Recently in Tracy Category

Gilligan's Island was one of my favorite TV shows as a kid. I used to think The Perfect Storm was a good movie.
Not anymore.......

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip 
That started from Lake Cumberland 
Aboard an 80-foot ship.

So join us somewhere next year my friends.
You're sure to get a smile
From our family of castaways, 
Known as the Grandstaff Gang.
 

In other words, we were towing my Malibu behind our 80-foot houseboat while we were headed back to the main dock when we were unexpectedly hit by a huge storm. Within minutes, the Malibu was dunking it's bow under water while thunder, lightening, wind, waves, and driving rain paralyzed us on the water. We drifted ashore, left the Malibu behind, and headed for the dock as the skies turned back to blue. (Reader's Digest version)

Earlier in the week, we also killed two jet skis.

The good news: The jet skis might actually be resuscitated.

The better news: The Malibu was saved (except for some seat cushions) and the motor should be fine.

The BEST news: It was an EPIC team-building exercise --- and I still have my family.
.
.
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For the record, the Captain always goes down with the ship . . . so you will have to hang me before I let my boat sink.
(My husband will hang me if I ever mention houseboating again!!!)

. . . . . but wish it didn't have to end so soon!

Now THIS is a Sparkler!

Truly, truly grandkids are part of the American Dream

Clara and Tracy surprised us with a visit for the Fourth of July. Actually, they hitched a ride with the "hired" hand (Grampy Steve) after he spent the week in Atlanta working around the house for Tracy. Meanwhile, Sarah and Rachel were at church camp in Florida while I kept Shadow, Daisy and Duke company at home.

Clara and Duke face off while waiting for Sarah and Rachel to get home from camp.

Stop, drop and.........LOVE!!!!!

Bubby love

Grampy love

Grammy love

Girly love

Mommy love

Missin' Daddy's love (We missed you too, Nate)

Time for more imprinting :)

The Grand Finale of the weekend included our Five Weekend Warriors who decided they all wanted to ski together on the busiest weekend of the year.........just becuz!

I could be wrong, but I think you're supposed to huddle in football, not water skiing

Notice the spectators watching from shore in awe! Notice Angela on the far right. She had only skiied twice before --- and the second time was just before this photo! (What a great sport!)

The boat crew

Living, and loving, the American Dream

An ending . . . . . . . and a beginning

Sarah graduated with honors last week. It was bittersweet.

As part of a small Christian school, the Lakeland Christian Academy graduation ceremony was poignant and personal. The LCA staff chose a personal verse for each student that was read as they received their diploma. Sarah's verse was "Love: Giving to others' basic needs without having as my motive personal reward."

She honored us with her accomplishments inside and outside the classroom.

"Free the Knees" (No more dress code!!!!)

One of the best perks among all the wonderful chaos of events in the past month leading to graduation, was a visit from Clara, Tracy and Nate!

. . . and for one more day, "It's all about me"

The menu included many of Sarah's favorite foods: Pineapple Chicken, Crannberry Chicken, Spinach-Artichoke Rolls, Black Bean and Corn Salsa, Fresh Veggies with Gramma's Ginger-Soy Dip, Turtle Brownies, Cheesecake, White Chocolate-covered Strawberries, Raspberry Lemonade and a giant 2010 created by the Rice Cripsy Treat Queen, Rae.
(The infamous poppyseed chicken was served at the family celebration on Graduation Day)

Sarah . . . . We are proud of everything you have accomplished, but most importantly, by who you have become.

,

There is something very special about the first Mother's Day that you actually hold your own child in your arms.

Mine was eighteen years ago and I am feeling pretty sentimental......

I am also feeling very blessed to have two "extra" children to call my own even though I did not give them birth.
Thanks to Eric and Tracy, I have been able to enjoy the gifts of children for almost 30 years ~ and now a grandchild too!

The beginning of another epic:

For better or worse, you are stuck with us Clara........and after an entire week with you on vacation, it's obvious that we are stuck on you!

Mesmerized:

Enamored (but still able to multi-task):

In ageless awe:

Grampy gaze:

Still amazed:

As you can see, my focus of this vacation was different than previous family vacations, but we did find some interesting foliage:

. . . and some Easter eggs:

. . . and some awesome cooks:

. . . and some sun:

. . . and some sleep:

. . . and time for a 4-gen family photo:

. . . and lots of Euchre:

. . . and lots more lovin':

In case you don't know, Mommy's not the only one that loves you, Clara.

