Our first post! Here's our annual Christmas Letter.

Thanks to all the other Myerchins that keep the blog going, its great to find out what everyone is up to.

Chris Myerchin

Merry Christmas

Some of you will be getting this as a Christmas card... to the rest we want you to know that you are in our thoughts.  With the passing of Phil, it has been a rough year for the Myerchins; but we count our blessings and look forward to the new year.

Jack, Angie, and the kids... and grandkids

To all: I have attached some of the photo's taken at Laura Edgar's Thanksgiving dinner at her home in California. We never ate so much - but we had loads of fun. Later Bill, Jack and I went to Quarzsite in Arizona in Jack's traveling home - his RV. There we had a chance to talk about everything under the sun for five days and we visited with Bargman.

visit

Hi all,
Camille and I took a trip up to Minot ND a few days ago, in the picture on top you can see a snow plow. The weather was kind of bad and cold both going and coming back. But it sure was a lot of fun. The snow and wind probably brings back a few memories for some of you.
We listened to Wuthering Heights audio book on the way up and down, interesting journey with Catherine and Heathcliff.
Stella is the person in the middle on the left, she is 94 years old. She is Rich's mother. Her little dog is Ginny.
It was a very nice trip, I'm very happy we went.
Well a post out of the blue, so to speak.

Take care, love, Marsha

adventures

Hello All,

Hope everyone is doing well. My mom has been bugging me about posting my pictures from this summer so I have finally gotten around to doing so. the top left is one of me with my group of kids i brought to Vermont to go Rock climbing. We are on top one of the many mountains in the photo, it was pretty mind blowing. The top right is photo of myself with a group of boys I brought on a biking trip around cape cod, mathas vinyard, and nantucket. The bottom left is a photo of myself whitewater kayaking (or trying to) in Penn. And finally, the bottom right it a picture of me trying to take out a tree stump in Penn whilst doing Habitat for Humanity... they gave me power tools, it was pretty fun.

Currently, I am posting from Minnesota because I just took a nice 30 drive to be home for thanksgiving. I am going to be here until sunday and then I start the trip back... it is a pretty intense drive by yourself but also a lot of fun. I have really enjoyed it.

Hope everyone else had a great thanksgiving.
Cheers,
Camille
xx

Change We Can Believe In

Just because the election is over...doesn't mean the waters are tranquil. Hope is in the air and just in the nick of time. We just put our dogs down in September and the kids were really bummed. Come November 4th...all is now good. The boys realized that "change we can believe in" translates to "puppies for everyone". At least, this is how I explained it to them. This way when it doesn't happen, they won't get mad at me. They'll vote Republican when they turn 18. 

Hope all is well. 

Happy Thanksgiving from The Alaska Millers (Myerchins)

To All: I understand the giddyness about Obama, however, I also believe he will let the nation down. The real rising star is someone who is not too brillliant, makes mistakes in exuberance and excites for the future and that is the Gov of AK - possibly (I hope) the next Senator from AK. For more mundane things, I have enclosed pics of the beautiful fall in Tennessee - this week. How wonderful are our forests and our beautiful and bountiful country!

Dia de los Muertos

Hi there folks. Here are Teslin and Sarana toasting to papa Phil on the Day of the Dead. We made sugar skulls, set out smoked salmon, some scotch and diet coke so that papa would visit us in spirit. We still miss papa but are happy to have this holiday to share.

Winter is here we are cross country skiing and ice skating lots. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Election Night in Chicago

Hey everyone,

As you know I live in Chicago and was able to get tickets for Obama's Election Rally in Grant Park here. It was an amazing experience to be in that huge crowd witnessing history. I know, as Myerchins, we don't all necessarily agree on politics, but the feeling in Chicago was great - there were no riots, no fights, no negativity whatsoever the whole night. It was pretty cool.

Following up on Marsha's recommendation, I have enclosed a picture of myself on my bike to tool around the "Ridgetop" area. It's really great exercise - better than hitting the gym. I have also enclosed a picture of "Charley" the tiny stray cat who is on the mend from starvation and being eaten on by other male cats. He is turning out to be a wonderful companion and gets along with the dogs real fine. They all sleep together now. I also have attached a pic of the Denali mountain range. I don't know what mountains we are specifically looking at. I'm sure they are in the vicinity of Denali.......Tom

Angie and I are back in Banning

After a three week trip to San Simeon, Ca to Perham, Mn; Angie and I are back in 98 degree weather. It was great to see Marsha in Mn. The trip was uneventful except for a three day snow storm in Wy on the way there... and trying to stay ahead of a blizzard in Neb. on the way back. I've washed the motorhome and put it away for awhile... although... with the price of gas around 2.80, we might have to take a trip out to the desert pretty soon.

