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Tom was married when he was 39 years old. This means there was plenty of time for adventure before he met Cathy.
This is the exciting historical period called Tom B.C. (Before Cathy). Here are some pictures from this dimly remembered historical period.
Click on any of the pictures to see the enlargement.
 This
picture was taken when Tom was five years old (August 1965) near Mt. Vernon,
Washington. During Tom's first five years of life he lived with his family
on a farm north of Seattle. From left to right: Tom (5th oldest), brother
Greg (top, 3rd oldest), brother Tim (4th oldest), brother Chris (top, oldest),
sister Raissa (6th oldest), and brother Nick (2nd oldest).
 Tom's
mother Jamie and Tom pose at Machu Picchu
in Peru in January 1996. This is the most famous archaeological site in
the western hemisphere. Machu Picchu is the hidden fortress of the Incas
built five centuries ago. It remained unknown to the rest of the world
until it was rediscovered in 1911. It is simply spectacular.
 Tom poses on top of the great pyramid at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
This picture was taken in January 1998. Chichen Itza was built by the
Mayas more than one thousand years ago.
The following table gives a summary of the major events in Tom Marking's life:
Life Story of Tom Marking
Event
|
Date
|
| Born in Mount Vernon, Washington state |
Jan. 13, 1960 |
| Raised on the "Farm" in Mount Vernon, Washington state |
1960 - 1965 |
| Lived in Marquette, Michigan |
1965 - 1967 |
| Lived in Kennewick, Washington state |
1967 - 1969 |
| Lived in Minot, North Dakota |
1969 - 1972 |
| Lived in Sioux City, Iowa |
1972 - 1977 |
| Lived in Plymouth, New Hampshire |
1977 - 1978 |
| Graduated from high school in Plymouth, New Hampshire |
1978 |
| Went to college in Ellensburg, Washington state |
1979 - 1982 |
| Graduated from college in Ellensburg, Washington state |
Jun. 1982 |
| Lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Oct. 1982 - Aug. 1992 |
| Took trip to New Zealand and Australia |
Sep. 1992 - Jan. 1993 |
| Studied for Master's degree in Corpus Christi, Texas |
1994 - 1996 |
| Took trip with mother to Peru and Bolivia |
Jan. 1996 |
| Earned Master's degree in Computer Science |
1996 |
| Worked as a software developer in Houston, Texas |
1996 - present |
| Took trip with mother to Cancun, Mexico |
Jan. 1998 |
| Met Cathy in Cebu City, Philippines |
Feb. 4, 1999 |
| Became engaged to Cathy |
Feb. 9, 1999 |
| Married Cathy in Houston, Texas (civil ceremony) |
Oct. 16, 1999 |
| Took honeymoon trip with Cathy to Grand Canyon, Arizona |
Oct. 11-14, 2000 |
| Bought a new car for Cathy (2001 Chevy Cavalier) |
Oct. 16, 2000 |
| Married Cathy at Sacred Heart Church, Cebu City |
May 24, 2001 |
| Found out through home pregnancy test that Cathy is pregnant |
Apr. 1, 2002 |
| Saw first ultrasound of 7-week-old fetus at OB-GYN office |
Apr. 23, 2002 |
| Saw second ultrasound of 16-week-old fetus at OB-GYN office |
Jun. 25, 2002 |
| Cathy gave birth to first baby (Zachary Brandon: 7 lbs. 5
oz.) |
Nov. 25, 2002 |
| Purchased a house in Katy, Texas |
Aug. 29, 2003 |
| Attended Zachary's baptism in the Philippines |
Jan. 24, 2004 |
| Cathy became a citizen of the United States of America |
Aug. 30, 2005 |
|
