David Neal:  

Life My Spouse She worked at the same law firm as a good friend/neighbor of mine. Friend gave me her number and, it turned out, she lived in the twin high rise apartment building to my own. We met at her place. I shook her hand, stepped past her and played with her cats for several minutes. Then, we strolled over to a nearby favorite bar and talked for hours. We still live in the South Beach part of Miami Beach, in one of twin high rise condos close to the apartments we lived in when we met. I'm lucky in that this wonderful woman came with wonderful in-laws (they ARE Helen and Morty Seinfeld) who think I'm pretty cool. My Daughter Natalya Beth Neal was born on April 2, 2005, 6 pounds, 11 ounces, 19 inches long. Appropriate for us (we adopted her right out of the box, so to speak), she's a similar ethnic mix to my wife. The first night, I had the 3:30 a.m. to baby nurse arrival (9 a.m. or so) shift. When I burped her, I was never so happy that someone spit up on me. Almost three years later, she's walking and running all over the place, spreading her sunny personality and exhausting whatever adult takes her to the park. She's a little celebrity. My wife and I are amazed that I've lived in this neighborhood 18 years, and have some D-list level of local fame via my job, but it's Natalya that's more widely known 'round the neighborhood. The last time I was in a nightclub, a woman I didn't know actually said to me, "You're Natalya's father, right?" My Pets Kismet and Camelot were my wife's cats since they were born in 1986. Both were terribly friendly, loyal and loving. Camelot died in October 2002. Kismet died in March 2003. After a small mourning period, we got three new kitties -- Tabitha, Caruso and Jake. Tabitha, a gray tabby who could be Kismet's daughter in looks and manner, is sort of an alpha female; Jake is half Siamese, big, not that bright and the best natured kitty I've ever seen; Caruso, an orange Hemmingway with an extra toe on each foot who loved his Daddy, had to be put to sleep last summer. His ashes sit in his favorite spot, on the desk, just behind my laptop. My Job I'm a sports writer for the Miami Herald. My beat for 11 years was the Florida Panthers National Hockey League team. I traveled about (American Airlines Platinum 8 of last 9 years), covering them from training camp in September until their season ends. Even if the Panthers weren't in the Stanley Cup Final, I would cover that and the NHL Draft. I compiled frequent flier miles and hotel points like Bill Gates compiles compound interest. Made doing Europe in the summer cheap. Now, I'm more an NFL writer during the fall and winter and occasional general sports columnist. Pike, past and present No shock in running into several Pike grads during my four years at IU. Much greater shock in a Pike '86 grad being in the same Herald satellite office for a few months back in 1991. As with most of us, my high school contacts faded the deepe...Expand for more