• 12 – Near the 12th day of January when our younger child came out to us as transgender female. Our initial response was “all a parent wants is for their child to be happy.” Our first question was about her new name: Cassandra, which we love…
• 11 – …in that surprise (to us parents) family meeting, we saw a confidence in her eyes previously unseen despite all her considerable lifetime accomplishments. These past 11 months have reinforced - because families also transition - she is and has always been becoming Cassandra. It’s beautiful to be part of our adult children’s lives as they continue to grow and that we all (grandparents to grandchildren) grow together.
• 10 – miles or 17 minutes commute to grandsons Graham (almost 3 years) and Sully (18 mos.) Although my brother and I visited our long-distance grandparents including two summers in Hawaii, it’s very special to see our grandkids almost every weekend and to pinch in whenever needed. And technology is there (“call Tutu, call Gung Gung”) on FaceTime when even 17 minutes is too far away!
• 9 – Our 22-year-old cat Patches used all her feline lives (and then some). Amy put it best: “Never thought my childhood cat would live to see my children” - who loved playing with Princess Patches whenever they came over. For the first time in our marriage, our house is without pets or children because we wanted to give Patches peaceful end of days rather than bring in new cats/dogs, which is likely in 2024.
• 8 – days attending my two favorite church-related conferences (Anaheim, CA; Belleville, IL), which bring me learning, fulfillment, and enthusiasm each year. And this year provided a huge bonus: informative and supportive conversations for parents/relatives of transgender people.
• 7 – days in summer camp for Denise and the Scouts at sunny Camp Gamble. That Wednesday night a severe middle-of-the-night thunderstorm hit, and everyone waited out the event in a storm shelter. Sleep-deprived the next morning, they discovered much damaged equipment, including that big plastic tubs containing heavy tools had been lifted up, tossed about, and shattered. Thankfully everyone was safe.
• 6 – weeks in SoCal this summer to care for their dog Kona while my brother and family went on their big European vacation. Sherman worked remotely, got to spend lots of time with his mom and stepdad and other relatives, and tolerated the infamous traffic. Denise remained in STL because of summer camp and caring for Patches.
• 5 – Unity rituals at Cass and Evan’s wedding, amidst a backdrop of far-traveling relatives and friends. These included a Chinese tea ceremony, seven circles (of the bride making seven turns around the other bride); Unity Sandwich (one bread slice with peanut butter, the other with jelly to make a sandwich that they both take a bite from; they later regretted not having milk to wash it down); breaking a (napkin-covered) glass; Jumping the Broom. Each was wonderfully described and performed in a very beautiful wedding!
• 4 – live concerts attended this year, for the first time in years, including Melissa Villaseñor, Pat Metheny, Craig Ferguson, and Post Modern Jukebox. If you don’t recognize those names, they’re worth the search on YouTube for people who bring us smiles and mirth.
• 3 – days in Las Vegas and later in Indianapolis for Denise’s National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (napo.net) and Certified Senior Advisor (csa.us), respectfully. The conferences provided great education and opportunities to meet old friends and new.
• 2 – from our favorite personal wedding photo, the two sisters walking down the aisle: the beautiful bride Cassandra escorted by her supportive and loving sister Amy. It reflects a lifetime of familial love, culminating in a milestone of expanding our family.
• 1 – as in the One who we celebrate this time of year...
Sherman/Denise, Amy/Drew/Graham/Sully, Cass/Evan
Bonus Stuff!
Kona keeping me company while I work remotely
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