SOME CHRISTMAS PRESENTS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS...

Regular readers of this blog know about my special relationship with an extraordinarily beautiful woman named Alissa (a/k/a/ "Wiskers", "Lady Hawke").  I started driving a cab on Maui in late January or early February (memory is a bit vague) of 2002.  I made a pick-up at the Grand Wailea Resort one February evening.  Two very beautiful girls from Minnesota.  Alissa was just 17 and Chrissie was 18.  For some strange reason, our personalities "clicked".  I made them promise to keep me informed as to their location on the island in case they needed assistance.  It was just my "grandpa" complex worried about two young innocents.  Over the ensuing years Alissa, and all her family, became very close friends of mine.  The last time I saw her/them was in March of 2008, just before I moved back to California for health reasons.

Alissa, Me, Chrissie

Chrissie and I saw each other again, with Alissa, after the two of them graduated from high school in 2002.  They have both earned their University degrees since and their world experiences have grown.

Alissa and Me

This year the company that Chrissie works for was flying her to the Bay Area for their annual Christmas party.  She could bring a companion and so she asked Alissa to be her guest.  Alissa knew I lived somewhere in northern California, so she called me and asked me how far I was from Palo Alto.  I told her that it was approximately 100 driving miles away.  DUH!  Only 2 hours.  She decided right then that she was coming to see me.

Chrissie and Me

Many phone calls and text messages later, we all met at a restaurant at 1:00 PM this past Saturday and spent a few hours together.

Talk about overwhelming JOY!

Realistically I know that each Christmas is a milestone for me and the odds are less than 50/50 that I'll be around for the next one.

I am not asking for sympathy nor trying to sound morose.  I am very much a realist and to have both these beautiful ladies deem it necessary to go out of their way to see me once more is more special to me than anything since the birth of my son.

Chrissie, thank you for being my friend.

Alissa, my darling, you are the one true love of my life.  Watching you mature into a very sophisticated woman is a joy beyond compare.  Your vivacious spirit has always invigorated my life.  Becoming friends with your family (Ron, Susan, Leah, Pete, Nora & Hank [at least in spirit]) was beyond my dreams.

Wiskers, you are on my mind and in my heart 24/7/365.  As I said Saturday, if we must part ways before we can meet again, "No Regrets".  We will each have a part of the other to keep and share with others through out eternity.  I will always watch over you.

I LOVE YOU!

"Let's all be careful out there!"