Saturday, May 4

Congratulations and Love from his parents on Graduting from Univ. of Cincinnati

Today, a week removed, I sit in a hotel room in Chicago and I think back how in 1983 I was sitting (actually sleeping) in a hotel room in New York City when I received a telephone call from my father (at 2:00 am) that my wife was in labor and to hurry home (to St.louis). Well, the first  plane to St.louis  was out of Newark, NJ at 8:00 am. So I backed my bag, call for a cab and went to Newark airport (a $125 cab ride) to wait for the flight. By the time I arrived in Alton, IL Brandon was born. A 10 pound 7 ounce bowling ball!

Well now almost 30 years later His mother, wife, daughter, in-laws and I sit in the Fifth/Third arena watching him cross the stage (with 3,000 close freinds) and shake hands with the University President and receive his degree. The look on his proud wife's face said it all, we are so proud of you B.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Brandon's brother Ryan, beat him to college graduation by a year, but he was single, and had ... shalll we say... less distractions along the way.

So back to the present, I again sit in a hotel room, away from home working, with nothing but time to remember and think about how fast he and his brother grew up and how much I missed while sitting in hotel rooms for the first ten years of their lives. I also remind myself that my wife Karen did a hell of a job raising them without me being there, except of the weekends. But she was prepared well by her mother, a wife of an Airforce officer who while serving his country was away more and moved the family more than anyone should have too. Joe, you and Betty (God Bless Her) did a great job raising eight children.

University of Cincinnatti