October 1982

In October of 1982, with a beautifully relaxed perm, Our wedding would take place on the most beautiful Indian Summer day in Chicago.  I was ecstatic to have the wreath fit on my head with little to no obstruction to my hair.  I did my own nails, I did my own hair.  At the ages of 24 and 25, Mark and I thought we had the maturity of a much older couple.    I was woman of the world, street smart, experienced in life and death, mortgages and jobs and bossing around my little brother.
Because we were paying for everything ourselves, we over extended our budget; probably because we had no budget.  And while on a date with a former boyfriend, I came upon our wedding band, As You Like It.  A male and female lead singers.  They were great particularly after I personally made onlookers leave my reception.  The cake was from the old neighborhood, the cookies from my mother's old neighborhood.  Not to mention my dearest friend, also from the old neighborhood.  We did a great job, Mark and I, what a team.
Uncle Charlie could not be more proud of his baby sister's oldest daughter.  I was so touched to have him walk me down the aisle and dance cheek to cheek.  But the love came from Uncle Art, Uncle Frank, and for as long as I can remember.....Uncles, Uncles, Uncles.
I need not mention my own siblings for my little brother drank any drink that was put down by others but only following his wedding duties, which was cool.  And my sister took full advantage of socializing as though this "party" was for her or rather a continuation of the night before in which she played in the hallway until wee hours keeping everyone up.  Perhaps she was excited to see the some friend that escaped an institution barefoot....still barefoot in the hall outside my room.
My baby sister-in-law, however, was the backbone of the day.  She followed up, followed through, notified and answered questions.  Fortunately the help that I so necessarily needed dwindled off just in time for her to be corrupted by her cousins with rum and coke.
We had a great day, we were in love, we were oblivious, we were inebriated and we had to leave on a 7am flight for the Bahamas.  30 years.
This anniversary was celebrated in downtown Dallas, for we feel at home here.  My pearls were the perfect gift.  Our dinner was just OK.  Too bad Wolf Gang Puck, you do not compare to an Italian wedding in Chicago.

September 2012, lets not delve

Amsterdam, New York, Costa Rica and Boston
Great cities, great countries, very nice trips.
Everyone in the family got to go and enjoy
while I stayed in Irving, it was hot, it was the pits

I am the one that should be traveling ,
because everyone's life is so demanding.
Yet their schedules take priority,
and I'm the one that's left standing.

Does it count if I'm consumed with
the care of two dogs,
It shouldn't, it doesn't even if it involves
the yard frogs.

Live life to it's fullest it s great lesson.
I don't think I've given my kids that one.
But they enjoy and we are happy..
when it's all said and done.

August is the Longest....

That's right, August was really a month of roughing it.  I experienced the longest commute from lovely Waterbury, CT to Rockville Centre, Long Island.  I should have known this commute was not good when Mom would not leave me at the train station until the train came.  I'm thinking, why?  Am I not safe??  Oh no, "it's ok".  I know that phrase, it's the same in every language, "it's ok" means nothing, everyone in Italy says it and it means nothing, I say it when I want to divert a conversation, or calm a situation down, it means nothing.  Therefore, I was afraid to wait for the train.

Train, what train.  It's broken, get on a bus but you have to wait in line in the rain with your luggage and/or baby, for the train conductor to take your money for a bus ride to another lovely town called Bridgeport.

From there, let's hope you can FIT on the train with a roller board and go to a little station called Grand Central, where I miraculously changed trains within 3 minutes.  Where was my limo???   Where was my driver???  Where is my husband???  Working???  Where was his assistant????  I'll tell you......waiting in line in the rain to get on a bus vs a train.

Trains, Planes, Buses, Automobiles, vans, taxis, bikes......and tricycles!!  

July, Networking, Oh My.

New York!!!   Successful in that Mark will now be working again for such a great friend and company in which we both have had the utmost respect.  Such networking began in Mark's JFK days in which his guidance as the Airline Director helped those third party providers do a better job.  Mark's version of a good job superior.  It's a seamless (Mark's word) transition.

DFW, Irving, Texas will be base to the corporate regional office of Airway, LLC. By that, it is Garrett and Mark.  They have privy to an awesome office atmosphere that is the direct result of networking with persons that turn into close friends.

It's amazes me that Mark and I have certainly enjoyed networking with those that live and/or come from New York, Chicago.....Um.....EAST.  That networking has given us the most gracious and important friends.  When you cross the line into friendship, it's BA DA Bing,   Friends for life.  And in this case business partnerships have formed and will be mutually beneficial to a few "retired aged" men and their next generation.

Wait....that was not the mention in which I wanted to reference networking. .......Many, many lunches, dinners, office visits have ignited business right out-a the gate.

In the mean time The MOB, me, Mother of Burton or Bear, is dying of heat in Texas, so sure!!!!  I'll go to Connecticut and then Watch Hill, RI and stay in a *beach house only to have no relief to hot weather.  But wait, let's go to another *beach house in Jones Beach for a weekend.  With the celebration of our nephew graduating from Notre Dame, it was a hot month.

*beach house = dwelling close to the ocean; usually utilized during summer months yet does not have air conditioning.  those with the love of damp, sticky, relaxation may enjoy.

The bond of loooove

So as Mark's retirement date approaches, so did his transition in health and dental insurance.  Hence a few appointments before our high deductible got higher.  I made appointments together.......eye appointments and dental cleaning appointments and if the appointments were not together we just joined each other on our appointments.

Sometimes, we retired people can do things efficiently, like drop me off for a medical appointment because the doctor's office was on the way to the Sprint store.  Perfect togetherness.  We actually held off going to the frame store, home depot and bed bath and beyond (we are very busy), so that we can spread these things out and have things to do.

I have since purchased a matching desk chair so we can be on the computer side by side.  Yes,  and together we will be checking our blood pressure.    For some weird reason, mine needs to be watched right now.   Nev-va had THIS problem before.  Hmmmmmm.

Together we will be traveling to New York and we will always be together if  the trip to NYC doesn't result in some form of business or work.  I pity the person that prevents Mark from sitting with me on a flight.  The togetherness will be our life from this point on.

June was fun and we also had togetherness with Mom, Stephanie and Michael, Garrett and Jenny, for they all were able to be here for Mark's retirement which is a good thing because about 80 people (from AA) did not make it in during the wildest... yet timely storm.  Speeches were great, people LOVE Mark and I bet they wish they had the togetherness reserved just for me, but they do not.  He got presents, plaques, money, kisses, hugs, and many accolades.

To close the month, we were able to see Joe, Li, and Dean in NYC along with great friends and a great dinner in Tribeca.  Let LIFE begin!