I also picked up a neat picture of Bill, Marsh, and I at Uncle Art's farm while I was visiting with Marsha.


Jack

long time...

hi all...
Sorry I have been a bit out of the loop all summer, but I have checked the blog every free chance I have gotten. It has been a great way to know what is going on with the family even when I have been too busy to keep in touch some times.

My summer was very busy, I spent it white water kayaking in PA, doing habitat for humanity in PA, climbing in Vermont, and going on a back trip on cape cod, Martha's vineyard, and Nantucket. I did all this through the YMCA camp that I work at. I was planning to join the peace corps this fall but my camp has offered me a Year Round position here. So I am going to continue to work here. Who would have thought... Camille - Real job!!! eeek! scary stuff. But I can't imagine a better place to work. I actually wake up looking forward to work and that surly must be a good sign right?

Mom, I enjoyed your picture of your bike. I was thinking of getting a road bike myself. Who knows?

Right now I am pretty busy learning my new job. This past weekend a couple of us took a road trip up to Niagra Falls. It was beautiful. I love Canada so much... some day I want to live there. Anyway, I thought I better let everyone know what I have been up to. I also wanted to let everyone know that I really do appreciate these blogs. Hope all is well.
Love,
Camille

good morning

I read an interesting article this morning on the Wikipedia.org website. It is about the subprime mortgage crisis. I found it explained the issues involved and also the history and causes of the crisis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_subprime_mortgage_financial_crisis

The foot notes 22 and 23 mention the Community Reinvestment Act as one of the causes for the crisis. This was an act the was designed to help low income people, but apparently got out of hand.

I also found interesting the comments on world economic involvement, and the term "too big to fail." Does this mean no business should become too big to fail, legally?

Well this is my Saturday morning reading, any comments would be interesting.

Hope all is going well, love to you all, Marsha

biking post

Hi all,
Well here is my bike, I bought it in 1977, it has served me many years. It is a good old bike. I've fabricated a carrier on the back and can carry 2 gallons of water at a time.

Tom time for you to post your bike picture, and anyone else that has one.

Hope all is well with everyone and will be looking for some interesting pictures form everyone.

Take care, Marsha

Looking at pictures

I just went through the pictures I took while up in Alaska this last time. This one touches my heart a great deal.
I hope everyone is doing good, it sure would be nice to hear from Marie.
Maybe someone could help her get a gmail address, let me know and I'd send her an invite to post.
I'd like to thank everyone for their kind generosity. We have all felt much happiness and sadness this past year, I think we are all closer.
Love to you all, Marsha

Anders and Uncle Jack

Anders, the youngest son of Chris and Mary Carol Miller is showing Uncle Jack some scenes on the TV set. The scenes depict some of Phil's adventures in his life.
He is - without doubt - one of the very most handsome young "ons' who will charm everyone he meets in life....Tom

Another joyful bundle - Teslin

Attached are two pics of the other "precious sister" Teslin belonging to Germaine and Scot. How we'll enjoy seeing the two girls grow to be the impactful women they are destined to be....Tom

Keeping up with the kids (and family?)

First of all, I love the 20 min segment from Chris Miller. It's both painful and joyful to watch - to see how much joy Phil meant to so many and the wonderful happy family that he and Marie founded and the stark reality that he is gone. Even after a week plus, Phil is on my mind most of the time.
I hope that our blog site remains the magnet to collect the momentos of our very big Myerchin and inlaws families; to watch all the grandkids grow and to honor those who will follow Phil.
Tonight, I'm posting two slides of that little bundle of joy "Sarabear" with Phil and will post others depicting the other Phil clan people.

In Memory of Phil R. Myerchin

PaPa Phil

I'll never forget Phil...after the birth of our first son Matias, some of you may know that it was a really rough start. Matias was in NICU for a week after his birth. That week was the most intense period in my life. During this time, it was really easy to focus on the worst. Phil was steadfast in his belief that everything would be fine. Phil's continuous positive attitude and optimism was the reason our family was able to get through this period in time. I can not thank him enough.

Today...just as Phil told us, everything is alright. Matias is doing great! He's in third grade Russian Language Immersion School, runs cross-country, plays hockey, downhill skis, has the myerchin free-spirit and in the light of his grandpa Phil...got first place in his 2nd grade science project.

