MacKenzie

MacKenzie will turn 15 on Jan. 2. Lordy, lordy. She is now a freshman at Angola High School. And, as she frequently reminds me, after her birthday, she will be eligible to get a learner's permit and begin driving.

MacKenzie grew a lot in 2009. Mostly in height. She now looks me straight in the eye and pats me on the head as if I were a family pet. The casual nature of our relationship is a surprise, but somehow I knew I wasn't going to get much respect from my children. (I suppose it's payback for those times I picked Mom up and carried her around the house, or poked fun at Dad's leisure suits.)

Marching band proved to be a growing experience for MacKenzie. It involved a lot of early mornings, sore muscles, sunburn and fatigue. She often doubted whether she wanted to commit that much time to one activity. But, she got herself out of bed each morning, and she fulfilled her obligation. Now she will reap the reward: the band is traveling to Disney World right after Christmas to play in one of the daily parades. (MacKenzie will return home on her birthday.)

MacKenzie continues to be industrious. She is forever scheming and planning ways to make money. She helps me by mowing the lawn, putting labels on postcards, and grading quizzes. She also is my reminderer----as in, "Dad, aren't you supposed to be somewhere at 4 o'clock?"

Overall, she is a wonderful, mature person who is fun to be with. I am constantly complimented on how nice MacKenzie is, and how beautiful she is becoming.

LeeP.

Like wearing a wool sweater, 2009 was an uncomfortable year for me. I lost my groove. My mojo went missing. In basketball terms, I was throwing up bricks. In golfing terms, I lost my swing and couldn't get it back.

But rough patches teach us lessons, and I learned a lot this year. My realizations can be summed up in a string of cliches: enjoy the journey, live in the moment, and treasure those you love (and who love you) above all else.

Despite having a splintered attention on a variety of problems, I had my best year of freelancing to date. My newest venture is teaching art appreciation at Trine University. (I still get the giggles when the students call me, "Professor Sauer.")

An article I sold to "Boy's Life" magazine two or three years ago finally appeared in the August issue. I thought I'd be deluged with messages from friends and colleagues, but didn't get a one. (I don't know if that's a comment on me, the article, or the magazine.)

I'm hard at work on my second self-publishing project. It's the first in a series titled, "Drawing on History," and shows kids how to draw major historical figures. The first book is on, of course, Abraham Lincoln.

I started (or re-started) playing the banjo this year. Most of you know that I've had a banjo since high school, but it has sat in its case in a closet for most of the last 33 years. This year I resolved to master that sucker, so I signed up for lessons. The lessons made a big difference. It's amazing how much pleasure you can gain from something when it involves a manageable amount of pain and struggle.

Thanks for visiting with us. Tune in again next year. Same time, same station.

LeeP.