Spring Forward with the Ratliffs in 2017
Hello Friends & Family,
As 2017 barrels by, it’s time for our annual video letter covering the last year since April 2016.
Starting with family highlights, the video features Tricia’s family girls trip to, this year to Lafayette, LA, with her mother, sister and niece Vivian, as well as scenes from Tricia’s family’s visit to Houston for the rodeo and the ballet version of Cinderella (including going backstage with the cast), Tricia’s visit to New Orleans, and champion swimmer Vivian. Scenes with Alan’s family include nephew Jack serving as a game day ball boy for a Houston Rockets game (including rebounding for Rockets Patrick Beverly and James Harden, and then Pelican Bobby Hield), taking batting practice at the Astros’ Minute Maid Park, and in full pads playing football for First Baptist Academy. Mixed in are Uncle Al the Elf and Uncle Al + Jack & Friends at Halloween (Halo war games-style), the Baylor Bears football road trip to Iowa State (45-42 win) and the Baylor basketball team trip to the Sweet Sixteen at Madison Square Garden.
In February we went on safari in Africa for a week with longtime friends Debra & Allan MacArthur (former colleagues of Alan’s and neighbors, but in Morocco for about a decade). Alan had visited the same game reserve the year before on a guys’ trip and knew Tricia would love the wildlife. Enjoy the videos of elephants drinking from our cabin pool as they migrate, Tricia riding an elephant and petting the big cats at the Sanctuary and, in the wild, giraffes “boxing” and monkeys dancing to Justin Timberlake which was playing on our portable speaker. Continuing with the animal theme are pictures from the Houston BARC Foundations’ pet walk and gala in support of the Houston animal shelter (Alan currently chairs the Board) and Alan is pictured with his “rent-a-dog” at the walk (we have cats), with Tricia, with Mayor Sylvester Turner, and others. Also included are pictures from a theatre gala (Alan is on the board as well and Tricia party of the guild) with a Downton Abbey-era theme (Alan as Sherlock Holmes).
Not long after our last letter, we went to Cancun and enjoyed a week of dolphin swimming, scuba diving, para-sailing, and beach front dining. Just last month we enjoyed a long weekend in Santa Monica by the Pier. Of course, back in February the Super Bowl was here, and we participated in many of the related parties and events including a Fergie concert and the NFL Honors show, and Alan took clients to the game. Also included are pictures with one or both of us with Brian Cushing, JJ Watt, Coach Bill O’Brien, and friends Kelley & Eddie Anderson at the Texas Bowl. And, of course, we can’t forget August 2016 in Rio for the Olympics. At least one of us attended all the pictured events, and we had a great week of volunteering and ministry.
Our video concludes with a short tribute to Alan’s Uncle Pete who passed earlier in 2017 at the age of 91. A veteran of two wars (Patriot), a 30-year public school teacher in Springfield, MO, and adjunct professor at Drury University (mathematics) (Teacher), a 40-year lay pastor in the Church of Christ (Preacher), and an un-paralleled Raconteur, he lived a life to admire and went out “in style”. Had he lived to tell his own life story, he would have really enjoyed telling the ending – the morning of his passing he had his youngest daughter take him to visit some “old folks” at the nursing home. The fella he was visiting was asleep and he couldn’t wake him up, but he talked to him for a while anyway! After that, he went to McDonald’s, got a soft serve ice cream, ate it, went to the car, sat down in the passenger seat and passed away quietly. Of course, EMS was called to try to revive him and eventually took him to the funeral home with lights flashing and much ado. I’m sure he would have said all that was unnecessary and that his daughter should have just driven by the Funeral Parlor and rolled him out as she drove by. That was Uncle Pete! He will be greatly missed.
Speaking of which, if you are receiving this letter and we haven't seen you in a while, WE MISS YOU too! Keep in touch and come visit. tricia.ratliff@comcast.net, 713.705.7422, aratliff@stoneturn.com, 832.435.3535, 619 E. 7 ½ Street, Houston, TX 77007.
Alan Ratliff StoneTurn Group 713-547-4047 office 832-435-3535 mobile