MY OTHER MOTHER

(This was on a plaque I once gave Bruce's mom)

You Are My Other Mother
I Received The Day I Wed Your Son,
I Just Want To Thank You Mom
For The Loving Things You've Done!

You've Given Me A Loving Man
With Whom To Share My Life,
You Are His Loving Mother
And I'm His Grateful Wife!

You Use To Pat His Little Head
And Now I Hold His Hand,
You Raised In Love A Little Boy
Then Gave Me A Man.

Mom, I Want You To Know That You've Made Such A Difference In My Life. You've Taken Me Into Your Home, Into Your Life And Into Your Heart With Love And Total Acceptance. I Am Grateful You Love Me As If I Were Your Own. You Mean The World To Me, Mom, I Love You And Want The World To Know!
Forever Love,
Anni

MY ANGEL

I can't remember when my life started, but I know it was a looooong time ago. One of the best things in my whole life was having my sister, Jeannie. She meant everything to me! Because she was 5 years younger than me I wanted to be her protector, mother, confidante and advisor. I think I was all of that and most of all...she was my bestest friend in the whole wide world! We did everything together, especially eat pistachio nuts in bed at night while we were talking about boys. We loved how our fingers n lips got red from the dye on the shells. We liked to shell a bunch at a time and then eat them all at once.


When Jeannie was 10, she developed Diabetes. Back then we didn't know what the heck was going on in her little body. She was fighting for her life! She got so weak she couldn't stay awake for any period of time. The doctor made a house call on a Sunday evening and immediately called the ambulance to bring her to the hospital. He told us she wouldn't have survived through that night if she wasn't treated... So young with such a serious responsibility.

They told us she would not live a normal life. She would die before 30 and she would not be able to have children. Well, she truly proved them wrong in all aspects. She was a fighter and lived a wonderful life. For as long as she was able to. She lived to be 44 and had 2 great boys now with families of their own.


As our kids were growing up we were together every chance we got. We would go to the park or a public pool or beach, make a day of it and bring stuff for a picnic. We always got together to play cards or some board game. Her husband, Howard, was so competitive. He'd love a challenge. Howard has a brother, Gary. The boys were learning how to talk n called him uncle "gunk". We all call him gunk at one time or another. heheheee. We had so much fun together. We laughed so hard we'd cry, lose our breath and/or run to the bathroom. I still can hear her laughing n see her face as if it were here in front of me.


Throughout her life, Jeannie kept having episodes of trauma where she was hospitalized because of seizures or convulsions or in a diabetic coma. I remember one year she spent Christmas in the hospital. Mom brought a tiny white Christmas tree with red ornaments so she can have it with her in hopes to brighten her day. There were a lot of times we wouldn't know if she would come out of any of these episodes. Only God knew! N only God knows why, how n when He will call us home.


Jeannie died in February, 2000. The last few years were so painful to watch her go through all she had to. About 2 or 3 years before she died, her kidneys failed and had to be on a dialysis machine 3 times a week. I took her wherever she needed or wanted to go. She couldn't drive after a while. She loved when I massaged her back. That was one of her favorite little treats.


I live in West Virginia n went to North Carolina for most of those last 2-3 years. I wanted to be with her! I wanted to do everything I can to make her as comfy as possible.

I know she is without pain now, I know she is happy and healthy, and I know she is an angel of God, but it doesn't make it any easier to bear even 8 years later.



I thank God for giving us, Jeannie, even for a short time. She made our world a loving place to be a part of.

I love you, Jeannie - You Are My Angel!

MY HONEY

I want to tell you about my HONEY, Bruce. Only there is so much to tell I don't know where to begin. I first met him around 1986. We were both married previously so we had our families already.

It was funny how we met...My HONEY was in the Air Force so he was transferred from Michigan to Dover AFB after the death of his first wife, Linda. We moved from New Jersey and our girls started a new high school together in Delaware. They became friends and wanted our families to meet. Bruce and Peggy came to a barbeque we were having. There was an instant bonding between us. I couldn't get over how intellegent he was... Is! I thought he had sexy feet and having his own teeth was an awesome thing for me.

