My fiancé, Tammy

Tammy is a sweet soul with a big heart but somehow strong enough to deal with the business world as a lawyer named Victoria. Tammy is not quite innocent but perhaps about as close as you can get under the circumstances.

Tammy and I are very different in many ways but she works hard to put up with me, which sadly is not always easy, and I do my best to be there for her when she needs me. Tammy and I have known each other for several years but get very little time to be together in person. Still, with each of her visits, she has been able to meet with some of my family. This time, I have photographic evidence.

This picture was taken at my place as I was nearly ready to drive us to Grandma's 80th birthday party. I wanted to test the battery, yep, the cells are still charged. I replaced them with freshly charged cells anyway. I wanted to take some pictures.

Fortunately, my cousin Jessica, stationed overseas, reminded me in time so that Tammy and I could make it for dinner and cake, as it was, we were still the last ones to arrive. Thanks to the Internet, and Cousin Jessica, at least we did make it to Grandma's birthday. :)

Cousin Billy

I had not seen Billy since he was 12 but I still knew him on first sight. Billy was near the front door as Tammy and I came in. Billy has always been on the talkative side, but his daughter did find time to ask, "Why is everyone calling you Billy?"

Well, he was still Billy the last time I had seen him back in late 1979. My guess is he will always be Billy to me.

Billy's daughter, Cindy, knows her father as Bill or Little Feather. I will bend as far as to call him Billy Little Feather - but I'm not sure if anyone outside the family can get away with calling him that.

Uncle Art

This is Uncle Art; he was the second one to greet Tammy and me as we waded our way into Grandma's house. I can imagine Art was thinking something like, "Oh no, camera" as I took this shot. He did say something more or less like that shortly after.

Art has put on some extra weight over the last few years; I know how you feel Art. I would much rather be taking the pictures than having my picture taken.

Back in the early 1980's Art was the keyboardist for Bounty Hunter. They were a popular tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd band here in the Pacific Northwest. It had seemed possible that Art might realize his dreams of stardom, but after the death of their rhythm guitarist, and time with a few other bands, life took Art in other directions that landed him with the rest of us in more-or-less middle-class America. Today Art describes himself as "a reluctant carpenter." I wouldn't count Art out yet though; he may still find his way back into the music world. He still works the keys on his own projects.

Art's band days began about the time Cousin Tom was nearing the end of his career as the "Northwest Heavyweight Boxing Champion" in the late 1970's. Cousin Tom is not his real name and he went by Ibar at the time. Art and Tom were close as children and it would have been cool to hear them share memories and get some pictures. Unfortunately, I missed seeing Tom at Grandma's 80th birthday by a few hours. He had an early flight back home and Tammy and I were late arrivals to the party.

At least I did have a chance to see Art and his wife Cateland. They live in Nevada these days so I do not see them often. It's just not the same as when we were younger and Art was around all the time, which made it all that much nicer to get his warm welcome when Tammy and I arrived at the party.

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