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Grampa Ken & Spanky





Copyright 2007 New Leaf Productions & Garland Studios

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Cassidy Leigh Stamper; Granddaughter #3 : A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 17 DEC 2007 at 5:55 am, 6 lb. 5 oz., 18 inches.

Cassidy Leigh Stamper; Granddaughter #3

A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 17 DEC ...

Updated: Dec 26, 2007 10:29am PST

Marion (Niki) Paulson turns 80 :

Marion (Niki) Paulson turns 80

Updated: Dec 24, 2007 6:53pm PST

Garrett : UPDATE 6 MAY 2007 2 MAY 2007 This letter really starts back in October of 2005; the last time anyone in my family saw or heard from Garrett. History first… After many months of fruitless attempts to contact Garrett through his last known telephone numbers, email address and residential address, in August of 2006, I reported Garrett missing to the police in Duxbury, Massachusetts. When many more months had passed without any contact, I wrote the letter I mailed to police, newspapers and elected officials. Out of that letter, I was given the location of a company – Convergys – where Garrett was reportedly employed. After over a month of unsuccessful attempts to contact Garrett through this company, I flew to Denver after work on April 30th, 2007, rented a car, and drove to Pueblo, Colorado. I arrived at the business address given to me by an agent of the CBI at around 3:30 AM on May 1st, the place looked closed, so I found a room at the closest motel. I went to Convergys’ office later that morning and met with Sr. Human Resource Manager Mary Herrera. She told me that she could not tell me anything beyond the fact that Garrett worked the night shift and that he was “a very nice young man,” citing privacy laws which prevented her from sharing personal information like Garrett’s home address or telephone number. She also stated several times – with the security guard within earshot – that I could not wait in their waiting area for Garrett to come to work, or even on the Convergys property (i.e. parking lot). Observing the building and parking areas in the light of day, I noticed that there were “Private Property” signs posted at each entrance to the parking lots. I left and went back to my motel to rest. I returned to the Convergys building, at 1228 East Orman Avenue in Pueblo, at around 6:45 PM and sat in my rental car, in the periodic heavy rain, on the street next to the “Private Property” until 9:10 PM when I spotted Garrett walking up the main entrance. I jumped out of the car and caught up to him just as he was about to swipe his card and enter the outside door. I was so excited and emotionally charged, that the following description is only my best recollection of what actually happened. I write this while again sitting in my rental car, off the “Private Property” of Convergys, at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007. I’m jumping ahead of myself, but the reason I am sitting in the car, instead of having breakfast with Garrett, as we had planned the previous evening, is due to the fact that when I arrived to pick Garrett up, I was informed by the security guard that “he does not want to see you. Please leave the property.” I spent almost an hour driving around all of the streets near the Convergys building (which takes up an entire block of “Private Property,” plus a large parking lot across the street) unsuccessfully looking for Garrett. Back to the exciting part, last evening when I did actually touch/hug/squeeze/talk-with/take-one-photo-of my long lost son, Garrett!! Part of my brain must have known that everything was not as I would have hoped: the Garrett I was seeing was not the Garrett I have always known and loved. As I mentioned, I was so excited and relieved to actually be seeing and touching and talking with Garrett, that I was not really seeing him as he really is. I can only guess what that means, because as I said, I was seeing what I wanted to see: my long lost son, returning to the fold of his loving family, and me as the oh-so-fortunate representative of the search party. Garrett came and sat in the car with me for about five minutes. I babbled about how much I/everyone loved and missed him, that he has several new nieces and nephews, and another on the way, asking him “how are you?” over and over, touching and hugging him, asking him in as non-threatening a way as I could “why have you been out of touch?” He mentioned loosing his wallet, and being in the process of moving, as reasons for his lack of contact and not wishing to share his home address. I gave him my cellular and the motel telephone numbers and he agreed to have me pick him up this morning and go out to breakfast together. I wanted to wait until then to more slowly and gently explore the “whys” behind his absence. But you already know the rest. I sat in the car and cried tears of intense joy, and could not even drive for 15-20 minutes after he went into the building last night. But I am just dumb-struck this morning (maybe due to the smarter part of my brain already knowing or expecting that this would happen), and all I can do right now is write this down. Observations I made, and thoughts I had, during the hours I sat outside Convergys waiting for Garrett to show up: · The people who I assume work for Convergys at this location (because I saw them swipe their way into the building), for the most part arrived separately – in their own vehicle, or being dropped off (they left in a similar fashion) – and did not interact with the other employees who happened to be standing near where