Kudos to Michelle and Doug

As happens, the photographer seldom gets photographed so I wanted to include a picture of daughter, Michelle, with son-in-law, Doug.

Over the years, Michelle and Doug have provided the venue for the Karasek Family Christmas. This all started when Mel destroyed our condo and we had no where to entertain. Year after year, Michelle has beautifully decorated their home, set lavishly-themed tables and prepared sumptuous meals for our family. As Kate told her friends, "I am going to Martha Stewart's for Christmas dinner." This year was no exception. The table had a nutcracker theme and prime rib was the main course.

Doug was no slouch either. He was the legman, researching our bicycle purchases, putting them together, adding special features like headlights, taillights and reflectors and providing components like a rack and tire pump. Tomorrow is the big day. We are going to try riding our new bikes for the first time.

I have been pondering the reversed roles-that of children giving their parents bicycles. Each and every bike that we gave the four kids have special meanings and remembrances for us.

I remember in my divorced years, when I scraped and struggled to gather up funds for new bicycles for Michelle and Brian. It was summer, no one's birthday or Christmas. Just summer. The kids had been on vacation with their Dad and I so wanted to surprise them. My good neighbor, John Meade, went to K-Mart with me to purchase the bikes. He built them in his garage. When he finished, we took them to the second floor bedrooms so the kids would find them when they arrived home. Oh the joy of it all!

Of course, when it was time for Charles and Mark to get their first bicycles, Mel built them from scratch-custom made bikes. Too beautiful for words.

Then, topsy-turvey, we get bikes from them-too much! This is a Christmas that we won't soon forget.