2009 Baum Family Newsletter

Christmas 2009 In Hattiesburg. Dixie, Grandson Dawson, and "Den"!

Dixie and I wish all of you the very best for a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2010! Here’s hoping that it is a good year for all of us …

 Son David, Daughter-In-Law Sarah, and Grandson Dawson

 We spent the most wonderful Christmas EVER in Hattiesburg, MS with son David, his wife Sarah, and the smartest and best looking grandson ever created … Dawson … who calls me “Den”! Surrounded by his large family and being the ONLY child in attendance, Dawson was everyone’s center of attention. Santa Claus was very generous with Dawson, and although he just turned 2 in September and doesn’t really know Santa, he thinks he’s a pretty cool dude to pony up so many gifts!

David and family visited us twice during the year, and each visit was wonderful! In September they showed up for his 10 year RHS reunion and we had the pleasure of their company for a few days over the Summer. David started a new job in January 1^st with the Pearl River Electric Coop in Columbia, MS which is only a 25 minute drive from his front door.

Son Michael

Michael scored BIG with a paid internship for an internet marketing start-up company that continues to this day while he is in school. If he plays his cards right, this gig may translate into a full time job upon graduation! He is in his last year of an Advertising/Communications course of study that is going to end with a degree from Texas State. YEAH! My second son has an active social life and likes to both sleep and party late. Dixie and I have come to realize that our days of monitoring his moves and whereabouts are coming to an end. After moving him for the umpteenth time to yet another apartment at the beginning of this semester, I informed him that upon graduation it would be a good thing if he found a place for his possessions other than my garage. Was I too harsh? Goodness, I hope not!

Dixie and Dennis

Dixie and I took a trip to LA in April to a family Bar Mitzvah. It was a lovely affair and we had a wonderful time visiting family and attending a succession of exquisite parties in Beverly Hills. That’s right friends, “swimming pools and movie stars”!

In September we traveled to NY for a little R&R and had a marvelous time doing everything fun. We were in the Big Apple for 5 nights and rented a studio apartment on Craig’s List. It’s a little risky, but if you are careful it’s an economical and satisfying manner in which to ingrain yourself with NYC!

At the end of October, we went to another Bar Mitzvah, this time in Kansas City. I remember when I was young how close I was to all the people and relatives in attendance. Unfortunately, several generations down the road the closeness is quickly beginning to unravel. Life goes on …

We’ve done a lot of remodeling on our home lately, focusing on the one remaining bath needing attention and sprucing up the laundry room. We also added a new fence and laid down some 7” wide oak hardwoods throughout our home minus the bedrooms. The results look fantastic and we think it was money well spent!

Dixie

Changes took place within the dental practice where Dixie works. Dr. Clegg sold his practice to Dr. Thompson who does lots of cosmetic and implant dentistry, and after a few personnel changes, everything is humming along smoothly! She really enjoys her new working environment.

Dixie has become quite the reader, and enjoys participating in the bi-monthly meetings of her book club. I don’t know if it is the discussions she enjoys most, or the socializing, but she always comes home in a good mood!

Dennis

The real estate business continues to have lots of challenges, but I am SELLING homes to motivated buyers and work with sellers committed to getting their homes SOLD! Money remains tight and both buyers and sellers are nervous about the future direction of the economy. Thankfully, I think the worst is behind us and “over time” the economic environment will improve. I was honored to win the Keller Williams Preston Road number 10 slot in Individual Gross Commission Income for 2008 which was awarded in March of 2009. There are over 350 agents in my Keller Williams office and competition is intense!

I joined the World Affairs Council this year and for someone who is as engaged in world politics and events as I am, it’s like being on steroids! One event   that I am particularly looking forward to is a lecture on Iraq by General Petraeus at the Fairmont Hotel in February.

Milestone

My mother, Dorothea Baum, died in January this year, and the following month, Dixie’s father, Eugene Dickerson passed away. Naturally, there was a lot of sadness in the Baum Household over the unfolding of these events. We thank our many friends for the sympathy and support you showed us during these difficult times.