Creating a life together ( 2 1 ) , is like building a house. r e m a r k e d Both require a strong that there is foundation and all parts nothing that have to fit together. a bottle of Things need to happen spray paint in the correct order, cannot turn repairs should be into an oil-made in a timely r u b b e d -fashion, and good b r o n z e communication is masterpiece.k e y . M o r e o v e r, W h en t he y construction requires w e r e n o t t e a m w o r k ; i t bonding with unleashes creativity neighbors and and brings people fr ie nd s ov er together. glue and liquid The Tribune staff n a i l s , t h e i n t e r v i e w e d a parents spent fa mi ly th at ha s half of their free c o n t i n u o u s l y time planning worked on their and des igning . relationships as “It is f un t o well as on some j u g g l e c o s t , c o n s t r u c t i o n c u l t u re , a n d how projects of their own. After common sense,” to wire outlets in the experimenting briefly with said Ania (50). Their advice to basement, mom refinished the IKEA furniture challenges in others is to embrace all hardwood floor upstairs. August, the van Gessels from projects head on to get them “Pa in t ing was no b ig Lexington, KY, tackled a over with as soon as possible. problem,” said Veronica (18), whole house renovation this “The best part about these “but it was good to have our fall. Each member played his projects,” said Winni (53), “is friends help us with restoring or her own part and learned pr ov id in g co ns tr uc ti ve the old barn and installing new skills along the way. criticism.”laminate.” Her sister, Corrie As dad taught his daughters

H o w e v e r , t h e couple realized in record time that they love l i f e w i t h o u t d a i l y domestic chores. Now they happily g r o w k o i a n d tomatoes and live a peaceful existence . . . … w i t h t h e occasional bout of Many middle-aged parents

newspaper and find a void after book writing, their long-pampered ar t projects , offspring has left house purcha-home for college. s i n g a n d Our correspondents r enova t i ons , of 17 years reached trip and party that milestone in p l a n n i n g , 2 0 1 4 a n d family visits, immediately set off

o n a q u e s t t o f i n d a n d replacements for their waiting college-bound daughters. f o r They quickly discovered that t h e i r trips to California, New York, kids to or even the Cayman Islands c o m e were nothing but short-term h o m e s o l u t i o n s . N e x t , t h e y to bring attempted to fulfill their s o m e nurturing natures with a e x c i t esearch for substitute babies ment. among turtles, stingrays, step dogs, and farm animals.

The van Gessel TribuneVolume 17 Number 1 December 2014107 Loch Lomond Drive. Lexington, KY 40517 www.winnivangessel.com/tribune

Telephone (859) 536-2411 or (859) 536-2711

Embracing Western European culture.More like sleeping across Europe

where her feet are.7) Run away from any friendly face 3) If you need things in France and that calls out “Hakuna Matata!” or don't speak French, just say

you pay dearly for one lousy English words in a fake French

friendship bracelet. accent (ie. Tampon = Tampón... 6) Check whether your seats on the who knew?)train are in a silent compartment to 2) Even if you set aside a whole avoid getting dirty looks from the Monday to visit the Louvre, it still locals. will not be open on Mondays. 5) Sometimes in small French 1) Although European beaches are towns, the bus that comes every similar to American ones, do bring day at 8:00 AM will not come sun screen with SPF 100+ for those because the bus driver doesn't feel previously unexposed areas. :-)like it that day. Good luck. 4) If you're biking in Holland with your sister sideways on the back and you stop, lean towards the side

SWEEPING EUROPE

We could tell you more, but we don't want to rat on the kids.

