IBTISH: Chapter 2

1978-1982

Her second five years are learning years.

There was a time . . .
When you were near six.
Your sister was coming,
A twist to the mix.
We loved you so.
Your future was bright.
A color shone forth,
Yellow the light.

Tisha attends Carden School, a private school in Del Mar, from K through 7th grade excelling in her school and making friends. We love the music programs at Carden, the structure and quality of the instructors. Tisha plays soccer. She has some gifts, she is fast and strong, but does not like to compete. Nancy and I believe that this is because she doesn’t want to hurt any other girls’ feelings. This is a trait that is Tisha’s throughout her life. It is wonderful, but gets her into trouble as she grows older. Sometimes you can’t please everyone.

A few months prior to Brooke’s birth we take a family trip to Hawaii. Tisha makes new friends at the Kahala Hilton pool, Kirsten and Kate Hansen. They and their parents, John and Kay, are from Australia. Little do we know then that the Hansen family will be moving to San Diego a few years later and we will become close family friends.

Tisha plays softball but doesn’t like it. T just does not like to take instruction. She believes that she can “figure it out” without anyone’s help. This does not always work, especially in baseball. This is another trait that Tisha will have throughout her short life.

We ski as a family with Tisha becoming a very accomplished skier by the time she is ten. She has her mom’s style and her father’s athleticism. In truth, she is just T. She is so pretty skiing -- body upright, skis together, hair flying. It is a memory I love to dwell on.

Tisha and we are going through changes: we move to our family home at P8 Paso Del Sol; Nancy passes her real estate exams and starts her career as a realtor, Tisha meets Katie D, our next door neighbor, and immediately they become “life-long” friends; Brooke is born and Tisha assumes the role of “Big Sister”; we meet the Beards (Stan, Heidi and Margie) and start our family ski trips usually taking a friend of Tisha’s on each trip; Tisha becomes a “Big Sister” to Landon Beard. Tisha and Katie love to ride T’s bike double, feet up, down our hill. Oops, they fall and Tisha breaks her arm -- another cast. Christmas is our big holiday -- presents, ski trips, family hugs, family gatherings with the McCracken’s. I love this time.

We start our annual trips to Yosemite. Brooke spends most of her time in the back pack when we first start. Hiking, horseback riding, Curry Village, The Ahwahnee Hotel, The Sinnott’s and drinking rock, walking down from Glacier Point – great times with good friends. This becomes our annual trip each June for the next 6 years.

We take a family trip to England for a month -- exchanging homes, cars and friends. On the front end of this trip, we attend my 20th high school reunion in Bettendorf, Iowa. This is the first and last time the girls will visit the place where I was raised. They aren’t that impressed. We arrive in England the day after Prince Charles and Princess Di’s wedding. Tisha will have a bond to Princess Di from this time on. This is a wonderful vacation. Tisha’s horizons are expanding. She will remember this trip. Brooke is too young.

Gerry Kirk starts building sand castles and I’m invited to help. The Labor Day sand castle project becomes an annual event for the family and continues for 8 years. This is a time of love, growth and family. Tisha is our caring girl.