Dan Gookin

Age: 49

This year was the bestest ever!

Way, way, back in January, I started chatting it up with an Internet pal. Her name is Barbara Gookin and I always figured that we were related somehow. Turns out that we’re not. (I’m serious.) So we start talking and, the next thing you know, I go to see her. And, yes, she is the lady in my life.

Barbara lives on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. That’s 2800 miles away, but I’ve made the trip out three times, and Barbara has been to Idaho thrice. I really love her a lot and would gush on and on, but I’d be over my holiday epistle word count.

We didn’t take a holiday over summer. Simon was working at the Silverwood theme park, and Jonah had driver’s lessons. We did have fun at the beach and so on.

I bought a Jeep this year, a yellow Wrangler X. Ever since high school I’ve wanted a Jeep, so I finally decided to take the plunge. I love it. It even has a personalized license plate: GOOKIN.

This past fall I, once again, ran for city council. I lost by only 29 votes out of over 6,000 cast. That’s 0.5%, but not enough for a “free” recount. I plan on letting that stand, but another contest for city council was closer; only 5 votes separated the two. That race is being contested.

I’m disappointed by the loss, because I still believe we could have better government in my home town. So I’ll continue working toward exposing city government’s stupidity as they don’t seem to be running out of it any time soon.

Have a pleasant new year!

Miss Barbara Gookin, my sweetie.

Barbara and I during a break in my city council campaign.

Barbara and I at the Festival of Trees, the week after Thanksgiving in Nantucket. (We said "Hello" to Joe Biden.)

My Jeep as it sat at the dealers. The boys call it the Gookmobile.