Marlowe and her friends had lots of fun last night. They had a really nice dinner party at our home before going to the
Darlington School winter dance at Berry College in Rome. Here are a couple of photos of the gang in our house:
Here is a photo taken in our dining room showing Marlowe teaching some of her friends the fine art of folding napkins into various shapes, including braziers:
We attended Marlowe's chorus concert at her school this afternoon. The concert choir sounded great singing some very innovative holiday music arrangements. After that, we went to dinner with some friends and Nancy's parents in Rome.
Not looking forward to the next two weeks. I go on call not only for our practice and hospital, but for two other ophthalmology practices (in Cherokee County and Gordon County). Our associate ophthalmologist, Dr. Zhao, will be on vacation for part of that time. Things could get really hectic.
Looking forward to Amanda returning home for a couple of weeks. Nancy will fly to Miami Tuesday morning and accompany Amanda on her long drive back home. It will be great having Amanda home again for a while! I really miss her!
Well, that's about it for this post. Take care and remember to keep in touch!
Jeff
Spent part of the day as a volunteer ringing the Salvation Army bell at the Cartersville Wal-Mart. Our Rotary Club volunteered to help with this today.
We had 0ur annual office part at the country club last night. Everyone had fun. My staff thought the gag gifts they gave me were especially hilarious (a large sack of rice, a sink plunger, and a pair of latex gloves). Long story... I'll tell you about it in another message.
Here is a picture of my staff at the party last night:
Marlowe is having about 20 friends to the house tonight for dinner before they go to the winter dance at her school. She's all excited about this!
Here is a photo of Marlowe, Heather and Amanda. This was taken last month during our Thanksgiving vacation to Panama City Beach, where Heather and her family live. We rented a condo on the beach next to theirs. Amanda drove up from Miami and brought my mother with her. Nancy parents joined us, too, so it was like a big, happy family get-together.
Nancy and I are going to a party at some friends' house tonight. Scott Daniel is a surgeon. He and his family live on about 100 acres near us. They all sorts of farm animals and pets, including a parrot that has can say about 300 words or phrases. They also have their own air strip and hangar. Really nice people, too.
Well, have to run and help set up for Marlowe's dinner tonight. Take care and keep in touch!
Jeff
Dear Friends and Relatives,Hope you are doing well this holiday season. I know I haven't written an entry in this journal since May (just too busy!). The following is our annual "what's new with the Brants" letter: (Some people hate reading this kind of letters, so we won't be offended if you just click the "delete" button!)Where to begin? The older we get, the faster time seems to fly by and the more jumbled what we do becomes!
Marlowe is now 15, a sophomore at Darlington School, and learning to drive! The parental units have gray hair—or grayer than it was prior to this event! Hard to believe our last little bird is about ready to try her own wings and venture out alone. Scary, really! Marlowe is the child who tries it all and amazes us with her willingness to do things we never thought she would. She takes voice and piano and made concert choir at school this year. She continues to paint when she has time. She is a member of the Student Support Team, Spanish Club, Tour Guides, and was nominated for Leadership Rome and the Hugh O’Brien Leadership Program this year. This summer, she attended the Firespark Program at Brenau University, following in Amanda’s footsteps. Over spring break she will go to England with the school; in April she will perform in Orlando with the concert choir; and this summer will return to Brenau; and spend 3 weeks in Spain in an immersion program. Taking community service to heart, Marlowe began a UNICEF collection at the middle school when she started 6th grade there and has continued it through this year. We are thrilled this program continues and that Marlowe could be a part of it. Last, but not least (this has been a full year for the child!!) she was chosen to introduce Gerda Weissmann Klein, a Holocaust survivor and author of All But My Life, when Mrs. Klein visited Rome in the fall. It was a great honor and Marlowe was so thrilled to be able to meet her. If you have not read the book, it is a story you will never forget. Mrs. Klein, At 83, is an amazing person and she had over 2000 people in the auditorium so quiet (except for the crying) you could have heard a pin drop—a real first for the school gym, we can assure you.
