We finally did it

We have not had a family picture since 2000 and now we have everyone in one spot at the same time. This was taken Christmas Day 2008 in the late afternoon.
We had been planning this picture for a couple of weeks. We wanted all the women in dark dresses and the guys in white shirts and red and gray ties.
Then we needed the spot to take the picture, inside or outside. The light outside is better then a flash, but the temperature outside is in the 20's. Also we needed room to fit every one. It was great to have all the grandchildren and children home for the holidays, but the noise level is back to normal now that they all went home

How I met your Mother

One of my oldest daughters told me I need to tell a funny story about their mother, and this would make our blog interesting. So this is how I met your mother:

It all started in Alexander’s department store. I had been working there since I was in high school, and I was well liked by all the other employee’s.Being well liked I would date some of the girls that worked there. At this point in my life I was about 21 years old and I was back from Viet Nam and I did not know what I wanted to do with my life and it was easy to get my job back at Alexander’s. In September 1968 I was in school at Westchester Community College and starting work as department manager in the big “A”.

In January 1969 in noticed three new girls working in the Ladies Sportswear Department, and I was keeping my eye on one of them to help her learn the ropes, BUT she was too independent and didn’t want my help. I also noticed that she was the quiet type. So I just kept my eye on her. The other two girls that started with her were from the same merchandising school that she was from. Being students they were only going to be at the big “A” for a short period of time, then they would go back to school.

So by the middle of February I needed to make my move if you kids were going to be. I spotted her in the employee cafeteria reading a book, and I sat next to her, and tried to distract her from her book but it was hard. She was reading the “Godfather”. For some reason she acted like she didn’t want to talk to me but I knew if "you kids were to be" I would have to get her to put down that book and talk to me. Somehow she did put down the book long enough to tell me that she had a boyfriend away at school. I told her that it was a perfect situation and that I wouldn’t tell him if she wouldn’t. However she need to get out and I was here and he wasn’t.

We had our first date on February 28^th 1969, I know this because it was Raymond’s fourth birthday, and she was going to see him before we went out. This was also her last day at the big “A” before going back to school on Monday. So I took her to the movies to see “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid”. After the movie it was only 11pm so I took her down the street to meet my friends at “Gigi’s” a bar on the Post Rd. This is what any good catholic boy would have done. All my friends were there and we had a great time, and then around 2am were went to Chris’s house to party some more.

During the conversation that we had that night I found out that her boyfriend was also dating while he was at college, and I think he come home on school breaks and would tell her. So I felt it was my duty to continue to see her since her boyfriend was going out on her anyway. Now I need to explain something to you children. Your mother had already met the parents of her boyfriend and it was just assumed that they would marry someday, and settle down in Silver Lake and live with all those Italians and have two point one children and live happily ever after.

So I continued to date your mother, and everyday little Johnnie continues thanks me for being so persistent.

This picture was taken the need day (Sunday) our second date at the Bronx Zoo.

Only two weeks until Christmas

All is quiet as we prepare for the Big day, and the celebration of the birth of Christ. If it was not for His death we would not be celebrating His birth.

This year, to our great pleasure, we will have all our children and grandchildren with us for this great event. Some will travel far others will only walk down the hall. It doesn’t matter the distance only that they are here and are adding to the excitement of the day. Again we will be taking our family picture and each year it keeps growing larger.

The last time we were altogether Jim was in Iraq and Rachael and Johnnie were still not on this earth. However, this year we will not have Lexus with us for the festivities of the day, she has moved on to her eternal reward.

We do expect to have Anne and Al with us as well as Guy and maybe the Mrs. Nicole may go to visit Cedric and his family for the holiday, but Guy can not go since he must be back at work the following day.

As we look ahead we are hoping that this will be one of those memorable times that we will all look back upon and say “those were the days” The picture above is of times that I am are glad that they are behind me.