A death in the family

Aunt Keiko, my mother and Uncle Hide, the surviving Araya siblings. I don't have a recent photo of my uncle who died Monday.

This morning, actually, it was early Tuesday morning, the phone rang. We have caller ID and it was an unknown number, so we let it ring. My mother checked the answering machine and it turned out that it was my Aunt Keiko, my mother's sister.

I dialed the number and handed the phone to my mother.

She was calling to let us know that our uncle, my mother's oldest brother, had died.

When we were in Japan, we didn't visit him in the Araya family home in Odate because he was sick and in the hospital. We learned later that he was pissed because we did not visit.

Oops. But really, he was in the hospital and my mother didn't feel that we should all troop in and visit. In hindsight, perhaps we should have visited.

Aunt Keiko said she wasn't up for the trip to Akita, the prefecture (or state) where he lived. So her son, Kenichi is going. My Aunt Mizue is hampered by a bad back and she can't really take a long train trip up north. So her daughter, Hiromi, is going. And my Aunt Teruko, who lives in Kobe, is frail. Her son, Hiroki, is going.

Of course, my mother can't go, and neither can any of us.

We'll be there in spirit. The funeral is Friday.

I knew him, of course, but I saw him when I was very young. I saw him again in 1992, which was my first visit to Japan in 22 years.

I remember sitting in his living room with his wife and daughter, my mother, Aunt Keiko, my mother's friend from Los Angeles, Mrs. Okada and my cousin, Kotoe.

I was showing him pictures of us in America, including photos of my father.

I knew that he had never approved of my mother marrying my father. And that my father took her away to America. He also never forgot that he was asked for his blessing. He was the oldest male and the head of the family.

But as we passed pictures around, he turned to me and said, "I'm sorry I never met your father. He seemed like he was a good man." Of course, he said that in Japanese, and he meant to say it to my mother, but he told me. I glanced at my mother and she was tearing up.

That broke the ice.

A few years later, he came to Columbus to visit us. I think he really had a great time.

I'm sorry I didn't get to see him one more time.

I guess what I'm trying to say is take every opportunity to see the people you love because you never know when that person will no longer be there.

The arts year in review

For the past few days, I've been working on the arts year-in-review story that will run on Dec. 26.

Perhaps the biggest story was the arrival of 67 Steinway pianos to the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music. A gift of Maxine Schiffman, it was truly an astounding sight to see all those pianos on the Bill Heard Theatre stage.

Another significant event was the transfer of the Singer-Moye Indian Mounds from the Columbus Museum, who has been caring for the sight for more than 40 years, to the University of Georgia, who will use it as a working lab for archaeology students.

Another was Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, who created the "Tuna" series, allowing the Springer Opera House to be the only theater to tour "Greater Tuna" and "A Tuna Christmas." In the past, only Williams and Sears toured the shows. And the Springer will be the first theater to present the third "Tuna" show, "Red, White and Tuna," in the spring.

And, of course, one of the biggest concerns for all the arts organizations in town is the economy.

Already, the Springer's Paul Pierce said many of the donors are cutting back the amount they're giving this year. Fortunately, attendance is up, but ticket proceeds do not begin to pay for the upkeep of the 137-year-old building.

That's the story for all the other arts organizations as well.

The Liberty Theatre is trying its best to keep the theater open. Managing director Gayle Daniels said while attendance is up, it could be better. So she's collaborating with the Columbus Jazz Society and the Chattahoochee Shakespeare Co. to do more shows there.

Maybe it's time the arts organizations work together and do more collaborating like Gayle's doing. After all, they are all going for the same donors and patrons.

Let me know what you thought the most significant arts event was this year. It'll be interesting to see what you think.

Newsroom Christmas party

Our newsroom Christmas party was last night and a good time was had by all. Two of our editors, Dimon Kendrick-Holmes and Mike Owen, cooked all the meat and it was very tasty.

Our hostest with the mostest, Dawn Minty, and her husband, Jeff Hendrickson, did everything else. I'm sure other people helped, but I can't tell you who they were. Jerry Morehouse and his wife, made wonderful cookies. I call her Dee, but I know that's not her name. I'm sorry!

Here are some pictures of my newsroom colleagues. OK, so the first two pictures are not my colleagues. They are Dawn and Jeff's babies.



Alley looked so cute in her Christmas faux fur cape. But she was very unhappy. After a little while, I took pity on her and took it off. She was very happy. I think I have a friend for life.











Sassy getting dressed in her holiday finery.















Bess Kendrick-Holmes (in the red sweater), was talking to Allison (in white), Allison's mother, Charlotte, and Dawn (in the awesome dress).