they were walking, or passing in opposite directions. No visible communication was noted, with the exception of several couples that either arrived or left together. · The staff – all three security guards and the HR manager – were Hispanic (no value; just my observation). · All of the employees were young and white; most were “individualists” (multiple facial piercings, tattoos, distinctive hairstyles and clothing, etc.). Whether this has any meaning, I do not know. Among the questions running through my head: · Do I call the Pueblo Police and ask them to help me storm the building and make them give me Garrett’s home address (I assume it is within walking distance, based on his not being soaked upon his arrival to work in last night’s rain)? · Do I call HR Rep. Mary Herrera (and ask her what)? · Or, do I just go and check out of my motel, drive back to Denver International Airport and return my rental car and wait for my flight home, which doesn’t leave until 11:28 PM this evening? Future ideas: · Write to Garrett c/o Convergys. Express my joy at seeing him, even if for only a scant few minutes, and while respecting his right to privacy as an adult, request some kind of explanation for his one-sided separation from his entire family. I feel that he owes us at least that much. · Write to the Federal and State departments that oversee businesses, and request an investigation into the standard and practices their employees’ are required to work under. Let some light into the situation. · Write to Convergys and tell/ask them…..what? Closing thoughts… While I wholeheartedly welcome any and all suggestions for future efforts at establishing a connection with Garrett, my present frame of mine makes it ill advised for anyone to even comment on the steps I have taken thus far (what I did, how I did it, timing, etc.). I am quite capable of beating myself on the head for whatever reason(s) Garrett has for severing his ties with me/us. I can promise, that regardless of the purest of motives one might have for commenting on the past, I will most likely respond in a way that I will probably regret after I have done it. Forewarned is forearmed… Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. Please continue; for Garrett, me and his entire family and all of his friends. UPDATE 13 MAR 2007 After receiving information last week from Agent Brown of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation that Garrett is working for a company in Pueblo, Colorado, I called the office and have requested their assistance in contacting Garrett. I have left telephone messages several times, but have not heard back from Garrett or anyone else. It looks like I will have to raise the money to go to Pueblo and wait for Garrett to show up at his job, or find him where ever he lives. Please keep praying that Garrett will make contact with us soon. Ken UPDATE: 17 FEB 2007 After mailing a letter in early February to law enforcement in Colorado, elected officials and Denver newspapers, I have heard back from several law enforcement agencies in Colorado. Garrett has not been located yet, but they confimed him having been in Pueblo in August 2006. I am praying that eithor Garrett will come into contact with an agency, or contact someone in his family on his own in the very near future. Thank you for your prayers and support in helping to find Garrett. God Bless you all. I love you Garrett and only want you to be your own person. Please let me and the rest of your family be a part of your life. Dad/Grampa Ken Dear family and friends, I hope all is well with all of you in your parts of the world. After spending my usual sleepless night last night just wondering what more I could be doing to find my beloved cousin Garrett Paulson, whom has been missing/out of contact with his family and friends for the better part of two years, I decided to send out this letter in the hopes that maybe I'm just too naive and have not thought of something else there is to do. Garrett was living in Aurora Colorado the last time anyone heard from him, shortly after his brother Kevin's wedding. He did not pick up his last paycheck, nor has he paid his car insurance payments. He has not had contact with anyone at all. We have now seen two Christmas's come and go with no word from him. It is like him at times to not keep in contact, but never for this long and never over the holidays. I am so worried about him and I can not even imagine what his parents and siblings must feel. I believe the only thing left to do is to either A. go to Colorado and begin a search or B. hire a private detective. While I'd love nothing more than to go to Colorado and search for him myself, I have a family and life here to think about, as do all of us. So the only thing I can see left to do is hire someone to find him. I believe that this can be accomplished, and I am asking that anyone who can help us out with this, whether through prayers, resources, references, or financial assistance, will find it in their heart to lend us a hand. I have attached a photo of Garrett that I have been posting in various places. If you could send this photo out to others, and ask them to send it, and so on, that would be a great help as well. Also, please forward this on to anyone that is not on my list. I know this family can come together to accomplish amazing things. Garrett is lost for now, but he needs to be found and found by us. He deserves to be safe and feel our support no matter what has kept him from us these last few years. Ken (his Dad) has set up a bank account for this purpose. Many regards to all, Much love and happiness, Lori

