Rausch Reflections on 2010

Volume 31 Published annually since 1979

M i d d le t own, DE D ec e m ber 2 01 0

The last year of the first decade of the 21st Century was one of many contrasts.

Not the least was the weather. From the coldest, snowiest winter in recorded

history to the hottest summer with more than fifty 90 degree days in the New

York to Washington corridor where we live. We managed to avoid most of the

snow by spending February in the Florida Panhandle. But we paid it back in

July by travelling to Spain, Portugal and Morocco where temperatures reached

40 degrees C (104 degrees F) on some days. But enough about the weather.

The New Year started with a Champagne toast

at the Union Grill in Wilmington where a

group of family and friends enjoyed dinner and

entertainment provided by a Frank Sinatra

impersonator. Pictured, Camille and Bernie

Rausch with Richard and Sheila at the Union

Grill.

February in the Florida Panhandle

We had heard about the beautiful beaches in

Destin FL so we decided to spend February in

that area this year. Although the temperature was a bit chilly (as it was every-

where) we enjoyed being in different surroundings including the Central time

zone. While we were there we visited several interesting places including the

Pensacola Naval Air Museum, the casinos in Biloxi, Panama City, Eden Gar-

den’s Sate Park. We played golf, among other places, at Eglin Air Force Base

which has two very fine privately operated 18 holes golf courses. Being so close

to New Orleans there was lots of Mardi Gras activities and we collected dozens

of beaded necklaces while attending various Mardi Gras events.

Clockwise from top left: At the Museum

of Naval Aviation, Richard with a cou-

ple of the F18 fighter jets used by the

Blue Angels; Sheila and her sister Kay

stand in front of a large live oak at Eden

Garden’s State Park; Kay, Richard and

Sheila in front of a Mardi Gras Tree at

the Boomtown Casino in Biloxi MI.

Granddaughters Brooke and Tori Left, eight year old

Brooke Harris received a trophy for

being selected in the top 5 at a San

Diego pageant. She is getting ready to

start horse jumping lessons. Right,

Her cousin Tori 13 is wearing the

costume for a dance number at the

spring dance recital. Tori, in tap

costume, holds the 10 year award for

dancing at Kicks Dance School. She is

standing with her Grandmothers, Aunt

Sue and Mother.

Debi Rausch-Harris Conducts Training in Philadelphia Daughter Debi recently completed her first year as a Implementer and Supervi-

sor at Pyramid Educational Consultants of Newark, DE. We had a special treat

at the end of April when she returned to this area to conduct a two day training

session in Philadelphia. She worked with Dr. Andrew Bondy, a co-founder of

the company. Above left: Andy, Debi, Sheila and sister Becca chat after the

first day of training. Right:The timing of Debi’s visit enabled her to help cele-

brate Sheila’s birthday with Becca, Eric and Richard at a local French Bistro.

Troy Bergwall is Confirmed On May 16, 2010 Troy Bergwall, 15,

was confirmed at the Westminister

Presbyterian Church in West Chester,

PA. At left Pastor Gary Arntessoni

conducts the ceremony. Below Troy’s

father Eric congratulates Troy and other

confirmees in the reception line.

Trevor Bergwall Graduates High School, enrolls at Temple Trevor Bergwall, 19 graduated Bayard Rustin High School on June 15, 2010.

He is a multi-letter athlete playing both Basketball and Lacrosse. He attended

the senior prom and had a graduation party at the end of May. On August 25

several family members helped him move into his dorm room at Temple Uni-

versity in Philadelphia. Trevor received a partial scholarship and is planning to

major in sports management. Pictures clockwise from top left: Trevor and

Mia Barone dressed for the prom; Trevor begins organizing dorm room with

the help of sister Tori.

Grandson Blake Harris Blake Harris, 10, loves basket-

ball. At left: he tries a Kobe

Bryant jersey on for size at the

San Diego County Fair in June.

He played in a game this fall

where he scored most of the

points. At right: the coach of

Lakers presents Blake with an

award for a successful season at

the end of season playoff party.