From Our ViewWhat happens in college stays in college. Both van Gessel girls have moved away from home this year, and, as roommates, (yes, Kevin is a girl) we learned many things their parents don't know. We live with Corrie, but overhear every conversation between the sisters. They talk about their life, love, laughter, and alcohol. Oh, don’t worry, Corrie is 21 now, and Veronica is also of legal drinking age (as long as she is Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, or Mexico.) They have joined the collegiate rat race and take "work hard, play hard" seriously: as Corrie hunches over Organic Chemistry night after night at UK, Veronica cheers "Go Cocks!" and spins towels at USC. Or maybe we have this information wrong; between Kappa Delta, Pi Beta Phi, and Phi Delta Epsilon there are just too many Greek letters and other facts between the sisters to keep our four eyes on. We remind Winni of his college rat and, although Ania still keeps her distance, we enjoy the fact that they DO come and visit their daughters.Why don’t you?

E d i t o r s i n (mis)chief, Kevin and Ellie.

EMPTY NEST SYNDROME

Sweeping the streets of Barcelona?

Bucket-list: Biking the Golden Gate Bridge on 50th birthday.

Replacing the kids with ...kids?

Who’s your mama?

TOP SEVEN TRAVELING TIPS FOR EUROPE:

Our experienced specialists will provide you with a truly astonishing fusion of highly personalized services: DISCOVER magical powers of a mystic European Nutella mask, often disguised as a sandwich spread;

RELAX and de-stress w i t h t w o amazing rescue rats, who love t o p r o v i d e scalp massages and neck tickle t h e r a p y ; BLOW OFF

SOME STEAM with our home-grown racquetba l l champion Veronica ; UNDERGO group guitar music therapy i n f i v e d i f f e r e n t l a n g u a g e s ; EXPERIENCE amazing benefits of organic, healthy, home cooked meals, unlimited hot tea, and clean laundry; OBTAIN unsolicited tutoring, class schedule planning, and general life advice.

WE STAND BEHIND OUR PRODUCTS:

If you are not satisfied we will provide you with an unforgettable bonding experience o n a b e a c h o f y o u r c h o i c e !

Call now: 1-800-VGSPA

STRENGTHEN your muscles with yoga led by certified yoga instructor Corrie;

The all-inclusive VG-Spa specializes in relief from a rough student existence!

FOUND: First job for Corrie as a

Yoga Instructor at the University of

Kentucky.

WANTED: A job for Veronica, to

pay for unforeseen traveling

expenses.

FOUND: Two new positions at

Lexmark by Ania.

DISCOVERED: Love for healthy

gourmet cooking (Corrie)

NOT WANTED: Freshman 15 (and

it is only halfway the semester!)

TRADED: Panther mascot for UK

Wildcat.

SEARCHING for new roommates

in Columbia next year. Call Veronica.

(Have house: Katie stays!)

INVITATION: Send us your best

stories and worst pictures of 2015!

WINNER: Best response to 2013

Tr ibune Chal lenge : Urszu la

Maciejewska

WANTED: Gas money for long

distance relationships.

FOUND: New Aunt. Now Auntie

Linda is married to Auntie Jenny, our

family has grown!

It’s just a phase

Next time, let’s all play the same song.

Finally Satisfied

After graduation, the l i f e o f a n e x -highschool student is an unwritten story. P a r e n t s o f t e n wonder: Will she become a model? A traveler? A scholar? An actress? It will take a village to determine where Veronica van Gessel

will end up in the future. Please take an active role and deduct the most likely options for her and send your predictions to our editors. Note: it is possible to combine all the options above. Earn a Free Tribune subscription with your response: winnivangessel@hotmail.com

Our support staff goes to any length

Tired after all-night partying or studying? Feeling stiff from watching too much Netflix? Stressed out by d e m a n d i n g c l a s s e s o r relationships? On a string budget due to the exuberant cost of higher education?!

ALL-INCLUSIVE VG-SPAA D V E R T I S E M E N T

Our artist-in-residence, Ania van Gessel, has taken a her skills to the next level by integrating true stories and old family pictures into her new cartoon series. She will continue to do this every 50 years!

*a tribute to Joos van Gessel, on her 85th birthday.

CLASSIFIEDSOn The Crossroads Of Life

Start making choices: the road forks ahead!Trading maroon for garnet. What is the difference?

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