. . . and you aren't the only one crying that our week together is over :o(

And an infinite number of hugs to GREAT Grampa and Gramma for bringing us all together!!!

Clara got to both see and talk to Great Gramma and Grampa today thanks to Skype. What a great invention!!!

(The dogs enjoyed Skyping too!)

Clara Lily Hilden

Thanks to Tracy and Nate, we are elated to announce that we became grandparents on February 6th!!!!

It's still hard to believe, but even though we have only seen Clara in pictures, we are in total AWE. Truly, love at first sight. We can't wait to see her in person............and I can't wait to get my own photos so I don't have to pirate them and give you "day-old bread."

Check out proud and protective Uncle Bubby's wonderful chronicle of Clara's grand entrance in The Jungbauer Family Journal.

Ate too much for Thanksgiving dinner or Hoosier Hysteria?

Neither.......Introducing "Stubs."

According to Tracy herself: "Aptly named because instead of tears of joy upon seeing my baby on screen, I shouted "Look at the stubs! Do you see the stubs Nate?" I'm sure the ultrasound technician has heard worse...right? (Lucky for me, Nate redeemed us both by pointing at the screen and asking, "Is that the baby's heart beating?" Nate wasn't interested in stubs, he was more awed by being able to see the heart--he's a good Daddy.)"

Well, as you can see "Stubs" is growing well (and becoming much cuter) and Mommy is glowing despite a few rough months in the beginning. We are confident that Stubs will be the most beautiful grandchild in the world. Afterall, look at Sarah and Rachel. They started out as "Emil Angus" and "Cheeseball" and I think they turned out just fine!

Obviously, Sarah and Rachel are ecstatic about becoming aunts in February. (We are excited too, but is anyone under the age of 60 ever feel old enough to be a grandparent?) Too bad Atlanta is so far away.

. . . and so we enjoyed our first Thanksgiving gathered around Tracy's dining room table with multiple branches of different families with common roots united. And yes, Steve travelled to Atlanta the day after his Achilles tendon surgery AMA!

Our midnight shopping tradition was cut a little short because our mother-to-be Tracy didn't have quite the stamina (or Red Bull) as in years past, but we managed to fill a few shopping bags, sleep for a few hours and then went back to Tracy's for a 2pm "breakfast" of Old-Fashioned Cream Pie! (Definitely one of the best parts of Thanksgiving in my mind!)

Dreams really do come true . . .

And thanks to Tracy, trouble melts like lemon drops . . .

(The wedding planner went AWOL, but Tracy stepped in and orchestrated all the final details with perfection and passion. I guarantee she did NOT bite her lip for very long.)

All the pretty bridesmaids all in a row

. . . skies of blue and clouds of white . . . (and maybe a few white knuckles as the groom patiently waits)

. . . waiting and pacing

. . . trees of green . . . . . roses too . . . .

(The Best Man thought he had lost one of the rings but discovered it nested inside of the other.)

. . . watch them bloom . . .

What a wonderful world . . .

. . . and what a wonderful honor and privelage for Steve to stand beside his son as Best Man.

. . . faces of people passing by . . .

. . . friends shaking hands . . .

. . . saying I love you . . .

Last year while visiting Tracy in Atlanta, Sarah and Rachel experienced the "ultimate" in Black Friday shopping. In a manner that only veteran professional shopper Auntie Carol could rival, the three girls headed to the grand opening of a new outlet mall. After an hour in traffic and another hour just trying to find a parking place, the girls finally began their mission more than an hour past the official beginning of Black Friday.......at about 1:30 am. In order to prepare for such a grueling night of shopping, they carbo-loaded on Nachos at Taco Mac's first and then caffeinated themselves with Mountain Dew all night long. They literally shopped until they dropped.

Since Sarah and Rachel inherited the "tradition gene" from me, it was no surprise that our trip to Atlanta this year included another Black Friday extravaganza. This year I was privy to all the fun.

First, of course, was our stop at Taco Mac's where the girls obviously got their first carbonation and caffeination for the night.

