Our "Deer" Friends

We got the sweetest surprise in the mail today.

But before I tell you what it was.. I have to tell you who it is from.

Twenty years ago I was working as a reporter in North Carolina.

I worked with a pretty spectacular group of people-- many of them

are dear, dear friends to this day.

Just after midnight on December 7th, 1991, our news helicopter

crashed coming back from the state championship high school football game.

Our sports director, Tony, miraculously survived the chopper plummeting from

the sky the equivalent of a 150 story building.

Three of the greatest guys you'd ever want to know were killed

on impact.  All four of the men on board were engaged to be married.

It was a gut wrenching, heart ripping and life changing experience

for so many of us.

My roommate, Diane was one week away from marrying our pilot who was lost.

So I had a very front row seat to the sorrow of the families and the fiancees.

One of the fiancees left behind was Lisa-- who thankfully, later

met and married an exceptional man-- Danny.

Today, our little family received a package from Lisa and Danny.

The girls squealed with delight when they opened up this-- our

new favorite Christmas ornament!

 

In their letter, they wrote that since they don't have any children, they

often find themselves living vicariously through their friend's families.

Since they read this ol' blog, and have followed our ups and downs and our good

and bad days-- they were wondering if they could be part of the Barker clan.

Heck ya!

We welcome you with open arms!!!