Amanda is a sophomore at the University of Miami, double majoring in Motion Pictures and Graphic Design, and loving every minute of being a Hurricane—but not THE hurricanes! She found out exactly what living in a coastal area was like when she went through two lockdowns thanks to hurricane weather. Luckily, Miami did not get a direct hit. Amanda had an exciting beginning to the year as Richard Gere spoke to her film class, she got to see and hear the Dali Lama, and the Presidentialpresidential debates brought not only added security to the campus but a host of celebrities. We got to watch her on Hardball with Chris Mathews, she saw and heard Ralph Nader, and she was interviewed by Japanese TV at Smack Down the Vote. She serves as secretary of the Cinematic Arts Commission, is a member of the Concert Committee, and is a member of the Marine Animal Stranding Team and Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS).
Melodee works with a local State Farm Insurance agency. She has weathered many crises this year including her car being stolen and recovered. She is moving to a new place soon. She had plans to get married and that fell apart so she is back to the single life. We are hoping for a better 2005 for her!
Heather, Dane and Gracie moved to Panama City Beach. Heather works at a local bank there as a loan and mortgage officer and is trying her hand at real estate with very good luck. Miss Grace, 3, is a priss pot! The child should be on stage. She loves to entertain us by singing and dancing—and of course, we love her to do it! She is also a good little golfer. Alec is 10 and a wonderful, if not reluctant, student! He loves video, and computer games and wrestling.
Nancy continues to “just say yes” to volunteer work but has added subbing at the Darlington School for some real pay! While she rotated off some medical committees this year, she still serves as Chair of the Health Committee for the Medical Association of Georgia Alliance, was chosen as a delegate to the American Medical Association Alliance House of Delegates, and is the Finance Chair for the Southern Medical Association Alliance. She serves as secretary to both the Darlington Fine Arts Booster Club and the Parent Association. She also volunteers at the school bookstore once a month just for the heck of it! Her state project as President of the MAG Alliance two years ago, “Strike Out Spit Tobacco,” continues to be a major project in this state and is spreading to others. The professionally-made video features Coach Mike Hurst (an oral cancer survivor) and Joe Garagiola. The video was made a mandatory part of all Division I college rules programs, was adopted by the Juvenile Court System in Bartow County and by all three local 3 Rotary Clubs, and is being placed in nearly all middle and high schools in the state. If anyone would like to have a copy of the video and accompanying brochure for your county, please let us know and we will make sure you get it.
As for Jeff, he continues to plug along trying to fix all the eye problems of Northwest Georgia by practicing comprehensive ophthalmology for his 19th year in Cartersville. They never have a dull moment at the office and the number of their small incision, sutureless cataract surgical procedures now exceeds 500 per year. Jeff says it is a real joy watching the expression on his patients’ faces the morning after their surgery when they can once again see clearly. Of course he still complains about all of the emergency and after-hours patients that he has to take care of, but that goes along with the territory.
When he is not doing eyes or things with the family, he spends what spare time he has serving as the president of the Cartersville Rotary Club (68 current members) and the president of the Bartow County Medical Society. He serves on the Board of Trustees, the Credentials Committee, and the Laser Safety Committee at the hospital. For fun, he has picked up the new hobby of building and flying large radio-controlled airplanes and continues to enjoy digital photography and imaging and messing with computers. He still likes unwinding by mowing our fields with our big Kubota tractor, and he says it’s cheaper than paying a psychologist! He also continues to write articles for
Ocular Surgery News and enjoys a round of 9-ball with friends. When he has time, he tries to keep an online journal at
http://www.allatoonaeye.com/jeff/blogger.html, so feel free to take a look at it. Also, chat with him on AIM (his screen name is JeffBrant; real original huh?).
That is about it from the Brant house—which now includes 2 cats (Duchess and Jo Mamma) and 3 dogs (Baylee Jayne, Coco, and Mariah). I guess we are a real country-living family!! It is not your presents that we care about—it is your presence in our lives; and the greatest gift of all is your friendship and love. From our home to yours, have a wonderful holiday season, remember our troops in whatever way is appropriate for you, and we hope 2005 will be a year of peace, prosperity, and good health for all.
With love,
Nancy, Jeff, Amanda, and Marlowe
(Melodee and Heather, Dane, Gracie and Alec, too!)
E-Mail Addresses:
Nancy:
nbrant@mindspring.comJeff:
eyemd@mindspring.comAmanda:
akrychek@mindspring.comMarlowe:
toastbuster89@mindspring.com