Rausch Reflections on 2010 Page 2 Spain, Portugal and Morocco

On Saturday July 17, after celebrating Travis Bergwall’s 21st birthday Sheila

and Richard were driven to Philadelphia airport where we flew to Madrid to

begin a two week tour through Spain, Portugal and Morocco. We travelled on a

brand new bus with 38 people from the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Austra-

lia and New Zealand. We spent a couple of days in Madrid and visited Toledo a

city famous for cutlery armor and the Man of la Mancha. The tour continued to

Avila, Salamanca, Lisbon, Coimbra and Fatima in Portugal. Back in Spain we

toured Seville and the ancient city of Italica. We boarded a ferry in Algeciras

and sailed past the Rock of Gibralter to Morocco. In Morocco we toured Fez,

Marrakech, the capital Rabat, Casablanca, and took the fast ferry back to Spain

from Tangiers. We drove through

the Costa del Sol to Granada and

visited the amazing Alhambra

before returning to Madrid for out

flight home. Pictures clockwise

from top left: On the ferry to Mo-

rocco with Gibralter in the back-

ground; dinner with old friend

Pauline Berge in Marrakech;

Sheila in front of the Hassan II

Mosque in Casablanca (3rd larg-

est); Sheila and Richard with Burro in the amazing Medina (old city) of Fez.

Travels Throughout the Year Our home in Delaware is conveniently located a couple of hours away from

many major attractions in the mid-Atlantic Region. We visited Washington and

Mount Vernon around Memorial Day. Left: Sheila is standing at the entrance to

Mount Vernon; Right: Richard poses with a piece of the Berlin Wall at the fabu-

lous Newseum in Washington, DC.

Left: Travis and Troy enjoying an all you eat crab feast in North East MD in

July. Right: Sheila’s sisters (Lauren, Pat and Kay) relaxing after a round of golf

in Myrtle Beach during a sisters week away in mid-October.

Across the country Ted and Billie Harris took granddaughters Brooke and Lau-

ren to the Grand Can-

yon during summer

vacation. Debi and

Mike spend a weekend

in Palm Springs with

Blake and Brooke to

celebrate their 13th

anniversary in mid-

July.

Remembering the Past Most of you know that Sheila & Richard met in Orleans France 48 years ago.

We had several close friends while we were there and on December 5, 6 people

from that era met at the Kent Manor Inn in Maryland for brunch and several

hours of reminiscing. Standing from left are Ted Kleinman (best man at our

wedding), Richard and Jack Gallagher. Seated are Sheila, Noel Gallagher and

Marsha Kleinman. Thirty years ago while living on Long Island we were part of

a close knit group of about 20 people. On October 28 we met with Joan &

Bernie Kostelnik (2 of that group) at a restaurant in Dover

DE where we spent another couple of hours catching up on

our respective lives. Another memory of the past was re-

newed on December 2 when we joined a group from our

community for a trip to see the Radio City Music Hall

Christmas Show. We had not seen this show for about10

years. The show was as spectacular as ever and the Rock-

ettes were in good form. We walked around Rockefeller

Center and Sheila with neighbor Ann McGuinness stand in

front of the world famous Christmas Tree.

Population Explosion Sheila’s sister Kay became a great-grandmother in September when Liam was

born to Amanda Matthews

Vance. Sister Lauren

added a grandchild when

Parker was born to Jaime

Mack Figueroa in May.

Sisters Jaime and Tracy

hold each other’ children.

Jaime with Sophie Grace

and Tracy with Parker.

Miscellany Travis, 21 a Dean’s list senior at Kutz-

town Univ. organizes his room. Sister

Tori helps. Tori became a teenager on

November 18 as brother Troy and

friends Sarah and Alyssa look on.

Sheila & Richard with a 1,000 bloom

Chrysanthemum at Longwood Gardens

at the end of November.

Thanksgiving on the east and west coast with the Rauschs, Harris’ & Bergwalls. Even if we don't get to see each other at Christmas, you still have a special place in our thoughts and in our hearts. Wishing You a Very Happy Holiday and a Healthy, Prosperous 2011. With Love,. Sheila & Richard