Month: February 2023

While all of the family plans were taking root, Lor and I had arranged some plans of our own. In addition to our February anniversary celebration, we had decided to extend the 30 year milestone party to travel to Nashville and then to our home in Bradenton in conjunction with the Iowa wedding we were attending in the end of June. First, we would attend the wedding of my sister Lisa on the 24th of June. The affair was held in a barn setting in Bucks County on a very warm evening. The dress code was casual as was the atmosphere. It was both Lisa and Jim’s second time around. I think that there were about eighty plus people there to join in the festivities. Nick and my niece, Chelsey, danced down the grassy aisle throwing rose petals along the route as Lisa followed accompanied by her six year old son James. My Dad had the opportunity to deliver a rousing yet pretentious speech during the reception that had the guests quite amused. It was perfect.

The next leg of our journey led us that evening to South Philadelphia where we spent the night at Nicks newly renovated home. It was beautifully remodeled from top to bottom. Crazy that he would be putting it up for sale shortly. We went right to bed as we would need to leave at 8 am on Sunday, the next morning, to be at the airport for our flights to Des Moines, Iowa. First, a flight to Charlotte, NC. The packed airplane would depart at 10 am and take us to Chicago where we had a 45 minute layover. A quick lunch and we would take off again, another packed plane, landing in Des Moines, IA at 2:30 pm. With no time to spare and our second wedding in two days starting at 4:30, Lor and I bolted across the airport to the rental car pickup and then right to the hotel to get ready for the formal event. Our destination was about forty five minutes south to another barn style wedding where we would watch Kevin and Liz tie the knot. Joey was a groomsman for Kev and had the pleasure of walking down the aisle with a beautiful blond… Golden Doodle! OMG! Kevin and Liz wanted their ‘Kid’ to be in the wedding and Joe accepted the challenge. It was cute. The day was beautiful and the affair equally exquisite. With about 125 people in attendance, the event lasted late into the night. We had a wonderful time, especially because all of Joe’s buddies were in the wedding. All hockey players, the boys all grew up playing together until they split up in their different directions across the country, following their dream. All excellent players and athletes in their own right, they were a great group of young men. It was a blast.

The next day, we had planned a down day to relax and spent the day hanging out with Joe and Kara. We explored downtown Des Moines and traversed through masses of cornfields that made the rural roads feel like paths in a Halloween corn maze. We had a nice time and afterwards headed back to the hotel to get ready for our trip to Nashville. It was time to get this celebration in gear. We had never been to Nashville before and were very excited to see the southern city that never sleeps. The honky tonk bars and Country music capital of the US. Another packed plane to Chicago, a 2 hour layover, a full flight to our new destination and my very first Uber ride from the airport to the Nashville Marriott! Five days to explore the city, celebrate our 30 years of marriage, indulge in a well earned vacation, and just relax. It was Our Turn right now…. to get Covid.

Next Up: Thank God For Uber Eats

Whoa! It’s Wednesday and I’m in work! The start of my first four day work week in almost two years! This was crazy! What was I thinking? Lol. Would anyone even come into the store? Actually, we were busy! Our customers took to this additional day open with gratitude. Sorry, I wasn’t going to go for five days. It took some getting used to, but this would be the new norm going forward. The year was going well with an unusually busy January and a strong Valentines week too. No complaints here.

There was really nothing going on that was exciting or extraordinary at this time. Our winter was pretty mild and other than a few really cold weeks, hardly any snow. Lori and I would celebrate 30 years of marriage on the 29th of February. Our Leap Day anniversary falls on every fourth calendar year. Milestones like this are of course, very special to me. I planned a great surprise weekend in New Hope, Pa. A sweet hotel along the Delaware river, roses in the room and dinner downstairs at Stella. Lor loved it. We had such a nice time. Meanwhile, Nick was waiting patiently for our renters in Florida to be heading home at the end of April. May 1st plane tickets were in hand and he was staying there for at least a month. Something was up, little did we know. Nick had purchased a beautiful home in South Philadelphia about a year ago and had just finished a total renovation. A very costly endeavor that turned out great. Lori and I finally got to see the place before he took off for Bradenton. Very nice. At the end of May, before he left Florida, we got the call. Nick had a big offer to consider. The whole month stay in Florida wasn’t just a long getaway after a fabulous year of business. He was considering a move to Fort Lauderdale with an offer of a new position as a Senior Agent in the same company, Compass Realty, that he represented in Philly. This would be a big decision. We were very happy for him and very sad too. After moving to Los Angeles a few years earlier and then back home, it was great having Nick close by. His decision to take the offer turned out to be easier than he thought. I got a text one evening in the beginning of June after Nick had returned home. It began, ” I’ve made up my mind…I’m moving to Florida.” This, after lying on his floor with gunshots and bullets whizzing down his block. He was so scared. Philadelphia is a mess. The violence anywhere and everywhere. It didn’t matter where you lived in the city, the chances of being a victim of crime were ridiculous. I was glad that he was moving to Florida. I worried about his safety every day in Philly. Nicks beautiful newly remodeled home went up for sale and sold in two weeks. By the end of September, Nick would be on his way.

Meanwhile, number two son had plans of his own too! That call was also enlightening. Joe wanted to come home. After spending the last eight years living and playing hockey all over the world, he wanted to be close to his family and friends again. He missed us. Totally understood. He was running the new detail business with his partner in Ohio and basically decided that he had enough. Lori was so happy! These were big changes happening! We were so happy and excited for our boys and while Nick was making plans for his big move, we started making plans for Joe’s return. These were good times.

Lori and I would be seeing Joe and Kara soon. It had been over six months since the last time they had been back to Pennsylvania. My sister Lisa was getting remarried in the end of June on Saturday the 24th. The next day, the 25th, Joe’s great friend Kevin was getting married in Iowa. Lori and I would fly out that Sunday morning after Lisa’s wedding to Des Moines and celebrate with Kevin and his bride Elizabeth. Joe was in the bridal party. After this long crazy weekend, Lor and I would travel to Nashville for five days and then jet over to Bradenton for two more weeks in Florida. A nice vacation planned as an additional celebration of our 30th anniversary… So we thought.

Next Up: Our Turn