Tom Avery

December 16, 2003

Well if no one wants to go first on this, I will take a shot at it.

After 24 years together, Karen and I are getting divorced. The circumstances of this outcome may be known to some of you, but I'm going to step the details here. Suffice to say that our relationship had clearly run its course and the best thing to do, despite the remaining children to raise, was to part ways.

I think I can speak for Karen in saying that we are both looking forward to our new lives and interested in keeping as much of a household together for the children as possible. I have rented an apartment about a mile from the family home where Karen, Katie and Davey continue to live. Sara is a freshman at U.C. Santa Cruz and so counts as a part-time resident.

Katie is a sophomore in high school and will also go to Rome next year to study at St. Stephen's School. As always, just like her sister. The prospect of this trip is keeping her very focused on school and takes away from her favorite pastime of perusing the Despair Faction bulletin boards that are, in effect, the fan club for her favorite band, AFI. (Known I'm sure to this far-flung group).

Davey is a perfect eight-years old and a delight to be with. He is on a swim team and takes a child-like interest in all things. In my perfect world, children would stay eight or nine years old forever, perhaps going back and forth between the two for variety.

I'll skip the rest of the stuff this time. Who's next?

Tom Avery's clan in a recent (November or so) photo: From left, Katie, Davey, and Sara. See larger version.