Forgive the large type, I'm unable to change it.
So my son Adam turns 18 this Wed., 2/25. I wanted to do something special for his big milestone, so I contacted one of his best friends (grabbing cell phone numbers from his phone as he slept...very sneaky) and asked her to get 6 or 7 people together for a surprise pizza party at a neighborhood restaurant. Then I invited his dad, my brother and his family, and a few old friends I knew Adam would love to see.
Here I was so worried that nobody would show up...and in walked 20 of his friends! Forget 6 or 7, right?! The word was out and they were there! All very sweet and polite, although the restaurant was less than gracious about it. But it worked out so beautifully and Adam walked in with such a look of shock and happiness on his face, it was all worth it! His dad had bought a huge, beautiful cake that the waitress brought out all lit up and we all sang to Adam who was trying to hide his face but you could see the big smile. It was a good night. Happy Birthday, my Adam John. Where did all the years go? Here's to many, many more.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Beautiful Day!
I just need to take a moment and be thankful for the warm sunny day outside. It seems like it's been a very long, cold winter and it gives me a lot of hope to feel the warmth of the sun. My son Adam's favorite song when he was young was "Here Comes the Sun." Well, here it comes Adam, life is good.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Love Waits
I wrote this after my mom died. I would give everything I have in this world for one more day with her.
It was 1947 in New Jersey when the handsome young sophomore from Seaton Prep first saw the beautiful girl from East Orange High School. If ever there was love at first sight, this was it. Something happened to his heart that day, and he would never be the same again.
His name was William John, “Bill” to his friends and family, and she was named Audrey Ann, known only to the world as Ann. She had always felt the name Audrey was too stiff and formal, although later came to realize how very beautiful the name was, much like the girl herself. Bill was the son of William and Mary Lou Manion, and he had an older sister, Mary Jane, who was quite the popular beauty herself. Ann was the daughter of Tom and Viola Degnen, with an older sister, Dorothy, and a younger brother, Tom. They lived quite close to each other, in a time where the world was a friendlier, more peaceful place to live, and neighbors were always welcome visitors.
And so began the love story of Bill and Ann, my parents. Their love story spanned 58 years, and is one that will never end. Theirs was a deeply real and poignant love, full of that wonderful mix of romance and fun, as well as the key ingredient in the recipe of love - honesty and respect for each other.
When he first saw her, Bill knew he was looking at the woman he would spend his life with. Ann, though, wasn’t nearly as sure. She was quite popular and always busy with her girlfriends, going to school, rushing home to her beautiful mother, Viola, finishing her chores, and getting ready for more fun with the girls. Her cousin, Helene, was her very best friend, and they spent all of their time together, their friendship lasting throughout the years. They would get together with friends to go to the movies, one of Ann’s favorite pastimes, or for trips to the library, window shopping, or just visiting at someone’s home. No matter what they did, there was always a great deal of giggling involved, for my mother loved a good time.
When she accepted her first date with Bill, Ann did not realize he was a bit younger than she was, and he kept that secret. She only knew that he was extremely handsome, and seemed to be quite sweet on her. Often times when Ann would come home after school, Bill would be there, sitting patiently, keeping her mom company while he waited for her. He might have gotten a quick hello along with her dazzling smile, as she kissed her mom and raced upstairs to change. Bill didn’t mind waiting, because he knew she was worth waiting for.
Summertime was Ann’s favorite time of the year, for it meant lots of wonderful trips to the Jersey shore. Years later, the shore was still one of her most favorite places on earth, and she passed her love of the ocean down to many of us. She would plan a weekend beach trip with Helene, getting all of their friends together so they could share the cost of gas and the hotel rooms. She’d be very excited as she told Bill about her plans, always sharing with him where they were all going.
One day as she was in the hotel room getting ready to go to the beach with her friends, the desk clerk called and told Ann she had a visitor. Puzzled, she walked down to the lobby to see who could be calling for her. And there he was, her loving Bill, who followed his heart to see her, not caring for how long, just knowing he had to see that beautiful face again. Being as though she had already made plans with her friends, Ann couldn’t spend much time visiting with him, but always left him happy just to be with her for a little while. Then she’d be off, giving him that smile and wave, as she and her friends raced to the beach like a bubbling wave rolling along the shore.
Bill and Ann became good friends, and dated throughout their high school years. Ann was there with him when he lost his father in a tragic accident, at a very young age. After Ann graduated and began work as a secretary, Bill went on to MIT in Boston, one of the youngest freshman in the school. They always kept in touch, and saw each other as often as possible. And when it came time for Bill to graduate with honors, it was his lovely mother, Mary Lou, who was there…but not Bill! He was on his honeymoon, having married his beautiful sweetheart.
Bill and Ann settled in Connecticut where Bill worked his way up in the world of nuclear engineering, and Ann worked in fashion retail as well as the unending career of motherhood. Their love took on a whole new meaning when the five of us children joined them. Our life together has been one of constant love, a family who has always stayed close to each other, sticking together through life’s many ups and downs.
As I sit here today, I thank God for that handsome young man who so patiently waited for the love of his life to be his. They have been the best parents any child could have, and on to the best grandparents any grandchild could ever have! Their 11th grandchild was born this past December. She came into the world right after our beautiful Ann passed away from it. My sister has named her Annie Viola, after two of the most wonderful women who ever lived. Not having our mom here for the birth of her first child has been very rough on my sister. I told her I truly believe that mom was the first one of us to meet Annie, and they have a bond that will never be broken.
