Dear Friends and Family:

It is Christmas, 2003, our first without Mary, our third without Scott.   It is the time of year to reflect on life,  past, present and future.   I have already asked the "whys" of our recent past and didn't get any acceptable answers.  It has just become the way it is. 

Even with two kids running around and between my legs, the extended Kinkele family feels lonely to me.  There is no Mary to counter Father.  There is no Scott to challenge just because he is the youngest.   The family dynamics is quieter.  There is no chaos to watch or help create.  We all feel the loss.

My  future is my immediate and extended family.  I must help watch over all of them and raise two of them.    Matthew and Andrew will be good Kinkeles.  All the trademarks are there, which may mean trouble.  Jenny has joined a support groups for families without women (6 men, 1 girl, its a joke, get it?).  My sense of humor has not improved.  I am glad she still says she loves me every morning.

Life is not easy for anyone.   Accept that tragedy can happen at any moment.  Then smile,  hug your kids, talk to your family and help others while you can.  Mary and Scott, we miss you.