Category Archives: Past Events

Cruising

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It is 2 days after surgery and I am recovering.  Because past experience has proven I am not the greatest hospital patient, I decided to post some photos taken on our recent cruise last month because they bring a smile to my face.

 

 

 

 

 

I will be in ICU for a couple of days and then the recovery begins.  

I appreciate everyone taking the time to stop by, read and leave many wonderful comments.  Due to my surgery and not knowing how I will be feeling; I am disabling the comments on my post today.  I need a few days of recovery and to grow accustom to the new me.  But know soon I will have comments enabled and I will be ready to respond to each one of them. 

HS Memories – the future

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In my post ‘The ball is rolling’, I wrote the following –

As you know, several garage sales took place last year and additional ones are on the calendar for March.  With downsizing from a 3,800 sq. ft. home to a smaller one comes downsizing furniture and possessions.

In today’s post I write the following –

Part of the downsizing taking place is opening boxes in our upstairs storage and going through possessions of long ago.  Some of these possessions I have not viewed in many, many years.  Some items will need to be discarded, as they hold no value as a keepsake.  Other items will be kept a little longer until another day arrives that I will need to find a home for them, whether that be giving to my sons or the trash.  I realize it is difficult to just throw items and memories of long ago away, but not everything can be kept forever.

Image1

Image Provided by: http://www.flickr.com

One item I came across was a book titled ‘memories’, I received specially for my high school senior year to record ideas, impressions, opinions, thoughts and comments.  This book includes personal data; including my senior picture, high school data, senior class data, class schedule, faculty information, clubs – activities – organizations; you get the idea.

I graduated high school in 1979 at the age of 19.  I married my high school sweetheart at age 18, therefore I was married my senior year of high school.

One of the pages in this ‘memories’ book is titled ‘the future’; I want to share with you what I wrote my senior year about what I thought my future would be.

After I graduate I plan to go to night school and take Real Estate courses that I need to sell real estate.  That summer I am also going to work in the day time for my father until I receive my real estate license.  Once I received my license I will be working for my father at his real estate agency.  After I have worked there for about a year my wife and I are going to have a child and start a family and will probably make real estate my career.  I want to have three kids and I have plans for a big house and hope someday that this dream will come true.  In a couple of years I will buy a new car, a Lincoln Continental; yellow and brown with a T-top and every extra thing I can get on it.  Hopefully this dream will come true also.

I laugh when I read what I wrote back in 1979 as most of this never came to be.

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Image Provided by: http://www.flickr.com

I do have my three kids and I do have a big house, but the kids never grew up in the big house and I never had that Lincoln Continental, but instead a pickup truck.  I never received a real estate license and instead worked for many years in the IT industry.

The future I envisioned would soon be replaced with a major depression, attempted suicides and divorce.

Marriage to Us

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In my post ‘But I am not an activist‘, I wrote the following –

That social change last year; was not important to me personally; our thinking was to continue our lives as we had the previous 12 years.  Why change, when the change was not needed in our relationship?

In today’s post, I write the following –

Marriage, Institution, Merger, Alliance, Match, Coupling, Pledging, Association, Union

About.com has an article ‘History of Marriage’ that begins with the following –

Most ancient societies needed a secure environment for the perpetuation of the species, a system of rules to handle the granting of property rights, and the protection of bloodlines. The institution of marriage handled these needs.

The article continues with discussing different varieties of marriage; marriage during different periods of history and concludes with the following –

Many people hold the view that regardless of how people enter into matrimony, marriage is a bond between two people that involves responsibility and legalities, as well as commitment and challenge. That concept of marriage hasn’t changed through the ages.

November of last year – it is several months since my week’s occurrence with my body.  I just found out my health insurance is cancelled related to nothing to do with me.  My health insurance is through the Healthcare Marketplace and there was a communication error between them and my health insurance company.  I now will need to wait until the first of the year because this issue will not be corrected by December 31.  I also find out my insurance premiums will be increasing substantially the next year.  With the already high deductible plan, the cost to me will be significant if I do have a serious illness taking place within my body.

