Please don't jump to the wrong conclusion by reading only the left side of the birth announcement above! If you did just that, go back and read both sides.

July 4, 1971, was just another Independence Day for most people, but for Nancy and me, it was the birth day of our daughter, Melissa. We didn't get to visit her in Arizona last Wednesday for the celebration, so we don't have a picture commemorating the big event. However, we were able to resurrect a couple of our favorite pictures from the 70s and, along with the birth announcement, put together the collage above. You should note that her love of Mickey Mouse began at a young age and hasn't wavered in the slightest since.

By the way, for those of you who did not know me way back when Melissa was born, (Way, way back!) the name "Dick" above just might be confusing. I went by my middle name (Richard/Dick) until we moved to Huntsville. Nancy likes to refer to Dick as her first husband and John her second. He,He.