Leslie Introduces Our Family to Carolina Blue

When Leslie first visited us in the summer of '03, she hesitated to be in the family picture. I insisted, because I could tell how much Cles cared for her. I knew they would be a couple.
The best thing that happened to Cles in a long time was meeting a blue-eyed Tar heel. The first week she met us first hand was just before I had surgery on my hip in 2003. We had an English Bulldog Guido, who loved pretty blonds even more than Cles. He was cute to us, but to Leslie, she saw this dog who pulled on his leash and dug into the carpet to get to her. He wanted to show affection by licking her legs. When a dog has the face of Quasimodo and is aggressive like that, it is not endearing. And Leslie does not like dogs.

She also saw our bizarre sense of humor immediately, something we inherited from our Welsh, Malad roots. Cles would take the dog outside for Guido's little break every day, and when he returned, Cles asked me, "Dad, how come Guido keeps doing that nasty thing on my leg?"

I was embarrassed, because I had not had the time to break him of the disgusting habit with the bad hip and preparing for surgery. But I had a quick reply. "It's because you're so damn cute."

I will always remember how hard Leslie laughed, and not many people besides me laugh at my jokes. After staying in our home, we loved her immediately.

Their wedding day was one we especially enjoyed. It was so much fun to see how happy our son was.

In December of '07, Cles graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in Asian Studies. Leslie graduated in the spring.

At the end of graduation, it was fun for me to see the rivalry that exists between UNC and Duke. Parents sing the Tar Heel fight song, and at the end, a few in the audience add the lines they normally save for when Duke is on the basketball court there--"Go to hell, Duke!" I loved it.

After the ceremonies and our two visits to North Carolina, our grandkids began wearing Carolina blue. And Ann and I did the same. I even have a blue Santa cap that Cles and Leslie sent me this past Christmas. Cles sent most of the UNC things, but we buy additional things too. We became avid fans.
When I was in Chapel Hill for graduation in '06, besides going to the ceremonies, Cles was able to get tickets to a basketball game. To see a game in Chapel Hill was an incredible experience.