Notes:

About: Susan Bastress

Website
http://easytruths.wordpress.com
Details
I grew up as the eldest of 4 siblings during the 50?s and 60?s in suburbia America. I was an environmentalist in the 70?s, during which time I worked as a biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the mid-Atlantic region. My desire to save the world propelled me to become a lawyer in the 80?s. My husband, Peter, and I, raised our 3 kids in St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands where we lived for 10 wonderful years. Hurricane Marilyn in 1995 blew us back to Maryland in the mid-90?s at which time I joined the world of international law firms. In 2003, I moved with my 17 year old twins to Qatar in order to establish a Middle East office for my DC law firm. I currently practice law in my independent practice which focuses on advising US companies on doing business internationally. I view blogging as a way to put down my observations and unconventional thoughts in a short coherent way. It is my hope that some of my essays will stimulate debate and challenge views. These are personal histories based on my life experience and views. To the extent that I talk about other family members and friends in my blogs, I apologize in advance in the event I cause offense. It is not my intention to do so, but I realize that I cannot always anticipate how some of my thinking may affect others. I welcome your feedback and comments. Many thanks for reading my blog.

Notes:

Outliving Dad

October 11, 2011 by Susan B. Bastress

My father, Dr. E. Karl Bastress
As we paid tribute to Steve Jobs who died this week at 56, I spent some time remembering my father who died at the age of 59. I have thought of my Dad many times over the past 23 years since his death, but more so these days as I have now reached the age he was when he died.

It is somewhat sobering to reach this particular milestone. I revered my Dad and the legacy he left behind. After growing up as an only child, he raised 4 children with my mother, and another 2 children with my step-mother. He imbued in each of us the value of education, hard work and being considerate of others.

I cherish the time we spent together deep-sea fishing, conducting science projects and building hutches for the growing brood of rabbits we had as kids. He taught me how to use my Nikon SLR and do darkroom photo printing. This hobby led to my starting up a photography club in college. He expected us to do well academically, and in my case, to pursue a career in math or science. His career as an aeronautical engineer exposed him to the harmful cancer causing chemicals which cut his life short, but he dearly loved being part of the exciting US space and defense programs, in which he was highly commended.

Before Dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he was leading his life for the future. He drove each week to the country to get fresh drinking water, ran regularly, and kept trim. He looked forward to spending more time with family during his future retirement. As a US government employee, Dad elected in his later career years to defer taking vacations so that he could accrue their equivalent cash value on retirement. This practice was common among his colleagues who would convert vacation time earned at lower ranks to cash out at the higher pay scale when retiring.

Of course, my Dad never reached his retirement age and thus never enjoyed the benefits of his sacrificed vacations.

Hoping that I will be fortunate to pass this milestone and outlive my Dad, I am contemplating how I want to live this future phase which he never had. I take inspiration from my high-energy Mom who leads a full life of travel and stays actively involved with numerous community projects.

Ernest married Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ernest married Tuuk, Dorothy Evelyn Dorothy was born on 14 Feb 1904. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Charles was a carpenter.

Charles married Van Horn, Jennie on 28 Sep 1899. Jennie was born on 15 Jan 1876; died on 12 Jan 1909 in Denver, CO; was buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, CO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]