Garrett

UPDATE 6 MAY 2007 2 MAY 2007 This letter really starts back in O ...

Updated: Oct 13, 2007 8:09am PST

Umbrella Smile : Shortly after our extended-family's Christmas gathering in 2005, an idea was born. The hand-made gifts my cousin Kirk had given to all of the women in the family, sparked my brother-in-law Dan to involve me in helping them to set up a corporation that now encompasses the design, manufacture and sales of unique Mosaic Designs, and single Talisman pieces, all from soapstone. The natural beauty of this stone, combined with its ability to be easily worked into a unique shape, make these pieces and sets a perfect memory marker for anything from a birthday to a family reunion. Anything where the intent is for those involved to remember and be remembered. Go to www.umbrellasmile.com for the complete story.

Umbrella Smile

Shortly after our extended-family's Christmas gathering in 2005, an id ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2007 2:08pm PST

Cars!! : Wal-Mart, Halifax, Massachusetts, Friday night. Cars, cars, cars, as far as the eye can see. The photos below represent the offerings of two weeks. More to follow, I'm sure!

Cars!!

Wal-Mart, Halifax, Massachusetts, Friday night. Cars, cars, cars, as ...

Updated: Aug 05, 2007 8:14pm PST

Paulson Pool Party 2007 : Seven, Seven, O'Seven!! The latest and greatest of twenty-plus wonderful years of fun in the sun. Company, conversation, food and drink that can't be beat!! Keep checking back as you add your own favorite photos to the collection!

Paulson Pool Party 2007

Seven, Seven, O'Seven!! The latest and greatest of twenty-plus wonderf ...

Updated: Jul 10, 2007 8:17am PST

Red Sox 11 APR 2007 : Join with Grampa Ken and #1 son, Kevin, as we take the Red Line over the river Charles, past the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge and the Bunker Hill Monument, to Fenway Park, where we watched "Dice-K" pitch his first game in Boston.

Red Sox 11 APR 2007

Join with Grampa Ken and #1 son, Kevin, as we take the Red Line over t ...

Updated: May 06, 2007 12:24pm PST

Red Sox 9 APR 2004 : The last game I had the priviledge of attending was the home opener for the 2004 season. They might have lost that day, but the end of the season more than made up for it.

Red Sox 9 APR 2004

The last game I had the priviledge of attending was the home opener fo ...

Updated: Mar 03, 2007 9:07pm PST

Magic Wings : Barb, Marion, Nicholas, Matthew and I stopped at the most wonderful place to feel a part of God's creation: Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory, in Deerfield Massachusetts, on our way back from a visit to Kevin, Nikki and Jenna's home, and a 60th Wedding party for the Simmons' (family friends).

Magic Wings

Barb, Marion, Nicholas, Matthew and I stopped at the most wonderful pl ...

Updated: Apr 16, 2007 1:53pm PST

Nicholas/Son #3 : A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 13 FEB 1993.

Nicholas/Son #3

A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 13 FEB ...

Updated: Jan 06, 2007 3:12pm PST

Matthew/Son #4 : A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 4 DEC 1995.

Matthew/Son #4

A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 4 DEC 1 ...

Updated: Jan 06, 2007 2:59pm PST

Jenna Kathleen - Granddaughter #1 : A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 28 JUN 2005.

Jenna Kathleen - Granddaughter #1

A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 28 JUN ...

Updated: Jul 20, 2007 12:44pm PST

Mia Kathleen - Granddaughter #2 : A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 3 MAR 2006.

Mia Kathleen - Granddaughter #2

A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 3 MAR 2 ...

