This is Dedicated to..... Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, in real life 40 years ago this week a young girl of 19 was preparing to get married. She would be marrying her 21-year-old fiancé. They were young and in love and had known each other for about 19 months. The wedding was planned, the date was set after their April engagement. It would be Thanksgiving weekend so his college friends would be able to join them on the long Holiday break.

Celebrating, the love of my life and a lifetime, this week. Forty years ago November 30, 1974, Rich and I got married before God, family and friends. We were young and carefree. Youth is beautiful and wonderful you just don't know where you're headed and you go into it so blindly and accepting.  We were married in Newport Beach by the back bay. The California native and the cute guy from New Jersey said I do! Not sure many people in attendance thought it would last, we were so young, naive and inexperienced.  No doubt we were truly in LOVE. 

As I read my words just about every emotion goes through my heart and soul that is in the dictionary.

To love someone so much, yet they could make your blood boil. To feel such joy together and yet bring tears to each other eyes.  To look at each other after the boys where in college and say hello, I remember you and I love you more now than ever before.  We lived, we loved, we experienced every bump and joy in the road of life.

Anniversaries, were always important to us, more than Holidays and Birthdays.  It was about "us" "TWO-gether" and even if it was dinner locally in Newport Beach, a trip to Vegas or our 27th which we celebrated on the oncology ward at Hoag Hospital, the day after the Lymphoma diagnoses. We celebrated! Even though we were scheduled to be in the Grand Cayman for the 27th, friends showed up, we put a Hawaiian shirt over Rich's hospital gown and we celebrated with champagne and songs from a boom box someone brought to the hospital. and many years later....  We did that trip to Grand Cayman.

Roses, yellow, white, red, pink... It was tradition.  They always showed up for me at work, home or where ever life found us celebrating.

Wow I was living my "Once Upon a Time", and never realized it at the time.  Would I change anything in the past 40 years.  Only that Rich would be here on earth to celebrate this marriage milestone with me!

Live your Once Upon a Time, every day in real life... some day your prince or princess could ride away on that white horse into eternity.  My day will come and when Jesus says Jackie, its time to close up Hyland's Island,  Rich will be waiting in one of his colorful hawaiian shirts at those famous gates and we will walk holding hands and a Mai Tai in the other hand  "TWO-gether" into eternity!

I love you Rich, I miss you and I thank you...  40 years... Wow!

To all our friends, family and associates thank you for being there for the moments that added up to 40 years. Rich, will always be in our hearts, with every Hawaiian shirt, glass of wine, Jimmy Buffett song and sunset.  

November 2007 Rich treating  getting ready before the 1st bone marrow in 2008

This is dedicated to Once Upon a time...

Road Trip. Paso Robles

Irvine to Paso Robles....  Here we go! Kathi and I are off for a weekend adventure to the beautiful central coast and Paso area.  The drive up was a 9.5, traffic cooperated and we left at 1:45 in the afternoon Thursday and didn't know what to expect (so nice when freeways actually move like they are supposed to- seeing our tax dollar at work).  We were past LAX 45 minutes later. So far so good. A couple of mandatory stops, amazing ocean views and a sunset from the car.  And the nightcap the full harvest moon rising over the hills of the central coast.

Beautiful Friday morning here in Paso no clouds, clear skies.  Great day for us to play and do some wine tasting... imagine that.  Ryan started the day off for us with an amazing breakfast.  So we are fueled up and good to go.   And then there is this... Max

Have a great day of love and laughter.  Wine reports to follow ......  

Hello November

Saying good bye to October on Halloween night.  Great time with friends, family great chili (made by me...I surprised myself it was so delightful), candy and maybe just one or two Jell-O shots when an Elsa went by.   I live in the best neighborhood for Halloween we must get 1,000 people.  All ages and some you can't identify, like these folks.  I can really appreciate the time and effort they put into their Halloween costumes.

Bye bye October and Hello November.  Even the weather here in California finally feels like fall.

November, has to be one of my favorite months.  It holds so many memories of my life in its 30 days, over the past 40 years.  Yes, it is the month 40 years ago Rich and I tied the matrimonial knot. Thanksgiving, my personal favorite holiday and in my experience it can have some of the best weather, and if your lucky enough to be at the beach sunsets can be dazzling. Hello November and welcome. 

Looking forward to counting my blessings every single day this month and enjoying you (November) to the fullest.  Life may not look how "Jackie", expected it to look at this time of her life.... But it is a very awesome life, filled with challenges, and blessings.  Thank you Jesus.  

Hope everyone out there has not just an amazing day but, a super amazing month.