Dateline Dayton — This past weekend we celebrated New Year’s. My New Year’s Eve day started with a Mass for our classmate Judy who had died earlier in the month. Four or us from the Class of 1959 attended the service in Piqua, and afterwards we went to breakfast.
We had a good time, reminiscing about the past, getting updated on our children and what is taking place in our lives. Of the four, three of us were at our fifty-year reunion in 2009; however, this was the first time we had seen Elaine since graduation.
After enjoying breakfast and the opportunity to share, we agreed we should meet on a regular basis. We left, though, without making formal plans, so I will attempt to schedule something in my next class newsletter.
When I got home, after few stops, there was that loveseat I had stored in the garage. It was left there after rearranging furniture to make room for our new television, which our son and his wife gave us for Christmas. I really didn’t like the fact that this good piece of antique furniture, which belonged to my great-grandparents, was stored in the garage. So I delivered it to my daughter.
Lisa had told Pauline she would like it for her bedroom. Our grandson helped me load it in the van. I tried to get him or all three of the visiting grandkids to make the trip with me; going to the movies, however, was more important than spending time with grandpa. They reasoned they would be with me for over five hours when I took then home the next day.
New Year’s Eve was celebrated with pork and sauerkraut (which I don’t like and that might account for my not having much luck) for supper. I was in bed before midnight, although fireworks lit up our neighborhood. Our barking dog awakened me.
On Saturday, I took our daughter and her children back to Michigan. We left the house in the rain but the day turned out beautifully. A little on the cold side, but no snow. I was back home by about 8 in the evening. By the way, the grandkids slept most of the way home.
On Sunday, it was church, breakfast, a few odd jobs around the house and resting from my New Year’s weekend celebrating.
Look Who Is Back
Over the past weekend, Baby Vanessa was back in the news. Fifteen prominent law professors signed an amicus brief with a California appeals court, supporting Stacey Doss’s custody case against birth father (I have a hard time with that term) Benjamin Mills Jr. of Dayton.
In their 43-page brief, the professors maintained it would violate 2-year-old Vanessa’s constitutional rights if she were to be taken from the home of the woman who has raised her since birth.
It is comforting to know someone besides Stacey, who is looking out for the best interest of this child. This situation should have been resolved back in July, but the Dayton judge did not let the hearing finish, for whatever reason.
Time to be, Ahem, Judgmental?
Speaking of judges, here’s an interesting situation. After the GOP took the Governor’s seat from the Democrats here in Ohio, a local Democratic judge decided to retire so his staff would have a better chance of keeping their jobs because the current Governor would be appointing his replacement.
When the judge learned his replacement was not going to keep one member of his staff, he rescinded his resignation.
But the Governor went ahead and swore in his replacement. Politics!
The present judge, an attorney who formerly was the County Auditor, may run for Mayor of Dayton. Politics! The two judges worked it out, whatever that means so that the new judge is now seated. Maybe they visited a mediator?
What a farce the judicial system is here in Montgomery County. You can expect about anything from this retiring judge to get press coverage. It works, doesn’t it?
Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net