While I must admit it was fun (and there were some really good deals), I prefer to spend my hard-earned money without working so hard.

Tracy and Nate made their first pilgrimage back to Indiana as a married couple.

Nate is obviously a very tolerant young gentleman. Not only did he endure that drive from Atlanta, but then 5 days of Indiana rain and gloom, sleeping in his teenage little sister-in-law's room, sharing the bathroom with three blondes and NOT having access to cable or satellite TV. He even watched one of Sarah's volleyball matches, two chick flicks and sat around the table with twenty of us to share an early Thanksgiving of togetherness even though there was no after-dinner football game as a reward his patience and perserverence. Whew!

Obviously, this guy is in love..........and as the photo attests, marriage looks good on both of them.

Nate even spent an afternoon shopping with the in-laws and Tracy.
(In Nate's own words: Happy wife..........Happy life.)
How refreshing to know there are still a few good men left: intelligent, charming and cute!

Thankfully there was also Rock Band and indoor go-cart racing! (He even got to watch a little college football that came through on our rabbit ears.)

A lot to be thankful for . . . .

. . . and forever celebrating!

Sarah's 16th birthday celebration continued this weekend with a special get-away weekend in Indy with Bubby and Sissy. Tracy drove up from Atlanta for the weekend and we all met for dinner (after a few gigs on Rock Band). Sarah, Tracy and Angela then had a girls-only day and looked for bridesmaids dresses (for Eric and Angela's wedding) followed by a trip to the spa and a girls-only dinner. (Can you believe that none of them took any pictures?!?!)

The next day, it was off to the races: The INDY 500. Eric assures me that he never let Sarah look at the infield with the binoculars.

Steve, Rachel and I drove back to Indy Sunday morning. Rachel surfed the cable channels while Steve and I cycled the Monon trail and then Rae and I shopped while Daddy surfed....

We had Bazbeaux pizza waiting when the crew returned from the race. They were so tired they acted like they ran the race, rather than watched it. Not much post-race commentary, but it was definitely a winning weekend. (I'm sure Rachel is wondering what Bubby and Sissy will do when she turns 16!)

We ended up spending the night so we could jam some more on Rock Band and we definitely ended on a good note.

Stay tuned . . . there's a lot more to come

The first time we met Tracy's fiance, Nate, was at Eric's graduation from law school last May. We were impressed by his quiet, gentle nature and the way he took Steve aside to profess that his intentions toward Tracy were honorable. We were a little worried though, that he was a little too quiet to join such an outspoken, opinionated and frequently ostentatious family.

Worry no more. Nate has proven that he can hold his own and that we will still love and respect him when he's gone back to Georgia!

Nate's Labor Day weekend challenge began with a tour of Tippy in the Boston Whaler. The look on his face as they departed was a little uncertain, but with Captain Rachel at the helm, Sarah as First Mate and scurvy dog Shadow just along for the joy ride, somehow, he managed to return without turning green.

Next stop: Lake Tippecanoe Country Club for a round of golf. No photos available, but Eric retreated to the men's bar after only a few holes to watch football instead. Nate lost (???) the lead on the 18th hole to let his future father-in-law win. Tracy says Nate is quite the competitor, so the next match might be a bit different.

Then for the REAL challenge: coming home to a deck full of "family."

Not only did Nate have to meet the parents, but also the grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and a few extras. We even had 8 Minnesotans. (Senator Mike and Vicki, Josh and Sarah, Aubrey and her fiance Eric, Ariel and Caleb) In all, we had a quaint group of 21 for dinner the first night and the crowd just kept revolving for the rest of the weekend.

We also tubed and ate and played Nintendo Wii and ate and went to "boat church" and ate and Jet Skied and ate and even gave Nate a hair cut.

. . . and of course there were just a few photos taken.

This is one of my favorite snapshots.

Josh, however, "Jungbauered" all of us (even my father) by proving to have the biggest toy in his backpack!
(Click thumbnail below)

Nate and the rest of the clan even formed their own cheerblock for the seaon finale of The Lake City Skiers. (It probably seemed a little hokey to a landlubber like Nate, but it was best for him to see all sides of his future in-laws before he says "I do.")

Obviously, Nate is to be commended for enduring so much in just 3 days. He was thrown into the midst of our family feet first and quickly learned to swim, but he really won my heart when he learned to barefoot too!

