The Year 2003

In Nov. and Dec. 2002, we celebrated several birthdays: John, Donna, Joce, Maggie and Dad. We also visited Starr and Bruce in Chattanooga and celebrated Bruce's b'day when they visited us and stayed in the 13th st. apt.

In Washington and Baltimore, in November, we visited with Paula and Joe, took in the Walters Museum's collection, saw the wonderful Bonnard show at the Phillips in DC, and attended the CES conference. Gov. Howard Dean was charming when told of our civil union in Vermont.

For T'giving went to Cape Cod (encore), then in Dec. we went to San Antonio. On Dec. 20, we flew to Savannah, and after Xmas at home, to Dublin, Ireland for New Years. We saw a play at the Abbey, enjoyed the friendly comraderie of Dublin Pub life, saw art, had great Irish food, and walked the elegant parks and greens of the city.

In January, we spent several delightful days in New Orleans, having dinner with KT at such places as the Sun Ray Grill and Cafe 201, having breakfast at Brennan's and seeing the hit musical "Five Guys named Mo."

A delightfully long V-Day weekend gave us a visit from Starr and her brother. The week before, we heard Paco Pena and his Flamenco ensemble at the Rialto.

March took us back to Hawaii for an exciting week that included ascending 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island, taking a helicopter ride over the live volcanoes and hiking to live, red hot lava in Volcanoes National Park. We completed our visit at Kalani with two nights in the treehouse . We soaked up the rich spirit of place there.

In April we spent a few days in the Blue Ridge Mt.s in Asheville. We celebrated David Perkins' birthday, visited their lovely home on a hill north of Weaverville, and enjoyed the spirited ambience of Asheville. Other spring events: VIP seats at the Eagles Concert downtown and Preservation Hall Jazz from New Orleans at the Jazz fest in P'mont Park. We saw Margaret Cho's sharp show at the Civic Center.

In May and June we heard Vera Bile at the Rialto, bought a new Mitsubishi convertible, and drove to Charleston for Spoleto. We saw Pamela Turner's moving play "The Lady and the Poet" about Maude Gunn and Yeats, and we saw dazzling Flamenco. We then drove to Savannah twice, the second time with brother Jim to visit with the Killians at Tybee and to celebrate Fathers' Day at the Hilton.
In June, we drove to Chattanooga to meet our neice, Kimmie Gossett, and bring her to Atlanta where she enjoyed day camp at Piedmont Park.
Our Vive La Difference Party was a hit with 50 of our closest friends. Thanks to all who helped make the party such a delight.

We spent the 4th of July in the Blue Ridge Mountains, feasting on the home-cooked fresh foods of the Dillard House and watching the spectacular fireworks in Asheville.
The Parkway was lovely with Mountain Laurel in bloom.

August 2003: Darryl enjoyed Las Vegas, including performances of Cirque Du Soleil. Thanks to Maggie and Joce for a fab dinner on Jack's B'day August 7.

July & August: See the Prague link at right. We had a gorgeous trip to this enchanting city for 10 days and traveled to Cesky Krumlov as well. Click the Prague link for letters to the editor of the AJC, as well.

October : New York City:
We  had a dazzling three days in the Big Apple, including three amazing plays:
Wicked, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Take Me Out. All were sold out and all got standing ovations that were heart felt. Ned Beatty as Big Daddy was stunning. The sets and story and singing in Wicked were over the top and over the rainbow, including those flying monkeys soaring over the audience. Soaring is the word.
Jamie Cullum at the Algonquin's Oak Room was a jazz and piano treat, his voice easily handling classic jazz songs. The New York Times accolades were correct. But best of all was our partying together at Jimmy's Corner after the performance. Jamie turned out to be a charming party boy, and his impressive knowledge of everyone from Mable Mercer to Johnny Mercer was respectable for a 24-year-old. He is eager to go to the Big Easy soon.
On Monday, we saw the awe-inspiring El Greco show at the Metropolitan. Room after room of the Master's best 70 paintings transcended description. We walked through a lovely autumn Central Park filled with New Yorkers sunning themselves after the bustle of the Columbus Day parade. Yes, we took in the Village and some good food too. So much to do, so little time. The Algonquin and our room with the bay window over 44th St. were comfy and the best service we've gotten in NYC. Our first class flight (yea, we got upgraded to 1st class again, like on our flight up) got us back to Druid Hills by midnight.

An exciting autumn provided Darryl a new job as Managing Editor of the
American Cancer Society.
We took several trips as well: Dar to L.A. for the WTA Championships; both of us to New Orleans for a great ARLIS conference and visits with KT and Dan. Dar met Sir Ian McKellan and Terrance McNalley near Fort Lauderdale at an awards ceremony; while Jack went to Sammy's 60th b'day party with Paula and Joe, Alan K., Bro. John, Joce and the McQueens.
For Thanksgiving, we had duck with Polly on Page St. in San Francisco, had dinner with Alan, and took a side trip to Yosemite. As December began, Jack attended the SACS conference in Nashville with ACA Vice-President Kay Kallos
We spent Christmas at the Grove Park Inn in
Asheville.

We traveled from Asheville to Savannah, then returned home for New Years, 2004.
Blueridge Mountains
My Favorite Links:
John Kerry
Asheville
Atlanta Journal
Prague
copyright
Darryl Gossett & Jack MIller
Email:
[email protected]
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