., a Houston-headquartered international organiza-

tion with worldwide seismograph land crew and marine fleet operations. This was another six-year job of hard work and good pay, but in 1998 the company began a reorganization of technical operations which eliminated Jerry's services and position.

work he had done there, and decided to give it a try. To his amazement and great joy he was immediately re-hired! The salary they offered was more than he had asked for, and another advantage was to credit him with the time he was previously employed there, which enhanced his benefits and alloted vacation time. He was assigned his own office on the top (l8th) floor of the building in which he worked, and that building location had the much appreciated benefit of being within ten minutes travel to and from his home (which, in the horrendous traffic congestion of Houston's commuting and business travel routes, is an asset of great value and pleasure!).

waterfalls encased in scenic environments, which made fascinating decorations for club room shelves and table tops. He is a top-class photographer with both video and still cameras, and his talent for photos of Colorado wildflowers and nature scenes is displayed in the numerous large framed montages he has created for house decorations, which are admirable works of art.

soon for a substantial sum, and adds class to the neighborhood.

Kathleen L. Kyle

bilt from 1965 to 1969, where she majored in biological and physical sciences and dated

a fellow student named Craig Cooper.
She returned to Houston after graduation, and secured a job teaching physical science at Memorial Senior High,--a psychologically satisfying experience since that was where

she had gone to high school. After a year's teaching there, during which she had kept in close contact with Craig, he and she decided to tackle life together. They were married on July 11, l970, in an artistically elaborate church wedding conducted by our Unitarian Church minister, Rev. Frank Schulman. It was attended by many relatives and friends, as was the post-wedding reception which inspired me to compose and recite another of my poetic epics at the big dinner that evening. I was smart enough, after some of my previous poetry recitations, to defer it this time until after several champagne servings:

Their hands are outstretched, with smiles on their faces;