FRIENDS
&
FAMILY
My mother Ann turned 64 years old on August 14, and lives in Tucson Arizona.  She retired over a year ago  from the city of Tucson's clerical department.  She now involves herself helping run her condo association, and puttering around the house. She had a minor stroke this spring, but is recovering well and is expected to make a complete recovery.  I haven't seen her in a long time, and she's not very forthcoming with recent pics.  Most of these are from '87.
"Time to make the donuts"
MOM gives me a gesture of her appreciation at her former workplace.
TAKE COVER    she's behind the wheel again!  Mom has never quite grasped the art of driving.
Taken at Old Tucson movie studio.
Mom makes friends with a cactus at Pima airfield in Tucson.
Saying goodbye at the Tucson airport, 1987. Christmas 1979.
With former pets.  Now she's alergic to animals.
How'd she have a cat for a son?
Mom comes to visit me, Christmas, 1990.  With my former roommate and very good friend Michelle, and my "adopted daughter" Adrienne.
My father died of a heart attack Christmas of 1978 at age 56.  He was a rugged Southern farmer from Georgia, who was strict but had a warm heart.  Both my parents were the greatest parents a man could want.  They were and are the kind of parents that would sacrifice anything for their kids.  There was always a lot of communication and a lot of listening and involvement when I was growing up.  They taught me a sense of moral values and ethics that I have never forgotten, something most kids don't get today.  We were always very poor, but we always had a lot of family love.  The best of what I am today I owe all to them.  I wish all kids could be raised the way I was.
As a matter of fact, he did play Santa Claus, not only for me, but in stores for other kids as well.
His best Sunday suit.  He still looks like a hillbilly.  Here with my pony Cocoa and a cat.  Wouldn't you know it, a "Straycat"? Mom and Dad, Christmas 1969.  Around the time of the first moon landing.  Santa wears a cowboy hat?
Carrie, more recently, around '96, at the Old West End festival.
Carrie playing Nintento around '91.
Carrie around 1990,  with Michelle and Nibbles the bunny.
Carrie and Tom have been  married for over ten years now.  I lost touch with them last winter and have no current knowledge of them.
Michelle around '85 at age 14.
Michelle with my momma cat, "Dusty" (still around).  Taken about 1988 or '89.
On the way to our Florida vacation 1989. 
Michelle and Adrienne around 1990.
Michelle and I have lived together as friends several times over several years.  We took in Adrienne as my "adopted daughter" in '88.  Michelle was living with Carrie & Tom, but I lost touch with her also.  She had married for a while but was estranged from her husband.  Adrienne now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and to my knowledge has never married.
Michelle around '90.
Adrienne asleep with assorted kittens around '91.  (Moonshadow, Peachy, Lucky, Bitsy, and Joker.)
Michelle and Adrienne.
My girls sleeping  around  '88.
Adrienne at the Toledo Zoo, age 12, and talking on the phone, age 13.  Taken in '87 & '88.
Partying in Florida around 1990.
My nephew and neice, Justin Daniel (J.D.), and Crystal Lynn (Sissy) are currently 18 and 17 years old and live with their dad in Catawba Island, Ohio.  I haven't seen them in several years so these pics are quite old now.
With uncle Straycat  ages 7 & 6.
At the zoo, about ages 11 & 10.
With Santa
(Straycat)
ages 4 & 5.
All the kids but one.  (Crystal was sick and didn't make it,) From left:  Thomas, J.D., Charity, Tina, and Sissy.  At the Toledo Museum of Art during the Old West End festival.
My "adopted brother" Dan with Sissy & J.D.
(his real neice & nephew),  at the Old West End festival in '96.  His band was the featured attraction that year.
From left:  Sissy, (my neice),  J.D., (my nephew), Dan, (my brother), Me, (Straycat), Tina, (my brat), Charity, (Carrie's daughter),  and Carrie.  At the Old West End festival. 
Dan's band, "The Wiskey Before Breakfast Band" plays mostly in the Napolean, Grand Rapids area when they are not on the road playing little towns out west.  They have done some session recording work for name Country acts, and have been the lead in group for name performers on tour.  They do not wish to "make it big," preferring instead to cover other people's hits and concentrate on living somewhat normal lives.
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