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Second Annual Thank You Letter          

         Last year, when I came home from Peoria, after 24 hours of nonstop fun with old friends, young friends and new friends, I realized how lucky I was to be playing hockey at the age of 64.782 with great guys every week! I wrote a Thank You letter that made Mr. and Mrs. Anvil shed a tear or two. I’m sort of sorry about that, but I can’t resist making a goalie cry, so I would like to give my second annual thank you letter to the people and things that I have been blessed with, because of my involvement with hockey.  

       As you probably know I finally gave in to the long overdue THR (Total Hip Replacement) last July.  I had put it off for several years, because I didn't want to give up hockey. I'm now back on skates and I give thanks to Stump for leading the way 2 years ago, when he had his hip replaced and returned to party with us a week later and he then started skating in Denver 4 months later.  He is an inspiration to all and thanks to him, we never have a game without a goalie.  

          I give Thanks that I was fortunate enough to find an orthopedic surgeon, who loves hockey and injected my hip socket with a lubricant that gave me the ability to skate pain free last Thanksgiving and a new pain free hip this year.  I find that when you get older, you start to give thanks for things that used to irritate you.  I came home from Peoria with a broken stick blade and a bruise on my forearm, where the glove meets the elbow pad.  That would have irritated me 10 years ago, but it felt so good to have someone feel that they needed to put a stick on me to foil a scoring attempt.  (I really don't know how I got that bruise, but I'm going with that story.) I quit carrying a spare stick years ago, because I haven't broken one in 5 years.  (I only wear them out after 1000 miles or so) I felt like a pro hockey player when Luke, the Rivermen assistant coach, gave me a $50.00 stick blade.  This one should last 10,000 miles, since my last one cost 5 bucks.

                I give Thanks for the NYPDs (New, Young, Polite, Duffers) Tweedy, Rich Storm, Tommy and Johnny Z, for the way they always look for a meaningful Duffer to pass to, before they shoot.  They have added vitality to our Duffer family since they joined us back in the 90s. When I think of all of the great people that I have met through hockey, starting way back with Kenny Wharram and his son who were responsible for me flooding my back yard every winter and getting my kids started in hockey.  I give Thanks the early Duffers that molded the organization together. The King, with the help of Wally, Frank and Slime Dog put together a wonderful organization that has survived the test of time. An organization that has given great pleasure to my family and me for 35 years!
 

               I give Thanks to all of the Duffer wives, like my wonderful Carole, who love their stress free Friday nights, where they have the freedom to meet with friends or stay at home and watch HGTV and the Home Shopping Network. I give Thanks to guys that joined in on the fun like Klinger, who is always ready to help out when you need a chipper, a summer job or a job for your kid and Hacksaw who was always ready to lend a helping hand, share a laugh and help me with early computer questions (Remember DOS?).

                I give Thanks for having a chance to share some time with Wheezer and his offspring, Mini Wheezer, who are always ready to go anywhere any time there is a Duffer road trip or event.  When I start to put together a road trip to Hayward or Peoria, everyone likes to ask, "Who is going?"  Wheezer and Mini Wheezer were the first to sign up and show up.  I give Thanks for friends like Formica who really knows how lucky the members of the Duffer Family are, he will fly in from Seattle and meet us anytime we have something planned. 
 

               I give Thanks to the Nailer.  He barely knew me when he showed up with Beer nuts to help my son roof his garage.  These are people that are hard to find outside of the hockey world.  Beer nuts lugged 80 pound shingle packs up the ladder without a complaint, while Duffer Referee, Agi, cooked us breakfast! 

                I give Thanks to Peoria Duffer in Chief, Art, for rounding up the Peoria Duffers to give us 3 full lines, so that we can skate for 3 hours!  He even found us a young goalie with a Mom that takes hundreds of action pictures for us. I give Thanks to Rivermen Coach, Jason Christie and the Rivermen organization for giving us free tickets and free ice time every time we go down there, then Jason thanks us!  We are going to miss him.  (He is coaching in Salt Lake City)
 

               I give Thanks to the Anvil who keeps us laughing and full of gas on Thanksgiving, when he hauls his camper out to the rink and fills it with beer and brats. I give Thanks for Harvey and Papa who show us all, that there is life after Medicare.  I give Thanks to the New King, Rich Storm, who has proven to be a very qualified leader, that has kept the Duffers going with out a hitch after the King's retirement.  

          I give Thanks to Harrah's Casino for honoring the $525.00 coupons that were sent to me by mistake. I give Thanks all of the Duffers and Duffer Cyber Fans for buying CDs to support my Dead Beat Dad fund.

          I give Thanks to Ron at Bonos for giving us a place to laugh every Friday night.  I will mercifully put and end to this marathon thank fest.  I'll just say thanks for everyone that made me laugh in the last 35 years.  (You know who you are.  Thor, Buckshot, Beavis, Butt Head, Berserk, Doc I, Doc II, Alien, The Hammer, Fruit Cake, Dill Deau, Gilbert, The Flea, By the Way Bill, Hansen Brother Larry, The Ghost, Uncle Bob, Magoo, Muzzy, The Brain, Drano, Super Dave, The Cop and Koss)
Finally I give thanks to God for giving me the good health and ability to play hockey with my sons, Ken and Dan and grandsons, Jeff and Mike.