Just catching up with this thread after a couple weeks. My sincere condolences to Chris and Mike and your families. As some of you know I lost my dad three weeks ago, and today was a quiet, very un-christmassy day, though family got together, ate, did the gift thing, went to church, told stories and laughed. His absence is pretty present. It didn't help that I spent yesterday in the hospital with my mom, who had been admitted the night before, and no one told me. They let her out today, but her heart isn't working right. She spent most of the day sleeping, and I spent it watching her, feeling really helpless.
On a brighter note, those are wonderful pictures, Wayne! And although I'm sorry for your palsy, Mike, I think we need some pics of the pirate patch. I think you'd look quite good in one.
I hope all here had a safe and happy holiday.