The story of Bill and Ann is a story of love. It’s a story of two people who truly knew the meaning of the word, and lived their lives by it. Because of their incredible love, we also learned how to truly love and care for another, and now live to pass that on to our own children. Love is like that. It waits for each of us to pick it up and make it a part of us, to change our hearts forever, as Bill’s heart was changed forever, the day he first saw Ann.
Now Ann waits for Bill. She waits for him in that beautiful place where love never dies, where we take all of the wonderful feelings and memories of a lifetime with us, where the circle of life continues in eternity...the place where we shall all be together, never again to be without the love that waits.
It was 1947 in New Jersey when the handsome young sophomore from Seaton Prep first saw the beautiful girl from East Orange High School. If ever there was love at first sight, this was it. Something happened to his heart that day, and he would never be the same again.
His name was William John, “Bill” to his friends and family, and she was named Audrey Ann, known only to the world as Ann. She had always felt the name Audrey was too stiff and formal, although later came to realize how very beautiful the name was, much like the girl herself. Bill was the son of William and Mary Lou Manion, and he had an older sister, Mary Jane, who was quite the popular beauty herself. Ann was the daughter of Tom and Viola Degnen, with an older sister, Dorothy, and a younger brother, Tom. They lived quite close to each other, in a time where the world was a friendlier, more peaceful place to live, and neighbors were always welcome visitors.
And so began the love story of Bill and Ann, my parents. Their love story spanned 58 years, and is one that will never end. Theirs was a deeply real and poignant love, full of that wonderful mix of romance and fun, as well as the key ingredient in the recipe of love - honesty and respect for each other.
When he first saw her, Bill knew he was looking at the woman he would spend his life with. Ann, though, wasn’t nearly as sure. She was quite popular and always busy with her girlfriends, going to school, rushing home to her beautiful mother, Viola, finishing her chores, and getting ready for more fun with the girls. Her cousin, Helene, was her very best friend, and they spent all of their time together, their friendship lasting throughout the years. They would get together with friends to go to the movies, one of Ann’s favorite pastimes, or for trips to the library, window shopping, or just visiting at someone’s home. No matter what they did, there was always a great deal of giggling involved, for my mother loved a good time.
When she accepted her first date with Bill, Ann did not realize he was a bit younger than she was, and he kept that secret. She only knew that he was extremely handsome, and seemed to be quite sweet on her. Often times when Ann would come home after school, Bill would be there, sitting patiently, keeping her mom company while he waited for her. He might have gotten a quick hello along with her dazzling smile, as she kissed her mom and raced upstairs to change. Bill didn’t mind waiting, because he knew she was worth waiting for.
Summertime was Ann’s favorite time of the year, for it meant lots of wonderful trips to the Jersey shore. Years later, the shore was still one of her most favorite places on earth, and she passed her love of the ocean down to many of us. She would plan a weekend beach trip with Helene, getting all of their friends together so they could share the cost of gas and the hotel rooms. She’d be very excited as she told Bill about her plans, always sharing with him where they were all going.
One day as she was in the hotel room getting ready to go to the beach with her friends, the desk clerk called and told Ann she had a visitor. Puzzled, she walked down to the lobby to see who could be calling for her. And there he was, her loving Bill, who followed his heart to see her, not caring for how long, just knowing he had to see that beautiful face again. Being as though she had already made plans with her friends, Ann couldn’t spend much time visiting with him, but always left him happy just to be with her for a little while. Then she’d be off, giving him that smile and wave, as she and her friends raced to the beach like a bubbling wave rolling along the shore.
Bill and Ann became good friends, and dated throughout their high school years. Ann was there with him when he lost his father in a tragic accident, at a very young age. After Ann graduated and began work as a secretary, Bill went on to MIT in Boston, one of the youngest freshman in the school. They always kept in touch, and saw each other as often as possible. And when it came time for Bill to graduate with honors, it was his lovely mother, Mary Lou, who was there…but not Bill! He was on his honeymoon, having married his beautiful sweetheart.
Bill and Ann settled in Connecticut where Bill worked his way up in the world of nuclear engineering, and Ann worked in fashion retail as well as the unending career of motherhood. Their love took on a whole new meaning when the five of us children joined them. Our life together has been one of constant love, a family who has always stayed close to each other, sticking together through life’s many ups and downs.
As I sit here today, I thank God for that handsome young man who so patiently waited for the love of his life to be his. They have been the best parents any child could have, and on to the best grandparents any grandchild could ever have! Their 11th grandchild was born this past December. She came into the world right after our beautiful Ann passed away from it. My sister has named her Annie Viola, after two of the most wonderful women who ever lived. Not having our mom here for the birth of her first child has been very rough on my sister. I told her I truly believe that mom was the first one of us to meet Annie, and they have a bond that will never be broken.
The story of Bill and Ann is a story of love. It’s a story of two people who truly knew the meaning of the word, and lived their lives by it. Because of their incredible love, we also learned how to truly love and care for another, and now live to pass that on to our own children. Love is like that. It waits for each of us to pick it up and make it a part of us, to change our hearts forever, as Bill’s heart was changed forever, the day he first saw Ann.
Now Ann waits for Bill. She waits for him in that beautiful place where love never dies, where we take all of the wonderful feelings and memories of a lifetime with us, where the circle of life continues in eternity...the place where we shall all be together, never again to be without the love that waits.
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