Growing up a city boy in Minneapolis, the way we fixed things in our home was with our credit card. Upon marrying Mary Carol, Phil was like a father to me. I soon learned that it was almost a sin to pay someone else to fix something. Everything that I've ever learned to fix is because of him. Phil I'll miss those annual fishing excursions to the Kenai and the Halibut Hole.

Thank you for being a great father and grandfather. We are all lucky to have had you in our life.

Love your son-in-law Chris

For those who would like to view Phil's obituary and sign the guestbook. The link is below.

http://www.legacy.com/ADN/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=117395013

The Myerchin Sibs Sep 2008

Tom, Bill, Jack, and Marsha
with Phil on the day before he died.

For a very special brother who gave all great joy and companionship throughout our lives.
Bill Myerchin

I love you dear brother. Rest in peace, amen.
your sister, Marsha

Philip Myerchin "May he rest in peace"

My brother, Philip Myerchin, a long time resident of Ketchikan and Anchorage died on 11 September 2008 after a valiant fight with cancer. He was 70 years old and was born in Grand Forks North Dakota on December 27^th, 1937. He was the son of my parents - Joseph Myerchin and Laura Schiller.

I would like to share a few comments about the significance of his life and why he was so loved and esteemed by his colleagues, friends and family.

Before coming to Alaska he farmed in Minnesota and specialized in feed crops and beef cattle herds. Concurrent with these farming operations, he taught physics, chemistry and mathematics to high school students at Forrest River, North Dakota and later in Hallock, Minnesota.

In addition to graduating from the University of North Dakota with a BS in Chemistry and Physics in 1959, he also earned a BA in Mathematics. Later, he fulfilled a fellowship at the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies with advanced studies in physical chemistry and mathematics. In 1966 he returned to the University of North Dakota where he completed his formal studies and earned an MS in Mathematics with special emphasis in the cognate area of chemistry.

Phil arrived in Ketchikan in 1964 and taught physics, chemistry and methematics at the Ketchikan High School until his retirement in 1994. He also taught mathematics and science courses at the Ketchikan Community College for adult GED examination.

He served in a number of local and state positions of the National Education Association. There he held the various positions as President and chief negotiator in bargaining and as an advocate for other teachers. On the State level, he served six years as a member of the Board of Directors.

In Ketchikan, Phil became affiliated with local Democratic Party activities. He was Chairman of the local Ketchikan Democratic Precinct Committee and Southeast Regional Democratic Precinct Committee. He served with Russ Brown and others on the Ketchikan Committee to elect Nick Begich. There, Phil also devoted considerable time to his business activities in real estate.

While in Ketchikan, he became a member of the Ketchikan Mountaineering Association and participated in several rescues

Following his retirement from teaching in Ketchikan in 1994, Phil moved to Anchorage to be near his children and grandchildren. True to his goal of thoroughly enjoying retirement, Phil and his wife Marie devoted much time to travel around the world.

Phil is survived by his wife of 42 years, Marie, and his two sons, Chris Myerchin with wife Sandy, and their two young boys Keegan and Dominic of Seattle and Paul Myerchin of Anchorage; his daughters Germaine Thomas, with husband Scott and their daughters Teslin and Sarana of Anchorage, Mary Carol Miller and her husband Chris and sons Matias, Darby and Anders also of Anchorage and Greta Myerchin of Fairbanks.

He is also survived by his three brothers, myself of Nashville, TN, John of Banning, CA and William of San Bernardino, CA and a sister, Marsha Cathy Erickson of Perham, MN. and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A great leader teaches. Phil was a great teacher – for he set the compass of numerous students who have become successful leaders themselves - under his mentorship.

May he rest in peace.

For Phil

Did you ever dream you’d have a thousand children? Or that a thousand fathers gave you life?

Did you ever see the thousand stars that burst to life to make you? The light that came a thousand years, a thousand minutes, a thousand seconds to filter through the prism of you?

It split into a thousand colors, streamed away a thousand places, touched a thousand shores, fed a thousand trees, became a thousand grains of sand to drift and dune a thousand years

Have you thought a thousand thoughts, taken a thousand breaths, kissed a thousand cheeks a thousand times?

Do you know you’ve spoken to a thousand minds, touched a thousand hearts, lived in a thousand memories

Or more?

An Engaging Photo

Since I'm busy scanning... I couldn't resist this early photo.

Jack

Family Reunion 1982

These are photos (not very clear) that Angie just found when she was cleaning the closet.  They're interesting... I look like a cousin from the Obama (who I'll be voting for) side of the family.

Jack