So the partner at the time performs some research and what he thought was not possible is actually possible.  I am sitting outside and he approaches me and says “We should get married; I can have you on my insurance.”  “Really?”, I responded.  And that was the proposal.

In my post ‘But I am not an activist‘, I concluded with the following –

Then came a time, an event, an occurrence where this social change would benefit us.  But I am not an activist – I live my life trying to be the best person I can be and to be an example for others.

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Image Provided by: Spearfruit.com

In today’s post, I conclude with the following –

That day with that proposal, we decided to become married.  He did not have to marry me and I did not ask him to, but he did.  As a result my health care is considerably less in cost than what it could have been.

We became married due to the benefits of marriage.  Marriage is a piece of paper that brings benefits for those that have entered this agreement.  But ultimately it was the responsibility and commitment of our love and desire to be together for always that brought marriage to us.

 

HS Memories – those who inspired

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In my post ‘The ball is rolling’, I wrote the following –

As you know, several garage sales took place last year and additional ones are on the calendar for March.  With downsizing from a 3,800 sq. ft. home to a smaller one comes downsizing furniture and possessions.

In today’s post I write the following –

Part of the downsizing taking place is opening boxes in our upstairs storage and going through possessions of long ago.  Some of these possessions I have not viewed in many, many years.  Some items will need to be discarded, as they hold no value as a keepsake.  Other items will be kept a little longer until another day arrives that I will need to find a home for them, whether that be giving to my sons or the trash.  I realize it is difficult to just throw items and memories of long ago away, but not everything can be kept forever.

One item I came across was a book titled ‘memories’, I received specially for my high school senior year to record ideas, impressions, opinions, thoughts and comments.  This book includes personal data; including my senior picture, high school data, senior class data, class schedule, faculty information, clubs – activities – organizations; you get the idea.

I graduated high school in 1979 at the age of 19.  I married my high school sweetheart at age 18, therefore I was married my senior year of high school.

One of the pages in this ‘memories’ book is titled ‘those who inspired’; I thought I would share with you what I wrote my senior year of high school about those who inspired me back in 1979.

The people who mostly inspired me were my parents, mostly my mother.  I wanted to quit school but she did not want me to.  I am glad she did not want me to quit.  My band director Mr. W. inspired me; I owe him a great deal.

Today I write the following –

I have written several past posts how I feel about my mom.  As you can see from the above words written back in 1979, she was and still is a very important person in my life.  You can read more about my mom in these posts ‘Thanks Mom!‘, ‘Magnificent‘, ‘Happy Birthday Mom‘.  My mom has played an important role in my life and always will.  My senior year of high school was not easy, I was married and it was financially difficult at times for my then wife and me.  But my mom told me to never give up, work hard and everything would work out.  She was right!

You can read more about my band director in this post ‘My High School Band Director‘.  This is the only teacher I had that took time to help me be the best I could be.  He gave me opportunities and pushed me to be a better musician and a better leader.

I am thankful for these people and later in my life there would be others that would inspire me along the way.

In the future I will post about a few other odds & ends.

These past 6 Years

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2010; my husband and I both are working as we had done for most of the previous decade.  The usual routines and activities are taking place and life is good.   We discussed retiring early and what it was we wanted to do with the rest of our lives.  But where would we retire to?  And what year would we retire?  These questions of where and when would start to be explored this year.

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Image Provided by: positivesharing.com

2010; many trips to another state within the US would take place to view many homes in many different locations.  With the housing market bubble bursting in 2006, our area was not hit as hard.  We decided we could sell and make a profit and buy another home in an area where the market was hit hard.  The current home would be put on the market for a short period of time and with no new home in a new location found, it just was not the right time.  The current home was taken off the market and the planning for the future retirement ended for a while and the wait and see was to take place for a couple more years.

Mexico beach background

Image Provided by: http://www.pesa.com.au

2012; a trip was made to Mexico; where homes were viewed in different locations.  It was an exciting idea to think about living in this country.  Some of our criteria would be met living in Mexico, but the excitement of living in Mexico was short lived.  Though it was an informative visit, the results were not to our liking in regards to the housing available to us and the expectations we had at that time.  It was back to the routine until the next destination was determined.

