New Year's Eve, 2013

Each year since about 1985, Anne and I have hosted a New Year's Eve celebration for family and friends at Lawry's The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. This year was our biggest celebration and one of our best.

We had 17 people at our table and a separate table for two, for Vicky and her husband Charlie, separate at their request so they could have a more intimate dinner. Vicky works for Uncle Gene and she and her husband Charlie drove Uncle Gene and Aunt Eleanor to Lawry's and back.

Our son Kevin hasn't joined our celebration in years because as a police office, he feels more comfortable being off the roads on New Year's Eve. But we had the joy of our other sons, Kyle and Clayton and their families.

Anne's mother Mary, my sister Lorrie and cousin Terri were also there, and this is a fun group in themselves.

But what made this evening extra special was honoring Kyle's request to include Renee Milch and her two handsome sons, Curt and Jake. Kyle's close friend, husband and father, 52 year old Jeff Milch passed away a few months ago from cancer.

Jeff was a super guy, a man we all miss, and what a joy it was to have his family join us, as we could bring some happiness into the lives of such lovely people.

As always, I ate vegetarian food and everyone else thoroughly enjoyed Lawry's renowned roast beef, other than my sister Lorrie, who had fish.

Each year, it lifts my heart to see our family and friends enjoy themselves, but this year, Renee, Curt and Jake made it even more special.

Dick