Dateline Dayton — The past couple weeks have been busy in the Hennessey household.  Besides our granddaughter Julia’s basketball games, there are her indoor soccer games to attend during the week and on the weekends.  Things have not been going well in either sport for her teams although she has been playing well.

Last Friday evening we traveled to Clifton, east of Dayton. Clifton is famous for its million-lights Christmas display.  It is something to see. Best to arrive prior to the lighting. That was not the purpose of this trip. We were attending a concert at the Clifton Opera House. The Radio Rambles, a Bluegrass group, was playing that evening.  The old Opera House was packed.  Fortunately we arrived early and were able to find good seats.

Nice to attend a performance where there wasn't yelling and screaming over words you couldn’t understand.  They sang Christmas songs, religious and secular.  During intermissions, the band members were available to talk with you.  A delightful evening.

The First Party

Last Thursday was the Christmas party for the Carriage Trace Investment Club. (Carriage Trace is our condo project.) We had a carry-in. The food was good, and there was a white elephant exchange.  I took my National Cash Register items. The woman who received them didn’t want them. She was trying to get someone to steal her gift. I literally ended up with a white elephant. I will give it to a friend who is an elephant collector.

On Saturday, Pauline and I, and our daughter Darlene and her family all enjoyed breakfast at our son's. Afterward he needed a gift basket put together. That became a three-ring circus.  He gave the task to our granddaughter Emily. He was not happy with her work, so he did it himself — only to return it to Emily. I was the runner, making two trips for items still needed.

In the afternoon we enjoyed the second annual Christmas Reunion of the Hennessey families at Marion’s Pizza Parlor in Troy.  We had a great time eating pizza, drinking soda and another t white elephant gift exchange.

Can It Really Be?

I ended up with a plant, now a joke within the family. Originally it belonged to my mother. When she died, my sister-in-law inherited it.  Always referred to as the marijuana plant, it keeps growing.  Cut a stem, put it in water, and you have another plant.

By evening, many of those at the party went to a concert, Joyful Jazz, by the Dayton Gay Men's Chorus, of which our son Chris is a member.  The performance was outstanding. My lone complaint: The program was short.

Not My Favorite

After the concert.  Pauline and I, Darlene, her two girls, my brother Mark and his wife Carol, joined Chris for a snack at a restaurant I dislike.  We had a wonderful time despite a long wait for food. 

On Sunday after church and breakfast, we were  on our way to our granddaughter's indoor soccer game, a physical match her team lost 3-0. Her team did an outstanding job.

Tuesday we took Pauline's brother to his doctor appointment.  His doctors work by a clock that is foreign to the rest of the world.  Less than an hour late is a success. Trouble is, the visits are a four-hour process. Besides being late, all of my brother-in-law’s doctors are on the other side of town. Good thing I have a day off every week.

Tuesday evening was the Christmas party for Pauline's cross-stitch group. On her way to the party she was involved in a multi-car accident. Even though she only was badly bruised, she was hospitalized and missed the party. Happily, she came home the same night.

Pauline has no idea of what happened. It appears she rear- ended the car in front of her and it slammed into the next car. Our car then was struck by a car in the next lane.  While the car is badly damaged, no one was seriously hurt.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net