Family News

Smolen Happenings of 2008

     2008 was an exciting year.  First and most importantly, all the family members were happy, well, and productive this year. Let's recap the highlights:

Ben, who graduated from Princeton in 2007 with a degree in Musicology and certificates in Russian and Ural Studies and Music Performance, continues to make music history at The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston; he studies with the famous Paula Robeson.  His first semester at NEC, Ben won the the Haynes International Flute competition for which he recieved a custom-made gold flute!  Ben also won the Pappasoutkis Competition and took second place in the New York Flute Society's Young Artist Competition.  So far this year, his chamber group--consisting of Ben and a guitarist--have won the NEC chamber competition, making the two of them the face of the conservatory for this academic year.  Currently, Ben is in Kobe, Japan, competing as one of three American finalists in the Kobe International Flute Competition--sort of the Olympics of flute competitions!  Good Luck, Ben!! 

Sarah is an honor student in photo-journalism and art history at UNC-Chapel Hill.  She maintains near-perfect grades while playing on Carolina's club tennis team and holding down a job the head photographer for a student record label, Vinyl records.  Check out her photos in the photo gallery.  Her photography skills continue to improve.  Her eye for unique perspectives has paid off.  Sarah will head to Rome in June to study Italian Renaissance literature and art through Carolina's Honors Rome program.  Her mother has volunteered to visit to make sure Sarah is faring well!

Wendy went back to lawyering last summer along with her many volunteer responsibilities. She worked on some interesting litigation for Ford Motor company last summer.  She is now an expert in diesel engines!  She still won't change the oil in the cars, however.  Her church responsibilities continue.  She is starting her 10,000th year as a superb Sunday school teacher.  She is taking a German class and aims to continue to improve her computer skills.  If you stop learning, life leaves you behind.

Paul (me) started my 27th year as a pediatrician working in the same practice.  Not many people still have their first job 27 years later!  I decided to take my vacation as a mini-sabatical, taking the month of September off to spend time at the beach and visit Ben in Boston.  Without me at work, the global stock market crashed and the credit markets went into turmoil.  I probably shouldn't do that again.  I is now the SENIOR doctor in the practice.  Where did those years go?