John Ammon

I just want to say hello to everyone and say that I am sorry that I cannot attend. I will be coming to Tulsa in August to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday. She is living in a nursing facility in Jenks. I just cannot make two long trips so closely together.

I am living in Bandon, Oregon, a small coastal town. We have 3 acres about 100 yards from the beach where I walk my dogs (Taz & Wiley) everyday.

I have raised 2 daughters, Keely who is graduating with her Master degree in Counseling/pschology in August. Jerri, our youngest, has 2 daughters, Lexi 6 (flower power still lives. During a t-ball game while Lexie was playing 1st base she let a ball go by her instead chose to hug the runner as she came to 1st base) and Kady 3. My step-daughter Christi lives nearby and has 2 children, Savannah, 18, who is graduating from high school this year, and Zach, 6. We lost Christi's husband Park very suddenly in December. My step-son David still lives in Tulsa and has 2 daughters, Emily 20 and Jami 17. He travels all over the world and sends pearls and knock-off Prada and Coach purses to all the women in the family. One of my greatest pleasures is our family gatherings. We do lots of barbeques (though 4 of us are vegetarians), games on the lawn, dogs chasing kids, marshmellows over the fire, you get the picture.

I just recently retired as a family therapist. I have been a therapist since 1973 since graduating from the Masters program at TU. My wife, Ginger, is the Director for Coos County Mental Health department and still working. She was selected for a Governor's work group to help steer Oregon into Coordinated Care Organizations. I read one time that the best thing you can do is marry someone smarter than yourself and I did. Ginger is from Tulsa and is a member of the Cherokee tribe. We were married by a Medicine Man in a tribal ceremony. She is the love of my life.

We have a Rialta RV and we take our dogs to all the Oregon lakes for camping and kayaking. Oregon is truly a beautiful state but sometimes I do miss the Oklahoma scenery as well. I remember driving in 1962 with the windows down as the summer heat cooled, a full moon in the sky and having a spiritual moment that life was really good and that I loved where I lived. Duane reminded me the other day about the big poker game at my house when my family was out of town and came home unexpectedly. My younger brother Mike peeked through the window with the most startled look on his face. Everyone ran like bats out of hell, Cremin leading the pack. Duane ended up sleeping outside my house that night. Not sure where so ask him at the reunion.

Best wishes to all.

Jai Jai Sri Ramakrishna