Mon Jan 20 08:25 EST 1997
Weekend Update: January 17-19

Ever get on a roller coaster hoping to have some fun only to find out
that the blasted thing whips you around and your wonder if you'll
survive the trip?  Well, just when we thought we were cruising in for
a satisfying stop-the-ride-we're-ready-to-get-off, we had an unexpected
huge dip into a tunnel on Friday night.  Since then, though, we've
come out of the tunnel and we're hoping the ride is coming to its end
after all.

What all that euphamistically means is that our potential buyer on the
house has had some difficulty in life a few years ago which caused them
to meet with those who wanted money from them and work out payment
schedules.  All were paid in full and on time, crawling out from under
large medical debt, but the entirety of it must be documented for any
bank to approve them for the mortgage on our house.  On Friday, a piece
of the puzzle cast the application into doubt and our hopes plummeted.
However, on Saturday, things were ameliorated because the issue was
also documented and resolved.  Our buyer-broker, who is in touch with
the banker, said yesterday that she's had tougher loans, so that bouyed
us a little more.  The banker takes the paperwork to the underwriter on
Tuesday and it will probably be a couple of days before a decision. I am
still anticipating a "yes" but I am a bit more guarded than I was last
Friday morning.

On Saturday, Joy and I went out pricing refrigerators and stoves - the new
place doesn't have them and we're holding on to our hopes with our
preparatory actions.  We also had company up to play cards to occupy
us.

On Sunday, the Newlyweds and Charity came for a visit.  We had birthday
cake.  In addition to my cousin Kerri's birthday, it was also my
niece-in-law's birthday.  We drove them out to see the house in Pepperell.

Once this is over, I can begin to make certain plans for Texas in June
(just the number of people attending - we're still planning on the
dates I've told you Uncle Ken).  I still need to find plane tickets
and also work out details about flying Emily to Dallas for a couple of
cousin weeks (instead of going to General Assembly with the rest of us).
She is excited.  So are we.

Kerri, we had a great time in your all-too-brief stay.  Come back and
we'll not only do the auction again, but climb Mt. Manadanock, and go
to the Basin (waterfalls).  Oh, and check your email for an introduction.

Lots of love,

Mark
Mark Metcalfe, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.     _      metcalfe@cadence.com
                 ___                           (_)           (508) 446-6451
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