2014; a trip was made to Costa Rica; where homes were viewed in different locations.  Once again, it was exciting to think about living in this country.  Some of our criteria and expectations would be met and the trip was very helpful in determining if Costa Rica would be a good fit.  Once again, the cons outweighed the pros and it was back to the routine back home until the next destination was determined.

2015; a trip was made to another area in Mexico; this area was more exciting and met more of our expectations.  This trip unlike the previous trips, we were already retired, not working and ready to make a move.  Different locations were visited and many homes were viewed and excitement grew with each visit.  A new home was found and an offer was placed; but it fell through and it was not meant to be.  We arrived back home to contemplate the next step in our desire to locate the next location in our next chapter of our lives.

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Image Provided by: thebraincandypodcast.com

2015; several trips were made to another state within the US to view many homes in many different locations.  This is the same state visited in 2010 – but this time it was different.  We had different reasons and different criteria for moving.

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Image Provided by: http://www.frenchodare.com

2016: plans are in motion for the current home to place on the market in a month’s time.  Another trip is planned in a few weeks to view and find our future home.

HS Memories – fads & fashions

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In my post ‘The ball is rolling’, I wrote the following –

As you know, several garage sales took place last year and additional ones are on the calendar for March.  With downsizing from a 3,800 sq. ft. home to a smaller one comes downsizing furniture and possessions.

In today’s post I write the following –

Part of the downsizing taking place is opening boxes in our upstairs storage and going through possessions of long ago.  Some of these possessions I have not viewed in many, many years.  Some items will need to be discarded, as they hold no value as a keepsake.  Other items will be kept a little longer until another day arrives that I will need to find a home for them, whether that be giving to my sons or the trash.  I realize it is difficult to just throw items and memories of long ago away, but not everything can be kept forever.

One item I came across was a book titled ‘memories’, I received specially for my high school senior year to record ideas, impressions, opinions, thoughts and comments.  This book includes personal data; including my senior picture, high school data, senior class data, class schedule, faculty information, clubs – activities – organizations; you get the idea.

I graduated high school in 1979 at the age of 19.  I married my high school sweetheart at age 18, therefore I was married my senior year of high school.

One of the pages in this ‘memories’ book is titled ‘fads and fashions’; I thought I would share with you what I wrote my senior year of high school about the fads and fashions  during my high school years 1976 – 1979.

Some of the latest fashions are for guys, mostly blue jeans and a regular t-shirt.  Many people wear terry cloth shirts.  Many people do not wear belts when they wear a tucked in shirt.  During the warm months many people wear thongs (this would be flip-flops – not underwear).  Girls wear very nice clothes; their dresses come a little below their knees, and they wear high spiked heel shoes.  There are many different hair styles.  There are a lot of people wearing their hair in a fro.  It is all curly everywhere.  A lot of guys have their hair parted in the middle and feathered back on the sides.  There are many girls who wear their hair like this also.

When I viewed my high school year book – what I described in my previous paragraph seem to be accurate.  Honestly I could not find images on the web that best fit this.  Instead here are similar images from the 1970s –

Image1

Image Provided by social.popsugar.com

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Image2 Image Provided by http://www.pinterest.com

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Image Provided by: http://www.pinterest.com

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Interesting how the clothes and hair styles have changed over the years and how some of these styles are making a little comeback in today’s society.

In the future I will post about a few other odds & ends.

 

Relationship Built on Commitment

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In my post ‘Oh Too Many Relationships‘, I wrote the following –

These other people in my life at that time lied to me, belittled me and cheated on me.  My insecurities grew, my self-esteem lowered and I became controlling in that I had to know what the other person was doing all the time, so that I may feel and know they are being true.  I expected the phone calls and I expected a full time relationship – I expected the relationship to be a priority.

With the insecurities, the low self-esteem, the controlling brought weakness, fear and jealousy.