I told Nate that I could teach him to barefoot on the first try if he could just do two things: #1) Sit in a chair (What man isn't already a pro at that?!?) and #2) Listen (Ohhhhh.......not so easy!)

Well, Nate was up and barefooting on the first attempt and if he hadn't already endeared himself into my heart already, that sealed the deal!

Nate was not the only competitor in the crowd. Bubby took the gold at sunrise.

Josh also glowed with the sunrise.

.....but nothing compares to the glow on Tracy's face.

Welcome to the family Nate.

???????????????? 12-29-07 ???????????????

Grampa Paul proposed to Gramma Mary by asking "Would you like to patch my pants for the rest of your life?"

Steve proposed to me in his JEEP with a bag of peanut M&M's in the exact spot and at the exact time that we had our first kiss.

Nate popped the question tonight and Tracy said YES!!!

(Details to follow --- we hope!)

We are proud to announce the graduation of Eric Steven Jungbauer
from the Mississippi College School of Law.

It was a weekend of celebration with an extended, blended family plus two special friends.

But there is something extra special about sisters . . .

. . . and that "something" is part of the reason why we also packed a U-Haul to move Bubby back to Indiana.

Not only will he be completing another year of post-graduate work in healthcare law, but he will also be busy keeping an eye on his two littlest sisters. (As you'll see below, it seems that someone else is keeping a very close eye on his other little sister.)

(Hopefully his friend Angela, won't get jealous.)

So after all the work was done, we played . . .

We ate . . .

And we finally got to meet Nate!!!

(I think he was a bit overwhelmed, but not enough to sway his unofficial, but honorable intentions.)

Law and Order . . . . . . Celebrate!

Christmas was all about "i"s this year. iPod, idog, I Spy and mostly "I can't believe my eyes!"

Sarah and Rachel both found speakers for their iPods in the bag that Santa left by the fireplace. Rachel was even more surprised to find a Fly Pen from Santa. (She had her first serious doubts about Santa this year.)

Steve was surprised to find an iPod Nano (in his favorite color, Darth Vader black) because he had "looked everywhere" to find an iPod for me only to find them all sold out. (He went to Indy after Christmas and came home with the 30G!)

Rachel talks to her idog. (And her idog talks back and dances to the music.)

Sarah has her eyes on boys these days. (I will have hair as white as Santa's soon.) Santa left her with some wise advice on a hot pink purse. "Forget love. I'd rather fall in chocolate."

The other big hit on Christmas day was the Spy Kit we gave to my nephew Jeff. Way, way too cool Agent 007!

The biggest surprise was probably for Bubby and Sissy. They still can't believe their eyes when they look at their "little" sisters.

(If you're wondering why they are sitting on the kitchen floor, it's because it is now the best, and hottest, seat in the house since we installed heated tile.)

Bubby also brought a few house guests along. You probably wouldn't have noticed anything if I hadn't pointed it out. Kara obviously fits right in and enjoyed our girly day at the Pottery Bayou.

Here's the real apple of Bubby's eye . . .

Dakota is also growing quickly and attracting lots of eyes with her beautiful silver coat. Shadow is in love, too.

S.C. Repertory Company show 'Try's and succeeds

BY GAIL WESTERFIELD, Packet columnist
Published Friday, November 4, 2005

The story of a May-December friendship between a crusty, once-great lawyer and judge and his spunky new secretary -- more than 50 years his junior -- could be a very trying play to sit through. But South Carolina Repertory Company's production of Joanna McClelland Glass' fine work, "Trying," continues the company's tradition of presenting excellent plays with talented actors in an intimate setting.

Playwright Glass' own experience as Judge Francis Biddle's personal secretary from 1967-68 inspired the play. Biddle was the Attorney General under Franklin D. Roosevelt and a judge in the Nuremberg trials. He is 81 at the time of the play and seems to be both resigned to his death and struggling to reconcile himself to it. Sarah, fresh from the Canadian prairie, is just 25 years old and is in many ways the complete opposite of the brilliant, fussy, occasionally abusive Biddle. The respect they find for each other through the course of the play from a gradual warming to one another over the course of the play. In a subtle, and therefore believable, way, each changes through their relationship with the other, evolving beyond their initial differences through "trying" to find their way in the world -- and out of it -- together.

