Well we decided to take a little different approach to the Christmas letter this year and put it up on our own website, actually I decided to take a different approach and my parents went along with whatever I said so hope you like it. -K.C.

Dear Friends and Family,

Welcome to another year of the Bond Family Christmas Letter.  This is another opportunity to renew friendships, bragging rights and generally let you know what is going on around the rapidly shrinking Bond Household.

Let?s see, we?ve been here for about three years so our internal clock says it?s time to move.  Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately is a better choice) we are not moving, but staying in Maryland for the foreseeable future.  Must have something to do with not being in the military any more.

Kent is still hard at work as a contractor out at the National Reconnaissance Office.  His company has been bought out, but thankfully the checks just keep on coming.  Ahhh, retired life is good.  Honestly, he is enjoying his job and working hard.

The hard work is a nice lead in to how the kids are doing.  K.C. is a junior this year at Embry-Riddle.  He is finishing up his commercial pilot?s license and will be going after his certification as a flight instructor.  He is also working to go on a flight safety internship with the National Transportation Safety Board over next summer.

Melaine graduates this year and is busy applying for college.  Virginia Tech and Marywood are high on her list.  She competed in Flags this year and will receive her letter.  Last spring she was selected for a scholarship to visit Russia, and worked on a small orphanage in the town of Vladimir.  On top of it all she is just turning 18 and will be promoted to a shift supervisor for CVS pharmacies.  Not too bad, especially since, at age 15, she walked in and basically demanded a job.

Linda is also hard at work for Westat Corporation here in Maryland, and is enjoying her job there (probably as a good chance to get away from the house).  For those of you with computers, you have probably discovered her cruising through email and on AOL Instant Messenger (lb465 if you?re looking).

Holidays around here will be the normal rush.  K.C. is coming home around the 15th.  Kent saw his mother when she visited up here around Thanksgiving.  She is doing very well and still lives in North Reddington Beach on the West Coast of Florida.  Linda?s father will be up around Christmas.  Probably after the first of the year (and the New Millennium) things will be almost back to normal.  If you are looking for us, we all have separate e-mail accounts.  Linda is [email protected].  Kent is [email protected].  K.C. is [email protected] or through his homepage.  Finally,  Melaine is  [email protected].

Anyway, we are all doing well and enjoying ourselves up here.  Let us know if you are in the area.  The door is always open (and even a little bit closer to home).

Now it's your turn to give a little feedback, take a quick minute and sign the guest book and then feel free to take a browse through it.