Andrea (from left), Sara, Stephanie, Lily and Sonya. Stephanie is a WLTZ-TV 38 reporter.

Really nice ticket packages for the King Tut exhibit

This is one of four bejeweled coffinettes that held mummified organs of King Tut.

If you're like me, you're watching every penny you spend these days.

You want to see the King Tut exhibit in Atlanta, but when you add up the gas to drive to Atlanta and the ticket price, it's probably a little expensive, especially if you've some kids who really want to see the exhibit, too. You'll also have to add the price of a meal while you're up there.

If you're looking for a way to save some money, there are three ticket packages that are now available.

The Last-Minute Holiday Gift Package is $50 and includes two VIP tickets, which are good for any day and any time during regular hours, two audio tours, narrated by Harrison Ford and a National Geographic DVD of your choice from the gift shop. The package is available through Dec. 24.

The Discounted Family Days is $46 for a family of four for any day of the week through mid-January.

Two-for-One Adult Tickets are available through the holidays until Jan. 15.

The hours of the exhibit, at the Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave. N.E., are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, with the last ticket sold at 5 p.m. (except 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Christmas Eve, with the last ticket sold at 2:30 p.m.). It's closed Christmas Day.

Regular tickets are $16.50-$32.50.

For information, call 404-727-4282 or go to www.kingtut.org

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at area Publix grocery stores or the Columbus Civic Center. If you buy tickets in person at a Ticketmaster location, it's cash only. To charge tickets, call 706-494-8330 or go to www.ticketmaster.com

Whoops!

I had to laugh when I got a e-mail from Pat Bonaker. Pat is in Cantus Columbus.

Here's her e-mail:

"I very much enjoyed reading your article about Cantus Columbus just a few minutes ago. However - I wonder what my son David will think about being my brother, instead of my son! Perhaps you may be thinking of Paula, his sister! I am the Mother of the Bonaker Bunch - Mike, Paula, David and Matt. I am a retired choral director in MCSD, having taught at Shaw for 18 years before retiring in 1999. Just wanted to tell you I had a little laugh this morning!"

Yikes! I truly was thinking about Paula.

So, I'm very, very sorry.

I won't make that mistake again!

Thanks, Pat!

Cirque Dreams

The first six seasons that the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts was open, the man in charge of booking the Broadway in Columbus series was Adam Epstein, the president of the Theater Council of America.

I met Adam early on and he's a charming man who knows a lot about booking shows. He also knows a lot about shows, period.

For the first time, he added producer to his name.

He was a producer of "Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy," which played on Broadway for 10 weeks in the theater after "The Color Purple" closed. It was a wildly popular show.

Now it's on tour and instead of booking into the RiverCenter's Bill Heard Theatre, he's got it in the Columbus Civic Center. It can be seen at 7 p.m. April 19. Tickets are $35-$60.

The Civic Center box office is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can buy tickets at area Publix grocery stores. Call Ticketmaster to charge your tickets at 706-494-8330 or go to www.ticketmaster.com

Neil Goldberg created the show and he brought an abbreviated show to celebrate the Columbus Museum's 50th anniversary. But that was a private party. I was there and the show was great in 2003. I'm sure it's fantastic now.

My mother has already said she wants to go, so I'm sure I'll be going to see it in April.

Volunteers

I was invited to the annual Christmas dinner for the volunteers at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts tonight.

I know that there are a lot of volunteers because at every event I've been to, they are everywhere.

I didn't realize that there are almost 300 volunteers.

I was a little late getting there and I saw Darlene Kittrell, who is the marketing director. We talked for a bit and then we walked to the Bill Heard Theatre stage where the tables were set up. I walked around the corner and said, "Holy crap!"

I couldn't believe the number of people sitting on that stage.

I sat with some very nice people. I only remember Alice Spengler. But there was another nice couple.

Dinner was very nice, catered by the Rankin.

Door prizes were given out, and some people were honored for their service, including two women who have worked more than 1,000 hours. Jeanne Fessenden (new DA Julia Slater's mother) and Nancy Skaife. If you saw either of these women, you'll recognize them. Especially Nancy, who always wears her signature over-sized glasses.

Jeanette Cauthen, Chuck Fessenden (Jeanne's husband and Julia's father), Doug McLeod and Mary Noles have served more than 750 hours.

You know, when I retire, I'm going to become a RiverCenter volunteer and a docent at the Columbus Museum and Springer Opera House.

Maybe one day, I'll get a pin for serving 1,000 hours somewhere.

Wait. I bet I've served at least 100 hours giving tours at the Springer already. And I'm not even a docent. I wonder if those hours will count.