The writing is sharp -- lyrical at times -- and realistic, even as it offers a look at a life and times many in the audience might not have been familiar with. Their conversations are peppered with literary allusions, the two characters deal with the issues of their time, relationships, and all kinds of loss.

At its core is the concept of "trying" in many senses. Each finds the other to be a "trying" individual to deal with in the beginning, but the larger ideas concern human attempts both to connect and to protect self, struggles to overcome life's obstacles and the many fears inherent in every life.

J. Michael Craig is simply flawless as Judge Biddle. At least three decades younger than the character he plays, he renders Biddle's frustration with the deterioration of his body and mind with extraordinary skill. As impressive as his physical performance is -- particularly the use of his hands and his wearying lame leg -- Craig also renders difficult passages of dialogue beautifully and with perfect patrician diction and enunciation. Biddle's complex character is not always likeable, particularly when he berates Sarah for what he perceives to be her inferior education and intelligence. But Craig handles these nuances expertly, never going for the easy choices of "loveable curmudgeon" or "impossible grumpy old man." His groans in the first part of the play seem clearly designed in part to elicit sympathy, so they are all the more poignant near the end of the play when Biddle very clearly is in real, excruciating pain and needs Sarah's care and attention much more than he might like to admit. As the fight drains out of him, the light fades from Craig's eyes and his inevitable end, "all passion spent," as he says, is poignant but inevitable, without a hint of false sentiment.

Tracy Jo Junghauser's role is in some ways the more difficult, in that she simply says less and it is for the most part reactive to the bravura Biddle role. In spite of this, Glass has created a good part in this autobiographical character and Jungbauer portrays Sarah with strength and intelligence. Like Craig, she resists obvious choices, so her Sarah is sympathetic but not adorable or corny.

Tom Evans' direction is strong, but he proves especially capable at finding a balance between the sometimes elevated language and a realism that makes the characters compelling. Like his actors, Evans has clearly focused the telling of the story on the human dimension, not settling for stereotypes and sentiment. No element of Biddle's wit or the humor inherent in his and Sarah's struggle to form a relationship was lost on the appreciative audience. He also handles the blocking well in what could otherwise be a very static, talk-y play on the small, object-filled set.

The set is, as always in S.C. Repertory productions, especially impressive, given the size of the space with which Evans, who designed it, had to work. Don't leave the space without checking out the amazing photographs on the walls of Biddle's office. Like so much in this fine production, this attention to detail contributes to a truly great theatrical experience.

"Trying" runs through Nov. 13. For tickets or more information, call 681-5194 or visit hiltonheadtheatre.com.

Gail Westerfield writes about the arts for The Island Packet.

South Carolina Repertory Company play brings young and old together

BY JACQUELYN LEWIS, The Island Packet
Published Friday, October 21, 2005

Memorizing lines, building sets and coordinating costumes are challenges any theater company faces when mounting a production.

But South Carolina Repertory Company had to overcome another set of obstacles even before it started rehearsals for the play "Trying," which opens Thursday at the company's theater on Beach City Road.

Hank Haskell, who runs South Carolina Repertory Company with his wife, Pat Haskell, said the theater group had to get special permission from playwright Joanna McClelland Glass to produce "Trying" on Hilton Head Island because the show is in such high demand, with 25 regional theater groups planning to present it this year. Not to mention that the Canadian script hadn't yet been published in the United States a few months ago, when the Haskells were auditioning actors for the show. With Glass' agent's permission, the Haskells had to download the entire 83-page script from the Internet.

Still, Haskell said, the effort it took to meet those challenges was worth it, because "Trying" is the perfect play to start off South Carolina Repertory Company's 2005-2006 season.

"This summer, we probably read 20 or 25 great plays, but we really stuck to our guns on this one," Haskell said of "Trying," which calls for two actors. "It will make you laugh; it will make you cry; you'll beg for more."

"Trying," which made its United States premiere in 2004 in Chicago, is set in the late 1960s. It tells the story of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's aging, irascible former attorney general Francis Biddle (J. Michael Craig), and the friendship he forges with his assistant, Sarah Schorr (Tracy Jo Jungbauer), despite the fact that she is 25 and Biddle is 81.

