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Do You REALLY Wanna Know?



                                                                           by Dave Friant
             hristmas letters. Possibly venturing out on thin ice here
             regarding  my  thoughts  on  these  life  updates  received   Here would be a portion of our only
        Cduring the holiday season.   With few exceptions, the task   partially caricaturized reality:
        of reading these ventures into the land of loftiness lines up just   We find ourselves in only marginal
        behind (pun intended) colonoscopy prep nights.  They seem to   health these days.  Doc says a hip replacement for the Mrs. and
        arrive most often from the rare contact extended family member   my two bad knees need to be addressed soon.  The diagnoses
        or  out-of-town  friend;  the  ones  who  seem  to  take  delight  in   keep us from our 20-minute “intensive” twice weekly workouts
        drenching the readers with the favorable elements of their lives.    at the YMCA.
        The boastings more often than not have become tireless reads
        year after year.                                         Our overly anxious 8-year-old  Aussie seems to be calmer
                                                                 these  days, given  the  appropriate  dosages of “doggie
          Sara Beth began ninth grade                                                    downers.”  While  innovative,
          this year and continues                                                        her findings of new and not-
          to master junior college                                                       so-remote areas of the house
          coursework (nothing  below                                                     for emergency urinations have
          an “A” since the start of the                                                  been troublesome for us both.
          first  Obama Administration)
          in  anticipation  of  securing                                                 Six  months of “I’m Not That
          that expected full-ride to                                                     Talented Anymore, But It’s OK”
          Harvard.   She combined her                                                    therapy associated with leisure
          academic achievements  with                                                    sports proficiency seems to be
          recognized  volunteer  work                                                    paying  off  for  me.    Tantrums
          at the Adams County Animal                                                     on the golf course and at the
          Shelter and athletic  honors                                                   bowling alley are becoming
          for being the junior varsity                                                   rare these days.
          soccer goalie-of-the-year for                                                  Life for the maintainer of order
          Seward ISD.                                                                    in  our home continues  to  be
          Uncle Jesse secured a                                                          puzzling after her retirement as
          Silver Medal in the annual                                                     an Ophthalmic  Assistant.   To
          New    England  Regional                                                       combat her loss of professional
          IRONMAN competition  and                                                       identity, she can be seen
          has again been cited  by his                                                   roaming the common areas
          board of directors as Hospital                                                 at shopping malls seeking
          Administrator of the Year.                                                     candidates for free eye chart
                                                                                         reading evaluations.
          Betsy, my best friend and wife
          of 42 years, has again for 2019                                                Thirty years of home mortgage
          been named Outstanding                                                         payments have  recently  been
          Neighbor of the Year by our                                                    completed,  and evaluations  of
          local HOA.   Additionally, she                                                 quotes for major foundation
          was a finalist in our church’s                                                 repairs are underway.
          Alto of the Year competition.                                                  Sweet    tea   consumption
        Now  isn’t  that  just  soooooo                                                  continues to result in elevated
        special?                                                                         pre-diabetic      readings.
                                                                                         Polishing off cheese and
        The visions of excellence  are                                                   crackers  just  before  bedtime
        usually accompanied by cheesy                                                    remains the suspected culprit of
        and  bulk-purchased  Christmas                                                   our clogged arteries.
        cards, with the festive stamped-
        on  sender  names  appearing                                                     We travel when schedules
        below the greeting.  Any hint of a personal message or inquiry   and money allow  us to do so, enjoy  going to “picture
        about the lives of the readers?  Rarely.  Too many to prepare and   shows” a few times per month, and chow down weekly  at
        not enough time during this special but hectic time of the year.       eating  establishments  on “date nights.”  Our bucket  list  is
                                                                 reasonable and we enjoy crossing off completed undertakings.
        Desired to be pored over are the happenings of life common to   Availability  for the needs of our children and grandkiddos
        us all.  The highlights and the concerns.  These are the holiday   remains a priority.  Continuing efforts are underway to draw
        readings worthy of more than just a glance.              closer to folks our age.  We view connectedness as crucial
        If my bride and I saw fit to share the state of our union through   during these days when matters of worth and pertinence are
        a Christmas Letter, humor would have top billing.  No efforts to   being questioned.
        conceal the cracks and crevices.  We’re in the midst of continuing   Happy sharing of Aunt Mildred’s fruitcake.  Keep in touch.
        to settle in and find our way during this new season of life.  All
        rosy?  Hardly.  A worthwhile pursuit?  Definitely!       Glad tidings to all!



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