For the past eleven years our personal trainer, Dan Kritsonis, has come to our house for workouts three times a week—something that has kept a pair of seventy- and eighty-something old codgers as limber as possible. Mary, our aging long-haired miniature dachshund has been on tap for the last seven year of those workout sessions. She doesn’t do any exercises, but she levels that unblinking Doxie stare at him, knowing that eventually treats will emerge from his pocket.
Some of you may remember that I wrote about Dan before, and one of my blog readers even hired him to be her trainer. But here’s the gist of that story. Some nine years ago, when Bill and I returned home after a session of snow-birding and remote FaceTime workouts, he showed up on our doorstep for his next in-home visit with a diaper bag, infant carrier, and infant in hand. If that sounds familiar, you may be recalling a scene much like that in one of my books—Sins of the Fathers to be exact. As those old radio announcers used to say, “the names have been changed to protect the innocent.’
In the book, the guy with the baby and diaper bag in hand turns out to be Alan Dale, a long ago acquaintance of J.P. Beaumont’s. As for the baby? That fictional Athena turned out to be Beau’s granddaughter from Naomi, a daughter he never knew he had and someone who was the result from a one-night stand back in book number four when Beau was still drinking and living a wild and crazy bachelor existence in downtown Seattle.
In real life, Dan was the seventy-one year-old hero who brought his new-born, drug-addicted granddaughter home from the hospital, after rocking her through withdrawal. By some strange coincidence, she, too, happens to be named Athena. Dan cared for her ON HIS OWN for the next nine months!!!! until a loving, adoptive family stepped forward.
The real life Athena is now a bright-eyed, beautiful, and talented grade-schooler whole lives in Eastern Washington, but the bond that came from those first few months is still as strong as ever. Athena calls her grandpa every day! She teases him. She gives him cooking instructions. She shows him her artwork. Unsurprisingly, he misses her dreadfully.
So at age eighty, Dan is heeding Athena’s siren call. He’s retiring and moving to Eastern Washington to be closer to her. We’ll miss him. Mary will most certainly miss him, but it’s time for Dan to look out for Dan. Being where his heart is is the right thing to so.
By the way, Athena has informed him that once his good are unloaded, she’ll help him arrange his new apartment because to hear her tell it, she’s very good at organizing.
As they say, “life goes on” and change is constant. I am not a fan of change, personally. Probably one of the few disagreements my wife and I had was my resistance to making a change. I’m not sure even if I had it to do over I would have. Old codgers sometimes are that way.
Thank you for another great blog and view into your life.
What a wonderful and loving story.
How sweet is this! Just warms my heart ?? and thank you for sharing! I loved that book! Have a good weekend J.
We know of two adoptee families who have several brothers and sisters from mom’s of the same tragedy of addiction. Those families accepted the calls to take another child as their own, rather than an abortion take that life.
Those kids are loved.
Congratulations and good luck to Dan on his retirement, and to Athena for having her grandpa close. I am sure you, Bill and Mary will find a new trainer or solution to staying limber.
Blessing to you and Bill.
A lovely story. Thsnk you!
Heartwarming story.
What a touching story. He won’t regret retiring to spend more time with his grand. She sounds like a keeper as does he. I hope you’re able to find another trainer you like.
Thank you for the update…may this new life path bring Dan peace and joy!
Blessings to him and Athena!
Will you be getting a new trainer?
I will miss Dan too. I, as you know, am the other reader who has hired Dan for the past 2 years to be my trainer too. He comes to see me right before he goes to see you and Bill. (and Mary) I so appreciate you referring him to me. We will try training by remote, but of course it won’t be the same. But I’m so happy for Dan. I know this new chapter in his life will be wonderful. What a nice tribute to him as you’ve dedicated your entire blog this week to him. I know he will miss you and all of his long-time clients, but he is only a call away, especially via Face-time.
What a wonderful man. You must be proud of him.
I’m honored to call him a friend.
Beautiful story. Hope he left you with some referrals to check out. And, with the computer and telephone, you can always keep in touch.
Stuff you already knew: children who grow up w close relationships w grandparents are happier, more well-adjusted adults w “reduced anxiety, long term good mental health, resiliency, better emotional regulation, higher empathy, and cognitive growth.” Some of my fondest memories are from my adored and adoring grandparents Mimi and Grampa, Nani and Grampa Homer.
Nicely done, Dan & Athena! ?
Congrats & best wishes to the both of you.
God Bless ? ?.
Thanks for telling us this about Dan. No wonder you & Bill had such a great relationship with your trainer. A man with a big heart.
Good luck in finding a replacement.
Sometimes fiction becomes fact, instead of the other way around. What a wonderful man to take on the care of a newborn at age 71!
How do you keep all your characters straight? Do you have a list by name, birth info, family ties, what happened in each book? You must be so organized!
Love all your series and the way the characters have aged through the years. Makes them more real. Thanks for being such a prolific author from an ever hungry reader.
Beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes!
What a beautiful story. He sounds like a wonderful man!
What an inspirational human. Our best to him AND Bill and you. Beautiful, heart-warming… thank you for sharing!!!
God bless Dan on his new journey
Oh, the Athena story is one of my favorites in your books, how wonderful to “meet” the real life inspiration. Hoping you either love remote training or find someone new you can work with. I always look for young dentists, etc, in hopes of not having to search for a replacement down the road. Getting to be a safer bet at my age.
Ceci
So sweet! Good luck and happy times to all!
Sometimes the happy endings are hard to see early on. Dan sounds like a special guy and has clearly passed that on to Athena. Best to both of them.
Such a wonderful story. Dan sounds like a very special man. I wish them all the best.