The play addresses issues of getting older, the generation gap and politics, through gentle comedy, said Tom Evans, who is directing the local production.

"It's a piece of history," said Evans, who has directed more than a dozen plays at South Carolina Repertory Company. "It has characters you can relate to because it's based on real people."

In fact, the character Schorr is based on playwright Glass herself, who spent a year as the real Biddle's assistant.

"We spent our months together 'trying' to negotiate and span our enormous differences of youth and age, of class and culture," Glass wrote of that year.

In the play, Biddle has to accept the fact that he's getting older and learn to accept Schorr's help, Evans said. As Biddle and Schorr find ways to relate to one another, they also forge a deep connection.

"They do fall in love," Evans said. "Not sexual love, but they become great friends. We see (Biddle) admit that he really needs (Schorr)."

Portraying the nuances of that relationship calls for very talented actors, Haskell said, so finding the right performers for the roles of Biddle and Schorr was imperative.

While actor Craig, of Greenville, S.C., only is in his 50s, both Haskell and Evans said they knew he would be the perfect performer to portray 81-year-old Biddle.

Haskell said Craig, who appeared as Mitch in South Carolina Repertory Company's 2004 production of "Four Beers" has a versatility that allows him to play almost any character.

And Craig, who has appeared in more than 150 plays across the country and in television commercials, said he's up for the challenge.

"You have to work from the outside in," he said.

Jungbauer, who is making her debut with South Carolina Repertory Company, said she was interested in playing Schorr because she was drawn to the play's message.

"There are some real universal truths in this," said Jungbauer, who lives in Alpharetta, Ga., and has apprenticed with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company and studied at The Shakespeare Institute in England. "I love the budding, growing relationship that develops (between Sarah and Biddle)."

Haskell said Hilton Head is an ideal place to stage "Trying," given that younger and older generations often find themselves forging the same kinds of friendships here.

"There are a lot of old people here, and there are a lot of young people," he said. "'Trying'" is something anyone can relate to."

For more information call 681-5194.

Correction: This article originally reported the wrong residence for actor J. Michael Craig. He lives in Greenville, S.C.

Contact Jacquelyn Lewis at 706-8125 or jlewis@islandpacket.com. To comment on this story, please go to www.islandpacket.com.

Height: 14,600 ft above solid ground

Next Jump: ASAP

My new expensive hobby, skydiving. Six more jumps and I’ll be certified.

Rachel and her buddy Kensea started fourth grade today.

(Make-up, hair and costume design by Tracy.)

Here are more glimpses of our wonderful weekend with Bubby and Sissy.
I wish we could convince them to move closer!!!

Sisterly love

The ART of tubing

Oh Yeah!

Too much testosterone

Double studs (I was behind the wheel not the camera)

Chillin'

Even though Sarah's in 8th grade this year, the first day of the school is still exciting. She spent weeks trying to figure out the perfect outfit to wear and was up this morning on her own accord long before the alarm even went off. She even had time for breakfast.

This year she had 3 escorts on her first day of school.

LUCKY GIRL!

Both Eric and Tracy were able to break away from their hectic schedules for a long weekend with us before the girls start school.

Eric is getting ready to start his last year of law school in Mississippi and Tracy is still on stage at The New American Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta.

The Jungbauer Ski Team

Sarah and Rachel both learned to slalom the day Bubby and Sissy arrived and then learned to do "cut unders."

The girls skied for hours and did not even mention the T word!!! (Tubing)

It was a Red Letter Day in many ways!!!

Sarah and Rachel spent Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta with Bubby and Sissy (aka Eric and Tracy). It was Eric's idea and desire to share one of his most cherished childhood memories with his little sisters. The highlight of the weekend, aside from being together, was going to an Atlanta Braves baseball game. (Sarah and Rachel have never even played T-ball, but they still had a ball!!!)

The hard part was putting my babies on an airplane --- alone. Fortunately, it was a direct flight and I was on call so I couldn't go to the airport. Plus, I was so busy that weekend that I didn't have too much time to dwell on the fact that my girls are growing up and will be on their own before I know it.

Here is Eric's recap of their weekend:

First off, I cannot express my gratitude enough for letting the girls come down to Atlanta for the Memorial Day weekend to hang out with Tracy and I. I miss them terribly throughout the year, and it is hard when I see them once every four or five months when they are growing up so fast. This past weekend really meant a lot for me.

