Where shall I begin? Of course–my parents. Ralph Stanford and Alice Tubaugh. They were married when he was only twenty-one and she, nineteen, in 1925. Later, I will regale you with their stories.
Tom, my husband of fifty-six years who passed away on 9/9/09. I have tried to remember him in much of my poetry, but I will always remember him in my heart.
Our wonderful children, Michael, Mark, Matthew and Megan. They are our pride and joy and never fail to amaze us. I won’t divulge their ages, for like mine, age is just a number. ( I don’t know who came up with that quote, but I”d like to throttle him/her.) Truth be told. we begin dying from the second we’re born. (My son-in-law, Dr. Paul ruined my day when he divulged that fact!) I have been blessed with the best of daughters-in law: Anne, Mark’s wife, and Mary Beth, Mike’s wife. My ‘never-could-do-anything-wrong grandchildren: Mark, Tom, Graham, Robin, Brian. Paige, Patty and Paul, and of course, my ‘other’ super grandchildren–even if we’re not joined by blood: Avis, Kris, Amanda and Emily.
Mark Jr., Tom, Robin, Avis, and Amanda have already graduated from their respective colleges. Graham is in Med School. Brian, Paige, Patty and Emily are still in college. Kris is Executive Chef for McCormick Schmidt in Texas, having graduated from the C.I.A., and Paul Jr., will be headed for college in a year.
And now–my first grandchild has married. Mark Jr., to a most wonderful girl–Jessica! Their spendiforous wedding took place in New Orleans and an unbelievable time was had by all of us. Graham, Mark’s brother, will be married this coming August 4th to Katherine.
Relatives, too many to mention; my brother, of course and most are on the ‘other side of the grass’ with the exception of my sweet friend, Lyndal, who was married to my cousin, Dave. Since he passed away, she has enjoyed many wonderful years with her second husband, Jerry. Tom’s brothers, all gone but Jim, and my sisters-in-law Pat and Becky who have been so kind to ne.
I have childhood friends, some still on this side of the grass; some I haven’t seen in over seventy years, but I remember them well: Patricia, Louise, Chloe Ann, Mary Kay, Barbara, George, Vincent, Edward, Bill, Charles. Jack, Stella, with the beautiful voice, who honored me by singing at Tom’s funeral. Many high school, swimming buddies, and college friends as well: From the Firestone Swim Team: Bunny, Tom, Betty, Chet, Maryann, Fred, Jack. And in college: Mayann (my big Sis in Kappa Kappa Gamma, and the sister I never had,) Patsy, Petsy, Ted, Judy, Glen, Betty, Bob, Lou, his first wife Jo, and his second wonderful wife, Peg.
Then in mid-life–Living on Oak Road and our life-long friends there: Marc and Martha, Kate and Ed, Lela and Roxy, Stella and Paul. The many years some of us traveled together for outrageous vacations, monthly get-togethers, and trials and tribulations of raising our children–twenty-four in all!
The friends we made at Silver lake Country Club: Eloise and Bill, Mary and Don, Bud and Carol, Darrell and Nancy, Barb and Bob, Betty and Bob. Stella and Paul. So many of them gone.
Who knew when we retired and moved to Glenmoor that we would again bond with so many strangers, who would become friends: Joan and Howie, Anne and Bill, Harvey and Becky, Evie and Marv, Carol and Rich, Helen and Steve, Sue and David, Nancy, Sue P. and all the girls in Glenmoor Book Club. Bill and Carl, my good buddies. My “Cleaning Kid”, Jane–but she’s been so much more–a true friend for almost twenty-five years.
And now, for the past seven years, my wonderful friends at Hodges University in Creative Writing: Gail, (who leads our class, and is a poet whose works/words I could read over and over until the proverbial ‘cows come home’,) Joyce, Linda, Joan, George, Norman, Anthony, Tony, Roy, Rudy, Janet, Marge, Deanie, Gloria, Mark and a few others who come and go between Florida and places unknown to me. So many of them are published. I, on the other hand, fear rejection, so my blog is my refuge.
All the ‘girlie friends’ and our fun ‘ladies night out’ in Naples: Freda, Joan, Shirley, June, Helen, and Josie, and sometimes, Karen.
My good friend Lynne, at Vanderbilt Gulfside who has shared good, bad, and in between moments with me, and we giggle on a daily basis. We are like —well I’m just saying! Our manager Pat, has to be the best, most outstanding manager of any condo building in the entire state of Florida. (And I wouldn’t have her job for all the money in the world!) The men who help all of us on a daily basis here in the condo: Gary, Jerry and Bruce. Bruce, who props my newspaper up beside my door in all kinds of weather early in the a.m.
All the friends we’ve made over the many years at Vanderbilt Gulfside: Donna and Bud, Shirley, Maryann and Jack, Nori and Bill, Don and Bob, Ellie, Batbara and Bruce, Paul and Winifred, Betsy, John and Marilyn, Phyllis and David, and so many more.
Some very special people to me—Tim, who’s made Matt’s life complete, and Brian’s Stephanie.
I’ll be adding to this as my grandchildren begin producing my great-grandchildren,( PLEASE GET BUSY—I DON’T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME LEFT, DAMN IT!)
How blessed I have been to have these friends and loved ones in my life.
Jan,
March 23, 2012
Read both your musings and liked them both. What a nice letter to leave to your children and grandchildren. When the book is published let us know if your story makes it in the final cut.
Love you Chimmie!