In my post ‘Love Emails‘, I ended with the following –

Like school kids passing love notes in class, the emails were filled with words of excitement, joy and happiness to the new person that had entered into their lives.  Is it difficult for you to understand that yes, two men can love one another, can bring happiness and joy to one another and continue lives together as a couple as a unit and as a family.

Loves in the air –

In today’s post, I write the following –

We moved in together a little over 6 months after meeting.  It was Halloween the day the papers were signed on the new house we would call home for the next 13+ years.  He had never been in a long term relationship and me taking several years off; we were ready to start our lives together.  There were some difficulties with starting the new relationship; having only known each other for 6 months, did we really know each other?

Though my last relationship ended 3 years earlier, I continued to have my insecurities which resulted in the weakness, fear and jealousy.

My then partner worked 7 days on, and then was off for 7 days.  Just moving into our new home, and him bringing many household items, meant he was preparing the home – while I was working.  I became jealous feeling left out and unimportant.  I begin to question the relationship; am I being taken advantage of?  This happened in the past, will it happen again?  Will he hurt me?  I need to give him the opportunity to show me how much he cares.

The anxiety grew and the emotions became overwhelming at times.  Was I losing control again of myself; my thoughts and emotions?  All the years of depression and despair scare me; will they come back again?  Will I live up to his expectations, what if he cheats on me like the others did?  I do not want to feel that pain again.  Feelings of rejection, of insignificance, that somehow I am responsible for other’s actions because of my inadequacies.

The first several months and into the next year, struggles would take place and communication skills would improve.  Over the years I gained trust and discovered a genuine man, who loves me for who I am.

Has this relationship developed into a perfect relationship – no – but it is one built on commitment – built on love – for the rest of our lives together.

 

 

HS Memories – top events of the years

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In my post ‘The ball is rolling’, I wrote the following –

As you know, several garage sales took place last year and additional ones are on the calendar for March.  With downsizing from a 3,800 sq. ft. home to a smaller one comes downsizing furniture and possessions.

In today’s post I write the following –

Part of the downsizing taking place is opening boxes in our upstairs storage and going through possessions of long ago.  Some of these possessions I have not viewed in many, many years.  Some items will need to be discarded, as they hold no value as a keepsake.  Other items will be kept a little longer until another day arrives that I will need to find a home for them, whether that be giving to my sons or the trash.  I realize it is difficult to just throw items and memories of long ago away, but not everything can be kept forever.

One item I came across was a book titled ‘memories’, I received specially for my high school senior year to record ideas, impressions, opinions, thoughts and comments.  This book includes personal data; including my senior picture, high school data, senior class data, class schedule, faculty information, clubs – activities – organizations; you get the idea.

I graduated high school in 1979 at the age of 19.  I married my high school sweetheart at age 18, therefore I was married my senior year of high school.

One of the pages in this ‘memories’ book is titled ‘great events of our years’; I thought I would share with you some great events that occurred during my high school years 1976 – 1979.

Great events –

President Gerald Ford came to our city to celebrate the opening of a local museum.

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Image Provided by: http://www.fggam.org

The Concord made a stop to our local city airport.

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Image Provided by: http://www.airliners.net

In Jonestown, 900 people killed themselves.

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Image Provided by: http://www.scoopnest.com

We are having a gas shortage and gasoline is very high in price.

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Image Provided by: americainthe70s.blogspot.com

 

Interesting to revisit and see the news headlines and other great events of that time.

In the future I will post about fads & fashions and a few other odds & ends.

Love Emails

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Love is in the air –

In my post ‘The Hit – The Last Chapter‘, I ended with the following –

In my eyes he is a hit to me, the greatest person to come into my life and this is the last chapter of many in this life I have lived.  Whether this last chapter is short or long, I am fortunate to be sharing it with the love of my life.

In today’s post, I write the following –

Like school kids passing love notes in class, the emails were filled with words of excitement, joy and happiness of the new person that had entered into their lives.  Is it difficult for you to understand that yes, two men can love one another, can bring happiness and joy to one another and continue lives together as a couple as a unit and as a family.

The emails early in the relationship described the beginning stage – the attraction stage – the honeymoon stage.  How could two men in their 40s act like school kids just figuring out what love is?  Why would this happen later in their lives, to start a new relationship that in its self was new and refreshing.