Okay, enough of the mushy junk . . . on to the good stuff.

We had an AWESOME weekend. Tracy and I picked them up from the airport on Saturday morning. Unlike their return trip out of Atlanta, it took me about 1 ½ hours to get through security.

So, when I showed up to their gate, I was pretty darn sweaty. The only thing I could think of while running through the terminal was how bad Erin was going to kill me if I let the girls sit in a strange airport for an hour --- but I showed up just in time. When I saw them --- Yes Sarah is tall, but Rachel is a dang weed, the way she is growing.

We walked through the terminal and came up the big escalator. It was kinda cool because as we got closer to the top you could hear the constant clapping and cheering from the crowd waiting for loved ones as servicemen randomly came over the top and appearedÂ…talk about goose bumps. Anyways, we immediately saw Tracy as she had a bunch of baseball balloons for the girls.

Okay, so we got Sarah's luggage and went out to the car. As we were leaving the airport, I started talking to Rachel. I told her that my birthday present to Sarah was the weekend down here in Atlanta and the Braves' Game. So, I said I had her "early birthday present" and I reached into the console and took out a pink iPod mini. I handed it back to Rachel in such a manner as to make sure Bear saw it very clearly.

Bear's face went ghost white.

Rae was pretty excited. I totally ignored Sarah. However, she was such a trooper. She went very quiet, and had this fake half smile on for like 10 mins as Rae tore through the box and started messing with the iPod.

I couldn't take it anymore and gave Bear hers. She was pretty darn excited --- pretty wild.

So anyways, we dropped Tracy off at work, and we went up to Alpharetta to grab breakfast and go to Jason's parents' house to meet up with them. Jason and his girlfriend, Jenn, met us there and we headed to the ballpark. Jason had a secret parking lot right across from the field - only $10! It is usually like $30 to park so close.

Well we got into the park and the girls were amazed how big it was. Pretty wild. We walked around, bought tomahawks and ballpark food --- basically killed about and hour and a half. Got to our seats and enjoyed the game. Tracy took a cab to the field and was only 30 mins late. GOOD TIMING!

Well after $80 in pizza, hotdogs, and nachos and in the 5th inning, Rae wanted to go hang out in the nose-bleeder seats. Those seats are seriously the coolest in the park. Not crowded, see everything, high up, skyline in the background - pretty cool.

Okay, so in the 8th inning it was pretty obvious the game was going bad for the home team. We headed down to our section, which had emptied out quite considerably. We decided to try and help the Braves to a 9th inning comeback --- a RALLY!!!! Yee-HAW! We stood for like 30 minutes doing the tomahawk chop . . .

. . . and rooting the Braves to a . . . . . loss.

However, I am pretty jealous of Sarah. You see I have been going to Braves game for the good part of the last 20 years. I have been to about 40 games. I have never been on the big screen. Sarah was in Atlanta for about 5 hours, and while she was standing, looking pretty in her Braves shirt, cowboy hat, doing the tomahawk chop, the powers that be decided they needed to put her on the largest HDTV screen in the world for about 7 seconds! THAT WAS AWESOME! I think her rubberbands on her braces were about 10 feet tall on the big screen. We all (all 50,000 people or so) saw it, including Bear and Rae.

Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones acknowledged our rallying cries and pointed to us while coming off the field at the end of the game. Wild! We took our time leaving the field.

It was seriously the coolest Braves game I have ever been to. The only thing it would have made it better would have been a win.

Well, we went swimming late afternoon, and then went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner.

After dinner we walked around the city, then came home. Rae and Bear stayed at Tracy's and I heard they passed out pretty hard that night.

On Sunday, Bear and Rae cooked us breakfast and we went to the Renaissance Festival. We stared at all the strange people that come out of the woodwork for things like this, and ate a lot of "carni" food. Then we went on a lot of rides, and ate more food. On the ride home, the food didn't agree with Sarah. She started crying (because apparently her stomach was doing flips) and politely asked Sissy to pull over at the next gas station. Sarah bolted into the bathroom and came out 45 minutes later with Pepto-Bismol stained lips. Poor baby.

