For the first time in 20 years....

[John Schmidt]

Rita and I are having a quiet Christmas...all our kids are either snowed in up north or having all their gang coming to visit. That's the way it should be...your kids grow up and have a family, who in turn grow up, get married and start their family. So...it's just the two of us, which means we got to sleep in this morning.  

I opened the Brut and we toasted another Christmas. I reminded her this was the 20th one we've spent together, then helped her up off the floor.    I asked if she was looking forward to the next 20....had to help her back up again.    (In case you're doing the math on kids and offspring, this is the second time around for both of us. All our kids are from a previous marriage, we've been together since our mid-50's. If we had a total reunion, we'd have to rent a convention hall.)

So...to all our VRCC friends and families, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and an even greater New Year.

John & Rita

[KW]

Merry Christmas John and may God bless you and Rita with another 20 years!!  

[John Schmidt]

Jerry, have you guys been reduced to using dog sleds up there yet.  

Have a great one, see ya in a few weeks, we'll schedule another ride to the Yalaha Bakery.  

As for blessings...He's already blessed me by placing Rita in my life, it came at a rather low point for me. I'll have to tell you about it sometime.

[R J]

Them is the best kind of meeting John.

We will have to trade stories sometime also.

[John Schmidt]

Them is the best kind of meeting John.

We will have to trade stories sometime also.

Sounds good to me, hope to see you again this summer in Michigan. I didn't make Colorado this year...first one I've missed since Ohio.

[JimL]

Great story John, your story inspires me and gives me hope.  If it weren't for Tanqueray Gin (and lots of it) I'm not sure how I would survive the holidays with our mixed clan home all at once......

I wish you and Rita another 20 years of happiness.

[KW]

Hey John!
This winter - and the last couple of ones - have been harder and harder for us to take. No dog sleds needed yet, but we're on our way to another record snowfall for our area. Last year was the second highest in history (for our area.) The 'lake effect' seems to be going farther and farther inland each year. Or, at least it seems that way. So, we're sure looking forward to going back south. We're still not locked into a departure date, but most likely it will be the 3rd week (I have to get our bike & trailer out of storage by the end of January.)

God bless brother. We'll have to "hit" that breakfast place again you took us to. . . . BTW - Do you know if the "Ultimate Omelette" is still open, south of Daytona, on US1?  Any excuse for a ride my friend   

[John Schmidt]

I'll have to check it out for you, maybe one of our Fla. folk that live in the New Smyrna area would know.

[Charlie McCready]

Merry Christmas John, glad to hear the good news you posted earlier. Looking forward to seeing you in Michigan in '10 .

[John Schmidt]

Hey John!
This winter - and the last couple of ones - have been harder and harder for us to take. No dog sleds needed yet, but we're on our way to another record snowfall for our area. Last year was the second highest in history (for our area.) The 'lake effect' seems to be going farther and farther inland each year. Or, at least it seems that way. So, we're sure looking forward to going back south. We're still not locked into a departure date, but most likely it will be the 3rd week (I have to get our bike & trailer out of storage by the end of January.)

God bless brother. We'll have to "hit" that breakfast place again you took us to. . . . BTW - Do you know if the "Ultimate Omelette" is still open, south of Daytona, on US1?  Any excuse for a ride my friend   

http://www.top10inflagler.com/omelet.html

Ridgewood Ave. is US1 in Daytona.

[ChromeDome]

Congratulations to the you both and may the next 20 be filled with joy and happiness.