The third picture was taken last year and is of my baby brother, Greg ('76) and my sister, Debbie Lay ('69). Greg and his family live in Brandon, and Debbie and her family live on Terry Road.
I don't have a recent picture of Mitch, my 16 year old son. He's had it tough (besides being 16), but he is being a trooper and managed to earn his Eagle Scout rank last summer. I'm really proud of all my children.
The second picture was taken in 1999 and is of my daughter Bethany and my oldest son Brad (who just hit the big 3-0). Brad and his wonderful wife, Holly, just completed their residency at the Mayo Clinic and have moved to Jackson, Tennessee where they will both begin their medical practice. I'm looking forward to a three hour drive instead of 13 hours to Minnesota. If you shake off the cobwebs, you might remember that Becky Catt ('67) and I were married the summer our class graduated; Brad was born in 1972. We were married 10 years and Becky is now preparing for retirement with her husband in Oxford. She was, and remains, a good woman.
I finally have something to show everyone that hopefully proves the rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated. I fought the good fight for the last three years, but in the end I couldn't convince my now ex-wife that our 19-year marriage and two children were more important than her "boy" friend; eight years younger than her and 18 years younger than me. Oh yeah, there is still a tad of resentment and bitterness there.
I'm sorry that I couldn't meet with everyone during the last two years but emotionally it was impossible. I am now on the road to complete recovery, and I promise that I will drive the 'pitlin 250 miles from Little Rock and be with everyone when you get back together. By the way, I've carried Jane's bio-quote in my wallet for the last few years "I learned that pain was inevitable but misery was optional" -- It didn't always help, but it was always true! Thanks, Jane!
The first picture (with a friend) was taken Spring 2002 in New Orleans; I've made it to 15 of the last 19 Jazz and Heritage Festivals. Thankfully, live music is a passion I never lost.
