The Ray Family Donation

Thanks to the entire Ray family—Shawn, Kristie, Asia Monet and Bella Blu—Jon Lindsay and I had a great dinner Thursday night at the Cheesecake Factory in Brentwood. Courtesy of the $50 gift card they presented me with for Christmas.

If Jag didn’t end the evening with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, the contribution would have covered both of our lemon herb chicken dinners and a drink (coffee and water for Lindsay; diet Pepsi for me). But, certainly close enough, and for that we are thankful. “First time in 20 years I got money out of Shawn Ray,” Lindsay joked. At least, I think he was kidding. Shawn didn’t get my moniker of “Jack Benny” for his spending habits. At least on me.

And, with my birthday less than 3 weeks away (February 16, the same day as Shawn’s mom, Yvonne Stribling) there’s certainly more to come. Last year it was a $75 gift card for the Yard House; Shawn, Kristie and Asia Money came out my way (Bella was Blu because she was too young to come, too), and we dined at the celebrated eatery at the Paseo Colorado in Pasadena.

Don’t know about you, but a meal always feels better to me when somebody else is paying for it. At least that’s the credo Shawn has gone by for the 25 years I’ve known him.

On the subject of Yvonne, the 71-year-old had a stoke two weeks ago, and spent 12 days in the hospital. Fortunately, she’s back recuperating at her Walnut home and, Shawn reports, has given up smoking as well as incorporating a new, sound nutritional diet regimen. Now, if she can get Shawn to follow the same eating format.