My Christmas/Year End Letter...

My wife and I’ve received a fair amount of Christmas cards this year. Several of them have also had a letter about the year the sender and their family had. Most of the information is pretty good stuff. But there are a few items that can make one a bit sad. You know like a death in the family or a break up of couples, those types of things.

Well, we didn’t do a letter this year. I guess a lot of it has to do with the fact that we seem to be a month late with our lives.

I’m sure if there were thirteen months instead of twelve we could come up with some good stuff. So I’ve decided to do a Christmas letter for the end of 2013.

That way I can complete our letter and my column in one sitting.

So here goes, my wife Yvonne retired in January. After working a majority of her adult life she decided it was time and she had my full support in that decision. It has been interesting to drive to work alone these past eleven months but I’ve made that adjustment.

It’s funny how everyone is so concerned that my life will change now that she’s no longer working but it has been good for her and that is important. I notice that it isn’t, “We have to be there before 7:30 or 8:00.” It’s more like we should be there around 7:30 or so. We’re always early but it’s a subtle change.

She is enjoying her sewing and time spent with friends as well as those projects that she has volunteered for. Life is good and she is certainly keeping busy!

I’ve had a lot of fun following my favorite teams this year. The LRS Bronco boys’ team had a good run in basketball falling a bit short in the semi-final 2B basketball game and settling for 5th place.

I’m still holding out for that elusive state championship and who knows maybe 2014 will be the year.

My brother Larry and I went to Arizona in March and visited family and my favorite basketball coach who taught me a lot about life and caring about others.

We also got to see the Seattle Mariners in spring training. I believe Seattle played their best baseball in spring training unfortunately those games didn’t carry over into a successful season. However, if all goes well we may be making a return trip in the spring.

I was lucky enough to see several young men that I coached about 20 years ago at the high school alumni game in May. I’m proud of what those guys have accomplished. I’m not going to take credit for their success but it was fun to see we haven’t forgotten those seasons on the Bulldog gridiron and the fun we had together.

In late August I applied for the assistant football coaching position at the Lind-Ritzville Middle School.

There are things that I miss about coaching but the smell of grass and sweat on practice jerseys wasn’t one of them.

But teaching the game of football is something I really like to do. I’m looking forward to another season starting next September.

For the third or fourth season I’ve been a part of a very fine chain gang roaming the sidelines at Bronco home games. The past two seasons have been a dream come true because we’ve also been able to do several playoff games. I don’t know how much luck we’ve brought to these fine athletes but I can honestly say that the team is undefeated when our chain crew is working the sideline.

I got to see the Broncos win their second consecutive state championship on December 7. The following Saturday my brother and I went to Key Arena to see the Battle in Seattle. Gonzaga and South Alabama played and we had a great time. My wife purchased those tickets at the Lind Chamber auction. What a great Christmas gift for Larry and me.

The very next Saturday we went to Roos Field in Cheney for the semi-final football game between EWU and Towson. The EWU Eagles lost this game and their season and a dream to play for another National Championship were gone. This was the first game that I attended at Roos Field where the Eagles lost. It was a tough one but I knew it would happen at some point in time.

I’m running the shot clock again this year at the boys’ and girls’ games and it is a lot of fun. I also get to spend a few hours of quality time with my cousin Tony. And that’s a good thing.

Well, I hope 2014 is good to you. We’ll stay busy and I hope to see you at the next game or get together! Happy New Year from the Andersons and the Worst Seat in the House!