Marilyn's Musings

Wedding picture My honey is 89 today! Certainly a miracle! None of the men in his family made it past 80. When I first moved back to his hometown and ate the food his aunt cooked--3 meals a day--and all delicious and fried--I knew that was not the healthy way to eat. Not that I went on a crusade, but I did try to find other ways to fix food rather than fry.  Hubby had a pace maker put in about 2 years ago and that made a bit difference too. Though his knees still give him fits--no one wanted to give him knee replacements because of him being so bow-legged--he still manages to get around using two canes and a walker at times. We've had a full life together. After his 20 years in the SeaBees, he worked for Sears for 15. Then we moved to Springville and bought a licensed residential care home for developmentally disabled women. We had six gals living with  us at times. Hap worked side by side with me and did great with our ladies. We did this for 22 ye...

We've been together a long, long time. He's the cute sailor I went out with on a blind date way back when I was a senior in highschool. We really didn't know each other well at all when we got married--but we've had 65 years to get well-acquainted. No, not all the years were easy, but we made it.  We have a wonderful and huge family, 5 children, one gone on to Heaven, many grandkids and great grands--and one great-great with another on the way.  Hubby spent 20 years in the Navy as a Seabee--then 15 working for Sears, then together for over 20 years we owned, operated and lived in our residential care facility. We worked together, treated those in our care as family, and it was hard work but very rewarding.  We had some adventures too, getting to travel to many different places as we attended different Bouchercons and Left Coast Crime cons and we met lots of wonderful people that we still count as friends. We've gone on several cruises--to Mexico ...

Happy Birthday, Sis! My sister, Marjorie, who has always been called Margie was born when I was five years old. She was the cutest baby, little girl, and young woman and she really hasn't changed all that much. When we were growing up, she was often a pain. We always shared a room and she was messy and I wasn't. Now I'm messier than she is. As adults, we only lived close to each other for a few short years.Even when we didn't, for many years as adults our families spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together. Then both of our families got way too big.  We moved to Springville first, then she and her husband built a house here. All of her adult children soon moved nearby.  When the economy took a big dive, she and her boys all lost their jobs. One by one, they moved to Las Vegas, and of course the grandchildren went along too. My sis couldn't take the separation and soon moved to Vegas too--where she is today. We get to see her about twice a ...

 This is our firstborn's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is only that this is a milestone birthday. She is our only child not born in California as I lived in Cambridge, Maryland at the time and hubby was stationed in Norfolk, VA. His father and step-mother took me to the hospital. After Dana was born, I was put into a ward with at least 6 other beds. Hubby finally arrived the next day. My folks and little sister drove all the way from Los Angeles in a '41 Chevrolet coupe to see their first grandchild. Dana with Patrick's daughters, Emily and Olivia Me and Dana Dana and her husband, Mike Son-in-law, Mark, daughter, Genie, kids, Peyton and Garrett. Dana's first child, Patrick, and his wife, Lucy. Patrick and his son, Ethan.   Dana has always been a joy to us. As the first born, she was a second mother to our other children. She helped me so much when hubby was gone overseas. She never caused me any trouble at all. One of m...

Today is my husband's birthday. We've been a pair for nearly 60 years. His childhood was far different from mine: brought up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in a small town, only child raised by a grandmother and a maiden aunt and widowed aunt, mother passed away when he was 5, father visited, had lots of cousins. Left home when he was 18 and joined the Navy. I grew up in the big city of Los Angeles, had a sister, raised by my mom and dad. Had some cousins but not nearly as many as my husband. When I was a senior in high school, I was called by a friend and asked if I'd like to go on a blind date. Of course I would--my friends walked half way to meet me and that was the first time I saw this cute sailor. He kind of looked like Frank Sinatra with sleepy eyes like Robert Mitchum. Stationed at the Hueneme Seabee Base, he came to visit me almost every weekend after that. We married back in his home town that same year. The following year, in August, we had our first...

Yep, it's hard to believe, but that cute sailor I went out on a blind date with all those many years ago is 80 years old today. Way back then, he had beautiful nearly black hair, with a curl that always fell on his forehead--and the most gorgeous blue eyes. He reminded me--and others--of a young Frank Sinatra. He could really belt out a tune on the piano--anything that was popular and oh, could he play the Boogie Woogie. When we met, he couldn't dance, but later, after a few years of marriage, I taught him and soon he could dance far better than I ever could. The first years of our marriage we weren't always together because of his assignments with the Seabees. I think he loved his time in the Navy as much or more than he loved me or the kids. We moved a lot at first, Maryland, Virginia--Norfolk and Virginia Beach, on the Navy base at Port Hueneme, with my folks in L.A., our own place in L.A., in Oxnard in an apartment, then a rented house and finally we bought our own home...

Today is my baby sister's birthday. She is 5 year's younger than I am. We really didn't become friends until we were adults--and with every year we grow closer and closer. My sis married right out of high school and still has the same husband. (Me too) She has four kids--three boys and a girl. I'm not sure exactly how many grandkids and greats, but there are lots. Once a month she has a big birthday dinner at her house for everyone in her family. For the birthday boy or girl (or man or woman) she bakes a cake. (I do nothing like that.) She can really bake. She's a wonderful hostess. We try to get to her home in Vegas at least once a year for a visit. No, we don't go to the strips--we do family things, and mostly enjoy each other's company. This year we're going on a seven day cruise together to Mexico. It's mystery cruise, with three days being an on board mystery convention. How fun is that! I'll love spending all that time with my sis. Happy Bi...

Yep, I was born 76 years ago today. I can't believe it. Looking back, it certainly doesn't seem like 76 years. My sister called and sang "Seventy Six Trombones" to me instead of Happy Birthday. We spent the day driving. After a wonderful weekend with Lorna and Larry Collins at their gorgeous home in Dana Point--despite the trauma of their book not arriving for their book signing or book launch--we set out for home around 7:30 a.m. We stopped for breakfast, not wanting to be on the freeway with all the people rushing to work. Our drive home was actually better than the one there except for the fact two vehicles tried to change lanes right into our car this time--only one on the way there. I feel so sorry for anyone who must drive the L.A. freeways everyday of the week. My daughter-in-law is cooking dinner tonight so that's something to celebrate too. Of course anytime you leave home, when you return there is always lots to do, but I'm going to save the majority...

If my mom were still alive, she'd be 100 today! She lived to be 97. Her sister is that same age and still living in her own home. Amazing. I was missing my mom today. I miss writing her letters and receiving letters from her. She lived with my sister in Las Vegas. We did have some quality time toward the end of her life. My sis went on an Alaskan cruise and I went to stay with mom. We had a great time. I cooked all the food she asked for. Twice we had lamb chops, baked potatoes and asparagus. I watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeproady with her. We talked about old times. After that my sister celebrated her 50th anniversary by going on a cruise and taking her four children, most of their children and the great grandkids. One of my daughters and I went along. I'm so glad I did because again I spent some quality time with my mom. We had all our meals together and sat around and did a lot of visiting. Mom was so good about listening to people's troubles and never passing judgment....