Went home, took a nap and then went to Bahama Breeze for Dinner with Nate. (Tracy's boyfriend. Sorry no one took your picture, Nate!) Ate a light dinner, then went to see Madagascar -- pretty funny. Went home, passed out. Said bye to the girls. (Don't tell them this, but I actually cried when I got in my car to go back to Mississippi.) I guess the girls went to DSW in Buckhead to buy shoes or something . . and there you have it, the weekend.

Again, thanks a lot. It was a super weekend.

Thank YOU, Bubby (and Sissy). NO matter how tall (or short) you are, Sarah and Rachel will always look up to you!

I guess I'm rubbing off on my children . . .

Instead of our traditional four-day Thanksgiving feast with family this year, we broke tradition and left town.

"But Mom," whined Sarah, "we always have Thanksgiving at Gramma Mary's. But Mom, we always have old-fashioned cream pie. But Mom, we always put the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving. But Mom . . ."

My parents heard the same song from me when I was growing up. I like tradition!!!

Despite the deviation from tradition, we all had a very special Thanksgiving in Atlanta, with Eric (aka Bubby) and Tracy (aka Sissy). We shared a wonderful Thanksgiving feast prepared by Eric and Tracy's mother, Susan. Although we did not have old-fashioned cream pie, somehow Sarah survived with potato dumplings, mashed potatoes and chocolate pie instead.

No low-carb living for this girl!!! And don't forget the Reddi Wip!

Here you see Steve and Rachel playing a duet of traditonal Christmas carols while Sarah sings
(Not really, but it looks good!)

One highlight of our trip was dining in a revolving restaurant overlooking downtown Atlanta. Afterward, we enjoyed the water fountains and Christmas light display, but agreed that Warsaw's Central Park display is still top notch.

The greatest highlight of our trip away from tradition, however, was seeing Tracy in the spotlight at The New American Shakespeare Tavern.

We were admittedly a dreading just the thought of more than two hours of Shakespeare, but were pleasantly suprised by a fun and witty performance that we even (kind of) understood!

We are very proud of Tracy for working so hard to live her dream.

Sarah is still lamenting our break from tradition, but we did manage to do the traditional Freaky Friday Shop 'til You Drop and Make Auntie Carol Proud of You shopping excursion the day after Thanksgiving, so all was not lost . . . and we still shared the most important tradition of Thanksgiving, FAMILY.

Then, and now, all the world's a stage.

Tracy is currently working (and following her dream) in the apprentice company at The New American Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta, Georgia.

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."

--From As You Like It (II, vii, 139-143)

While most of us are celebrating Independece day by NOT having to work, Tracy is celebrating her first real Independence Day by giving thanks that she CAN work.

Tracy (and her parents) are proud to announce that Tracy is now gainfully employed as an actress at The New American Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta, Georgia!

You can check it out at www.shakespearetavern.com.

Congratulations Tracy!!!

The transition into "the real world" is something that college never really prepares us for. It is frequently harsh and full of the unexpected. It forces us to leave our comfort zone . . . and expand it.

Here is another glimpse of Tracy's comfort zone over the past four years. May the memories provide her comfort and confidence as she moves into the next zone.

Tracy graduated from Hanover this weekend.

It was another day of mixed emotions for all of us. How could so much have changed in such a fast four years? A quiet teen who wanted to teach and write childrens' book was transformed into a confident, charming and ever more beautiful young woman whose passion is to perform Shakespeare.

We tried to recreate a moment that dramatically shows how things have changed from our first visit in the fall of 2000, to our last visit at graduation in the spring of 2004.

WOW!!!

Eric --- still very protective of his little sister.

I guess Steve does get some (genetic) credit for a job well-done four times over!!!!

Tracy Jo Jungbauer
tracy@jungbauer.org
(770) 366-1511

Training
B.A. in Theatre expected May of 2004, Hanover College.
Alexander Technique Workshop, KCACTF Region III, Mary Donahoe.
Audition Workshop, KCACTF Region III, Lori Adams.
Spring Seminar, The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
?The Acting Process,? The Alliance Theatre.
Stage Combat Training in sword, dagger and unarmed combat with Jim Stark
Technical experience working in wardrobe, lighting and props.

We saw Tracy in one of her last performances at Hanover this weekend. As you can see by the photo, she has much better stage presence than her father and all of them are characters!!!