Larry Buxton, M.Div.

This June will mark my 3rd year of 'refirement' (or 'retunement'). After 41 years under appointment in the VA United Methodist Conference, we bought a townhouse in Ashburn, which is a new community in Loudoun County, about 9 minutes west of Dulles Airport. I love seeing (but rarely hearing) planes coming in and out of the airport. I almost have my autobiography "A Very Larry Life" printed and in hand, with many of you mentioned by name. I'm also closing in on a second book contract, a "30 Days with King David" type of book, looking at leadership development and his life through the lens of the cardinal virtues. A subtitle with the words character, virtues, leadership and who-knows-what-else should be out by late 2019 or early 2020.

Like so many of you we're enjoying grandchildren. Our first, Rose Paulina, was born to son Garrett & Carly in 2017. They live in Melrose MA but should end up the year in Richmond, VA. Younger son Tyler lives and works in San Francisco and will be married to the lovely & delightful Stef Lippi in November.

Bev and I will celebrate 39 years of marriage by year's end. We've been traveling more while we can -- in 2018 we did 2 weeks in Scandinavia and St. Petersburg + a diving trip to Cozumel. This year's plans include Chautauqua in August and Spain & Morocco in October.

In addition to writing I teach part-time at Wesley Seminary (UM) in Washington and work P-T at Herndon UMC, coach clergy et al. as an ICF-certified coach, grieve for the UMC, celebrate the Wahoos' championship in the NCAA's, and root for the Washington Nationals. I stay somewhat in touch with Lynn Snider, Rick Steele and Steve Jones, though I keep up with (and often pipe in on) your Facebook postings. I remember Robert Johnson, Bill Muehl, Henri Nouwen, David Kelsey and Abe Malherbe most fondly. If you're ever in the DC area, call -- lunch is on me.