The emails early in the relationship described the excitement of meeting someone new, someone they have been waiting for, someone they unexpectedly found, someone who unexpectedly found them.  Can it be two men can find each other later in their lives to share their lives forever until the end?

The emails early in the relationship described this to be the truth, yes love was found and love was in the air for these two men who were not necessarily looking for it, but it found them.  But would anyone else understand this relationship these two men share?

The emails early in the relationship described the feelings that were deepening with each passing day and like the school kids passing love notes in class, the love emails were full of emotions and feelings expressed by these two men, that were once alone and living their separate lives.

The emails early in the relationship described the happiness of 5 months, and could it be these two men would move forward to the next step?  How could this be, that two men would come together later in their lives and continue to move forward?  How can anyone understand the importance of this relationship?

Like school kids passing love notes in class, the emails were filled with words of excitement, joy and happiness of the new person that had entered into their lives.  Is it difficult for you to understand that yes, two men can love one another, can bring happiness and joy to one another and continue lives together as a couple as a unit and as a family.

Love is in the air –

HS Memories – top entertainment

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In my post ‘HS Senior Year Memories’, I wrote the following –

Part of the downsizing taking place is opening boxes in our upstairs storage and going through possessions of long ago.  Some of these possessions I have not viewed in many, many years.  Some items will need to be discarded, as they hold no value as a keepsake.  Other items will be kept a little longer until another day arrives that I will need to find a home for them, whether that be giving to my sons or the trash.  I realize it is difficult to just throw items and memories of long ago away, but not everything can be kept forever.

One item I came across was a book titled ‘memories’, I received specially for my high school senior year to record ideas, impressions, opinions, thoughts and comments.  This book includes personal data; including my senior picture, high school data, senior class data, class schedule, faculty information, clubs – activities – organizations; you get the idea.

I graduated high school in 1979 at the age of 19.  I married my high school sweetheart at age 18, therefore I was married my senior year of high school.

In today’s post I write the following –

One of the pages in this ‘memories’ book is titled ‘top entertainment’; I thought I would share with you some top entertainment back in 1979.

Top singers –

Donna Summer: She was popular during this time – remember disco was taking place in the late 1970s

Barry Manilow: I like Barry and his music

Rita Coolidge: Do you remember this singer

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Image Provided by: http://www.tumblr.com

Top songs –

Last Dance & Heaven Knows: Donna Summer sung these

Your Love is Lifting Me Higher: A song by Rita Coolidge

Hopelessly Devoted to You: Who can forget this song by Olivia Newton John

Top performers who had concerts in my area –

Rita Coolidge and Chris Christopherson: Yes they performed together; Chris is not one of my favorite singers

Doobie Brothers: ‘What A Fool Believes’ was popular in 1979

England Dan and John Ford Coley: ‘Love is the Answer’ a popular song in the 70s

Charlie Pride: ‘Help Me Make it Through the Night’ was a popular song

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Image Provided by: http://www.allmusic.com

Top movies –

Grease: did you see the live version several weeks ago on network television – I thought it was good

Saturday Night Fever: Classic

Ice Castles:  This movie will make you cry

Towering Inferno: This was a good movie for its time

Other Side of the Mountain: This movie was released in 1975

Thank God it’s Friday: A movie related to disco

Chicken Chronicles: This movie starred Steve Guttenberg

Foul Play: Who can forget Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn – I miss those 2 together

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Image Provided by: http://www.amazon.com

Top TV programs –

Real People: Reality TV program in the 1970s, yes reality TV was around back then

Vegas: This starred Robert Urich, who remembers him

Charlie’s Angels: Everyone knows this TV program

The Incredible Hulk: The program starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno

Fantasy Island: “Da plane! Da plane!”

Love Boat: I miss captain Stubing, doctor Briker, the bartender Isaac, Gopher, Julie and Vicki

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Image Provided by: pro-labs.imdb.com

Interesting how times change regarding top entertainment.

In the future I will post about fads & fashions, events of the years, and a few other odds & ends.