On a recent Friday afternoon, my wife, Kristen, and I were going to lunch and asked our younger son, Jackson — home from college on winter break — if he wanted to join us. Of course, he did; he knew he wasn’t buying. I told him to select a restaurant, and he offered, “How about Jaya’s?” That received positive affirmation all the way around; our family has been fans of Jaya’s Authentic Foods for years. Boy, were we surprised to see a note on the door saying it was the iconic, 45-year-old restaurant’s last day. Jaya’s seemed like the place that would be serving up chop chae and hot tea forever, a great spot to convene for business, board meetings, or with friends in one of the oversized booths. Jaya Dodd told Evansville Living in an interview for the January/February 2025 issue that she was considering retirement. On Dec. 31, the doors closed for good. We all know that change is inevitable, but it still saddens me that a local go-to place to relax and enjoy great food has served its last meal.
The Tucker family piano certainly never produced the sound of a Chopin concerto, but it has been sentimental to me all the same. Purchased approximately 58 years ago, it is a Wurlitzer upright that I have had a love-hate relationship with. When you are 10 and your buddies are waiting outside to play ball with you, 45 minutes of practice seems like an eternity.
Of course, as a school teacher, my mother used to time my practices. I do not know if she ever caught onto me constantly and aggressively sneaking into the kitchen to move the timer up. My sister, Tracee, made me look bad — that was not hard to do — by practicing like she was supposed to, without all the complaining and shenanigans. One of the great moments of my life was my mother saying, “OK … you can quit piano lessons.” No argument from me or the piano teacher.
She kept the piano for many years before pawning it off — I mean, graciously gifting it — to Kristen and me. It has resided in our house now for approximately 10 years. No one plays it, and it is impossible to get another photo frame displayed on it. I have spent two years making every inquiry imaginable to schools, churches, friends, etc. The bottom line is that no one wants a piano. I finally came to the realization that it was going to be chopped up and sent to the landfill. But I could not do it. My elder son, Maxwell, and his girlfriend, Meghan, have given the piano a stay of execution, and it will be released to their home in Indianapolis. Now, I wonder who will learn the art of moving a piano?
I love that piano. I hate that piano.
I can only hope that my fellow Hoosiers enjoyed this football season as much as — or even more than — I did. I truly believe that Head Coach Curt Cignetti’s very improbable rise to a 16-0 season and national championship win rivals any coaching feat or sports story. When he took the microphone in fall 2023 at Assembly Hall and introduced himself with gusto and bravado, I initially thought it was just that.
In early January, I had the opportunity to take my son, Jackson, to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. The pride of Indiana fans and alumni was incredible. What once seemed improbable became fact, not fiction, with the national championship win over Miami on Jan. 19. Since then, I believe the majority of Hoosiers have had an extra bounce in their step, with their heads held high.
Thank you, Indiana University football, for an absolutely thrilling season. If you didn’t learn a few life lessons along the way, you weren’t paying attention.
Beginning on page 26, “Rough Edges?” addresses the EDGE of the Lakes development in Boonville — namely why, more than two years after it was first announced, plans haven’t been finalized and construction hasn’t started. Senior Writer John Martin unearthed even more questions regarding the project than I had before — and I had a lot. Calls and emails haven’t been returned, a whole new cast of players is involved, no property has changed hands, and none of the development’s leaders is willing to discuss, really, anything. What will it take to move the needle forward? Is there a needle?
As always, I look forward to hearing from most of you.
