Blog Layout

Wathen's Adventure is arranged a bit differently. Most blogs show the latest posts first, with earlier posts moving the next page(s) as new messages are entered to the blog. We wanted certain information up front so that you could get to know who these exciting people are.

The first page contains background information, and will not change much over time. Beginning with the first "older post" page you will find the latest and greatest.

If this is too confusing we are sorry, but it makes good sense to us.

Why Wathen's Adventure?

Good question!

Wathen's Adventure is Richard and Mary Wathen's family blog. It all started when Jacque, our daughter, stated a blog to chronicle the life of Keith and her son Ty (currently the Wathen and Greathouse family favorite). We have not done much until today. Truth be told, Jacque has done everything until today. It was her idea. I say until today because Mary has decided that if we are going to have a blog, we might just as well jump into ourselves. Jacque, you have created a monster.

Wathen's Advcnture* refers to Maryland property owned by John Wathen, our family patriarch. Although the exact location of the original Wathen's Adventure is lost to history, the spirit of adventure is still alive in the Wathen clan today.

* The Wathen Anthology written by Carolyn Huebner Collins, 2201 Riverside Drive, South Bend, IN 46616-1251 (219-234-6747).

Family and Friends

We have some really great family and friends. Meet some right now. If you send us a picture you too can be included (hint, hint).

Jay and Ruthie Simmons

Dick and Rhoda Johnson

Bill Richardson and me. Our class did not have a 25th or was it a 30th reunion. Bill and I had one ourselves in a bar which explains why I can't remember which anniversary it was.

The West Coast Wathen Family

Craig and Beth were married in 2006. The newlyweds share their San Francisco apartment with Marti Dog (or does Marti Dog share her apartment with Craig and Beth?).








As if getting married was not enough, Craig started City Beer Store 2 months before the wedding. The store is place to be seen in San Francisco if you are into beer. Check out our link to City Beer Store.






Earl, Craig, me and Keith

outside City Beer Store

Wathen and Piepenbrok clans at City Beer Store.

The Greathouse Family

The second to wed was Jacque. She and Keith were married in 2002. Since then Ty was added to their family.

Doesn't this just melt your heartstrings!

The Carver Family

The first of our family to wed was Kerry. She married Earl in 1996 and they have 2 kids. First came Kerington (aka The Princess) then Derrick.

Take a wild guess which one is The Princess.

Wathen Family Album--The Weddings

Our Family Weddings

Richard and Mary Wathen

Earl and Kerry Carver

Keith and Jacque Greathouse

Craig and Beth Wathen

Wathen Family Album--Our Parents

Our Parents

Cameron (Cam) Vincent Wathen

June 5, 1921 to March 12, 1985

Mary Alice Mellen Wathen

January 28, 1923 to Octoboer 19, 1999

Married April 10, 1948

James William Piepenbrok

September 1, 1919-August 9, 1994

Harriet Hancock Piepenbrok
July 1, 1918

Married June 28, 1942

A Few More Family Pictues

Here we are at our big Celebration Bash in 1999. We both turned 50, celebrated our 25th wedding aniversary, and the last kid graduating from college. What fun!

Here are the Wathen sibs at the 1999 Celebration. Beth was wearing her bridesmaid dress from our 1974 wedding. Doesn't that make you sick!

Can't resist including a couple more pictures of Ty. Here he is at 3 and 7 months, respectively.

Here I, Uncle Jay, and Craig are breaking our new bar Christmas of 2006.

Jacque and I are relaxing at the Greathouse family camping ground in Brown County.

Our Other Kids

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our other kids.

It all began a long time ago with my first car. An early 50' BMC Hook '& Ladder (senior) pedal car. This is Steve, Mary Margaret and yours truely. Presently I am restoring a Hook & Ladder I bought on Ebay. Ty will look so cute, don't you think?

So much for history. Fast forward to today and let's talk about the "other" kids.

Our first, a 1975 T-top. Seen here with its racing stripe.

The 1993 Vette seen here with the 1975 before the stripe. She is one of only 499 6-speed 40th Anniversary editions made. Ordered from the factory brand spanking new.

Our "newest" Vette. A 1963 Split Window Coupe (SWC). A replica of the first Corvette in which I rode (in 1963).

Finally our 1977 1/2 ton Chevy pickup. Question: What do you do when you go to an auction , find a 28 year old, 1 owner pick-up with 39,000 original miles? Answer: Duh--you buy it, of course. Please explain this to Mom.

So there you have it. I have the first Vette I ever bought (the '75), the first new Vette I bought (the '93), a replica of the first Vette I rode in (the '63), and a great old truck to pick up parts to keep them running forever. Ain't life great!

Really Old Old Pictures

Here are 2 of our favorite pictures,



Here we all are about 1978. Seated are Mary Jeanne, Jacque and Richard. Standing are Kerry and Craig.



A really great picture of Mary Jeanne and Kerry taken in 1973.