Although I was still married at the time, I had secretly decided to end it as soon as my girls, Patti, Angela, and Lynni, graduated high school which would be in 3 years. We met, we stayed up and talked all that night. I knew then that he was mine. hehheee. I fell in love with him and decided to divorce sooner. A few weeks later he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. I thought that was the most romantic thing any man has ever done! He peeled the label off the beer bottle he was drinking at the time and made a paper ring for me and put it on my finger.

I took him to meet my family. (That is always a good story from any couple.) Well, he made an everlasting impression on them. We brought a gallon of the wine, Canei, and a 5th of Yukon Jack, we were drinking at that time in our lives. When he finished most of the bottle, sharing it of course, he got very sleepy. Go figure hehehee. He decided to take a nap... On the couch... In the living room... With my family all around him. No one seemed to mind so it was ok. Well... we were all engaged in our conversations and soon we hear this strange noise. We couldn't figure out where it was coming from. It kept getting louder and louder. We come to realize that my HONEY was starting to snore! OMG! Talk about embarrassing; yet it was hilarious at the same time! We all stopped talking to listen... then they all busted out laughing and joking. My family is the kind of family that, a friend of ours is a friend of theirs. In spite of the great (first impression) of my new HONEY, my family loves him anyway. What's not to love.

We married in April of 1988 and this April we will be married 20 years. WOW! 20 years! That's truly a lifetime! He completes me! I am married to my soulmate, my sweetheart, my confidant, a true comedian (ask anyone who knows him) great chef (anyone who ate his food can tell you how true this is) chief cook and bottle washer (he generally cleans up after himself), bestest friend I ever had and the greatest grandad to our 9 grandkids any family can ever have! We've done so many wonderful things together and still are.

We're growing old together... not growing up... but growing old. We have noticed our bodies don't look the same as they use to and don't want to do what they once were able to do yet he still says I'm sexy. Don't know where but I'll let him believe this! I still love my HONEY after all these years and I'm still in love with him! We get along so well together! Like bread n butter, peanut butter n jelly, Mickey n Minnie, Abbott n Costello, Betty n Boop...

I love you, HONEY, with all my heart!

COURAGE

Whether Or Not Everyone Believes We Have Angels Among Us, I Sure Do! I Believe That My Sister-In-Law, ELLEN, Is One Of The Strongest, Most Courageous Angels God Has Blessed Our Family With! She Is Such An Amazing Woman!

I've Known Ellen For About 20 Years. I Came Into Her Family As Wife To Her BBB (Big Brother Bruce). At Age 35, Ellen Went To Have A Mammogram And Was Told She Was Too Young And To Come Back When She Was 40. By This Time, Ellen Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer... I Can Only IMAGINE How She Felt When They Told Her, But When I Heard The News, My Heart Immediately Went Out To Her.... I Just Couldn't Believe My Ears.

Through The Years That Followed, She Went Through So Much Pain And Trauma That Without The Help Of God To Call Upon, She Would Have Not Been Able To Come This Far. She's Been Fighting This Deadly Disease For About 8 Years Now. Each Time It Knocked Her Down, She Was Able To Come Back Up Fighting With All Her Might. While Fighting For Her Own Life, She Suffered The Death Of Her Dad In June 2006, And Her Mom, Whom She Talked With Every Day, This Past Year In September 2007.

Ellen Is Now 48 And I Can See Her Little Body Getting More Tired And Weaker As Time Goes By. We Were Able To Be Together This Past Thanxgiving And Christmas. It Was A Little Sadder This Year Because Mom Wasn't With Us, But Being Together Is The Most Important Part Of Any Given Holiday!

Ellen, You Have Touched The Hearts Of So Many People. When I First Met You, I Knew That I Was Gonna Love Being A Part Of Your Family.

ThanQ God, For Giving Us, Ellen!