2003 – The Year in Review

The kids have had a busy year as usual. On top of all the sports, Paul started taking up the trumpet this year. My role in this process is basically to nod knowingly when he is trying his hardest to play a song – and to shoo the curious herds of moose away as he practices. On the sports front, I am helping to coach his basketball team this year. That should be fun and – I'm sure – very educational for the kids: kind of like sending your aspiring little ball players to a Detroit Tigers baseball camp. Just kidding. I mean I MIGHT actually be able to teach the kids something. (Speaking of which, doesn't anybody else think that the Tigers just should have GONE for the loss record? I mean, like Orville Reddenbacher's dad said "do one thing, and do it well" – even if it is losing [he didn’t actually say that, but I'm sure it can be inferred]).

Two Paul milestones that really hit me this year: 1) In September Paul hit double digits. Ten. The big one-oh. Zeroteen. What's more, when we went to Six Flags this year he was able to ride the Superman Superflight coaster with me. I would have thought that was pretty cool if I hadn't been screaming like a terrified little schoolgirl the whole time. 2) Paul started confirmation class this year. He's doing really well – learning all about things like the sacrament of baptism and the Ten Commandments (and doing sermon reports). What’s nice is that we get a chance to learn together as he has questions. Example: "Dad, do you know how many spiritual gifts Paul talks about in Galatians?" "Yeah, it's like three or four. Kindness, gentleness - er..." "Actually it's nine, Dad." "Paul, what did the fourth commandment say about 'honoring your father and mother' again...?" It’s funny how our discussions always seem to come back to that.

As for Mayumi, she turned eight and also started some new things. She played soccer and basketball for the first time this year. She is also continuing ballet and jazz dance. Her dance studio put on this tremendous Broadway-type recital in the spring and Mayumi looked especially graceful and elegant in the ballet portion. Given her mix of activities I do find it a challenge to keep my encouraging words straight: "Get out there, Mayumi. Be aggressive! Just TAKE that ball and crush that other team!" "You're a flower, a beautiful, ephemeral flower!" It can be more than a bit embarrassing when you get events mixed up and yell "Take that girl OUT!" in the middle of a performance of Swan Lake. Mayumi also raised the bar – quite literally – on her skiing experience this last winter when she inadvertently took a lift all the way to the top of nearby Campgaw Mountain (she did not quite make it off at the midway point, like I did). I did catch up with her at the top and – after about 20 wipeouts – we made it down the mountain. After that, the beginning intermediate stuff was easy!

Sugayo and I also tried a few new things this year. Sugayo's been doing a program called "Body and Soul" at church which combines aerobic exercise with Christian music and spiritual contemplation. I know from experience how doing exercise as you get older can help focus your thoughts on higher things; in the same way – I suppose – that the ancient monks thought self-flagellation helped to focus their thoughts. I became reacquainted with those joyful feelings of pain when I started running again this March. By about the second month it felt pretty good again and I even noticed the spare tire was losing air. Unfortunately, at the first sign of cold weather I found out how really dedicated I was (not at all, apparently). But I hold out hope that with the spring I'll be back at it (What's the saying, "Hope springs eternal"? Or is it, "Hope sprains a hamstring?"). I also took up playing the bass this year (not BASS as in the fish, BASS as in the stringed instrument!). We started a contemporary worship service at our church and – as with most churches – we had an overabundance of guitar players. So I took it as opportunity to learn something new. It’s a lot of fun and I really enjoy playing on Sundays. I just hope that someday they'll actually plug me into the sound system with the rest of the band.

We had the chance to see a lot of old friends this year with a few trips back to the Detroit-area: one for Thanksgiving, and one for my dad's 60th birthday and retirement party. Yes, I said sixty. The big six-oh. Despite his advancing years he’s managed to keep his youthful figure (apparently he was a Sumo apprentice in his youth). But I'm not going to keep ribbing my dad here, he got enough of that at the party (especially in a speech Tom Lester made "honoring" him. I’ll try to get a transcript of it up on the website someday soon). And dad’s retirement is not just a good thing for him, I think it is also inspiring my mom. It is inspiring her to get out of the house. A lot. Like to the gym with my sister, Michalle; and also shopping, woodworking, arc-welding, shipbuilding. Just about anything really. It's amazing.

Speaking of amazing, my brother Mark and his wife Kara had a second son – Jacob! And some college friends have also added to their families: Lou and Mary Adler had a baby girl, Hannah, to become a family of five (and necessitate the switch from a man-to-man to a zone defense); and Peter and Polly Hegelbach now have a second daughter, Jacqueline.

Though I have to admit that this season can sometimes get a bit hectic, I love re-establishing ties with family and friends and hearing their stories. I also love hearing once again the story of how God reached into our world to live among us and show us true love and peace, especially as we live in the midst of a time where that message is sorely needed. And so, during this season we wish God’s peace to you all, and the gifts of His Spirit in your families' lives in the New Year.