Updated: Aug 05, 2007 7:45pm PST

Brady Edward/Grandson #1 : A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 28 SEP 2006.

Brady Edward/Grandson #1

A work-in-progress, so keep checking the "updated" date. Born 28 SEP ...

Updated: Jul 20, 2007 12:24pm PST

North River Community Church Worship Music : Two of the people who have powerfully enriched the worship experience for me (and everyone else, based on the 100% participation I witness at every service or concert), are DAVID COATE (reachable at: www.davidcoate.com, www.myspace.com/davidcoate and at his recording studio, Turning Point Records: http://www.tprecords.com/), and PETER DUPRE (reachable at: http://www.peterdupre.com/home.cfm, http://www.myspace.com/peterdupreband and: http://cdbaby.com/cd/peterdupreband). They have produced several dozen CDs between them. I feel blessed that they have used some of my photographs on their albums and web sites.

North River Community Church Worship Music

Two of the people who have powerfully enriched the worship experience ...

Updated: Jan 14, 2007 2:46pm PST

Dogs and Cats and other family friends : We love both our own animal friends, and those we come in contact with as we move around the planet. They brighten our lives, and show us what it means to love.

Dogs and Cats and other family friends

We love both our own animal friends, and those we come in contact with ...

Updated: Jan 06, 2007 1:58pm PST

Off We Go, Into The Wild Blue Yonder... : Airshow on 8/16/2003 at the Westfield Air National Guard airport. Nick, Matt and I had a wonderful time watching all of the action, with the Blue Angels heading up the show.

Off We Go, Into The Wild Blue Yonder...

Airshow on 8/16/2003 at the Westfield Air National Guard airport. Nic ...

Updated: Dec 30, 2006 8:33pm PST

Off we go...Again! : Airshow on 8/27/2005 at the Westfield Air National Guard airport. The Thunder Birds headlined this year's show, showing Nick, Matt and me what it means to slip the surly bonds...

Off we go...Again!

Airshow on 8/27/2005 at the Westfield Air National Guard airport. The ...

Updated: Jan 06, 2007 4:27pm PST

San Francisco Airshow : While in California on 10/11/2003 for my brother's wedding, we visited Fisherman's Wharf, and were lucky enough to catch the end of an airshow featuring, along with several other aircraft, the Canadian Air Force's Snowbirds ( http://www.snowbirds.forces.gc.ca/site/index_e.asp) in action, flying over the old Alcatraz prison!

San Francisco Airshow

While in California on 10/11/2003 for my brother's wedding, we visited ...

Updated: Jan 06, 2007 2:40pm PST

Confederate Air Force : Matt & I rode my Nomad to the Plymouth (MA) Airport on 12 SEP 2004 to examine these two fine examples of why America is a free and democratic country. The photographs tell the story of the courage and determination shown by our fathers and grandfathers to guarantee our freedom. This Consolidated B-24J Liberator is the only remaining plane still in airworthy condition.

Confederate Air Force

Matt & I rode my Nomad to the Plymouth (MA) Airport on 12 SEP 2004 to ...

Updated: Jan 06, 2007 6:40pm PST

Blue Knights Massachusetts Chapter IX : During the three years I owned my last motorcycle, I was the Quartermaster for the Plymouth Bay Chapter, Mass IX, of the Blue Knights International. These photographs document some of the rides and events I participated in.

Blue Knights Massachusetts Chapter IX

During the three years I owned my last motorcycle, I was the Quarterma ...

Updated: Jan 09, 2007 6:25pm PST

Pueblo Air Museum : While I was waiting to meet Garrett, I visited the very nice Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum next to the Pueblo Memorial Airport. The hanger is ringed with static displays of uniforms and lots of other interesting aircraft material that I did not photograph. Worth a several-hour visit, and quite a value at $6.00 for adults. Nice gift shop, too. Operated & Managed by the volunteers of the Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society, 31001 Magnuson Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81001, 719-948-9219, http://www.pwam.org, phas@pwam.org . (I know, the close-ups of the aircraft descriptions are not in the correct order. Someday when I have more time...)

Pueblo Air Museum

While I was waiting to meet Garrett, I visited the very nice Pueblo We ...

Updated: May 06, 2007 12:55pm PST