A former co-worker and true friend dies; my wife is getting new teeth; Joanna is spitting image of my mom

Gail Latham, a true friend not only to me but to everyone who knew her or worked with her, died yesterday from the effects of cancer. I worked alongside Gail for seven years at the Dayton Daily News, and for seven years she was fun, cheerful, diligent and the best co-worker you could ever ask for. Gail covered my butt on so many occasions, catching countless -- and I mean countless -- mistakes that I would miss as a copy editor and proof reader.  I used to jokingly say to Gail: "You're keeping this rag afloat with all the mistakes you catch." But work was no joking matter to Gail. She was fun, but she never made light of the job she had to do. That's why she was so damn good at her profession, and why I had to eventually find another job. People like Gail come along once in a lifetime, and I'm so glad she came into my life, even if it was for only those seven short years. Gail would call me on this cliche, but she would also understand: Gail Latham, you will be truly missed by me and everyone who was lucky enough to know you. God bless.
My great friend John recently lost his sister to a rare disease. I didn't really know John's sister, but I knew she was tough, good-looking, a fighter, and very intelligent. It runs in their family. My condolences to John and his family for their loss, and to Gail's family and many friends.
It's difficult to write about anything else after Gail's death, but I know she would say: C'mon Millman, man up.
So let's focus on family.
First, Phuong is in the process of getting all of her teeth fixed. We took care of her two front teeth a couple of years ago -- she can eat corn on the cob like the rest of us hominids with front teeth. Now we're fixing two molars. It's a little painful for Queen Phuong, but she's so tough that you wouldn't know she's in pain. Phuong had four  permanent teeth pulled out because of cavities when she was a teenager. She was a victim of chocolate, childhood poverty and draconian dental care. Those days are gone for my wife and she'll have a complete set of chompers, caps and all, by next Wednesday. My wife already had one of the most beautiful smiles in the world. Now she'll have the best smile in the world ... after our daughter Joanna, of course.
And speaking of the peanut, Joanna reminds me so much of my mom it's almost scary ... if it wasn't so wonderful. Of course I see lots of family in Joanna's characteristics, but when she concentrates on something, or laughs, or smiles, she looks just like my mom. I think these handed-down traits give many of us solace and comfort as we grow older and approach the big sleep.  I know life is about choices, but those choices are so often made with the cards we are dealt. Sometimes we get dealt a bum hand, but I hope that's not the case with my children. I believe my kids' moms are such quality people that I'm confident my children will make the right choices regardless of the circumstances. Knowledge really is power.
Since I'm no longer employed, I'm helping some friends of Phuong with their English.  I was showing two kids, ages 10 and 13,  how to peel a navel orange. They were dumbfounded and asked why I didn't own a knife. I finished the process, showed them there's no waste at all, and that it's cleaner in the end to eat the little pieces. They agreed and learned something. I will not ridicule these kids because I had no idea how to eat durian, chom chom, bon bon, and dau rong or a bunch of other Vietnamese fruits and vegetables. Now I know thanks to the patience of local Vietnamese people, who love teaching a white monkey a thing or two. So knowledge really is power.