Christmas 2009 was wonderful. Oldest daughter Miranda Bring, who turned 25 on 12/21/09, was home with husband Ben and their two dogs, Mahollo and Cletus. The dogs make our partially crippled dog, Teddy, feel young again. Although Miranda was not in Columbus for her actual birthday on the 21st because of work, Mom baked a cake and we had beef stew and celebrated Miranda’s birthday on Monday the 28th. As is customary, we went through the “10 Cutest Moments” in Miranda history, one of which was her pronouncement many many years ago that “Dad, I’m past the cute stage.”
Step Mom Lenora and brother, “Uncle Dan” were here for Christmas. Mom cooked the ham, layered cheese potatoes, pies and cookies. Saturday night, all of us ate at Cain’s (chicken fingers) courtesy of daughter Clarissa’s Columbus Dispatch Athlete of the Week that she earned with the game-winning assist in the regular season game against arch rival Watterson. Athlete of the Week winners get a certificate for 8 free Cain’s meals. Middle daughter Tash earned that honor last year and we took advantage of that at Christmas time 2008. We’re hopeful Dan and Lenora can return for New Year’s Day and the Ohio State v. Oregon Rose Bowl game.
On 12/23 we saw high school buddy ret’d Air Force Lt. Col. John Jannazo and his kids, grandkid as well as John’s brother Lou, wife Annie and their two sons. We played a touch football game on the tennis courts of nearby Bishop Watterson High School. Lou and Annie live just 2 blocks from Watterson in the Clintonville area of Columbus. It was great to see John, Lou and the families again. We sat around, ate and talked of old times. John went through a rough, rough year going through a divorce with wife Cindy. Cindy was also a friend of ours from the James Ford Rhodes High School class of 1975. They had been married for over 25 years.
Clarissa has finished her classes at driving school and is getting close to getting her license. Tash goes back to the University of Louisville Tuesday for her 2nd semester. We got her a temporary fitness pass to Lifetime and she and I have worked out every other day.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that friend Denny Roe had died. His wonderful wife, Sally, lost her battle with cancer and was buried this morning. She was 82.
