Wow! Early 2002 was all travel. First a two-week business trip for Dirk to New Mexico at the end of January. Despite the work, and an unexpected bout of strep, he had a blast spending time with close friends Mark, Sunnee, Jaeden and Railee, and a short weekend with Chris, Lori, Noah, Isabel, and Sebastian.

Then on to California for a ten-day break. Kat joined up with Dirk en route in Salt Lake City, and then showed him around her native southern California. What a beautiful place! Disneyland, palm trees, wide beaches, 80 degree weather, and sun, sun, sun — all in February!

Kat's parents showed us around beautiful Carpinteria and Santa Barbara, north of LA, on the coast. Once again, endless beaches, surfers, and sun. Then, wrapping up the trip, Kat and Dirk stayed in Laguna Beach where Kat spent her summers growing up.