Christmas was a little messed up this year, literally and figuratively.
We're preparing to move, so the house is full of boxes and garbage bags and Goodwill donations — not a Christmas decoration in sight. Those are all packed away until next year.
Plus, I had to work. It was my turn.
Then Christmas arrived, and it was difficult to kiss my kids goodbye and leave. I spent much of the drive downtown feeling sorry for myself. Nothing says Christmas like a day at the office.
Then I began to think about John Davis.
J.D. worked for the Record-Eagle for a dozen years or so before moving to Phoenix in the late 1980s. He has written for the Phoenix Gazette and Arizona Republic the past 20 years, covering the NBA's Phoenix Suns (he wrote about Traverse City's Dan Majerle both as a high school player and an NBA player), before taking over the golf beat.
J.D. and I exchange Christmas cards every year and have talked on the phone on occasion, but the last time I saw him was at the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills in the fall of 2004. It's always good to see him — he has a great sense of humor and is quick to help a friend.
He's one of the good guys.
So I was shocked to hear about the kind of year he's had.
First, while he was out of town covering a tournament, a pipe burst in his home and flooded the place so badly that it had to be completely renovated.
Then in August, a week after renovations were completed and just after he had returned home from covering the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, J.D. was struck by pain in his head that was so severe it brought him to his knees.
J.D., 57, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain) that left him hospitalized for weeks. He lost his ability to speak and was left with balance so poor that he had to walk with a cane.
His progress since, however, has been remarkable. In fact, he spent Christmas Day shooting hoops in his driveway and watching NBA games on television.
He may be able to return to work soon.
Best of all, he found out just how many friends he has.
Two weeks ago, the Phoenix golf community put on a fundraiser for J.D., who still requires physical therapy but whose medical insurance has been tapped out.
The PGA arranged to host the event at the TPC Scottsdale, and donations from the likes of Phil Mickelson and Tom Lehman and every major golf manufacturer poured in. It was a sellout.
The goal was to raise $10,000, but the total came to $45,000. So J.D. created a scholarship fund and also donated money to a stroke awareness program "because more people should benefit from it than just me."
He said no matter what he does to help others, however, he will never be able to repay those who helped him.
"It's been overwhelming, unbelievable," he said. "Don't ever take your health for granted. It can be gone in an instant.
"It makes you appreciate every day of your life."
On second thought, this Christmas wasn't such a mess after all.
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