One of the things I've been doing, while tearing the house apart, and now putting it back together, is going through old photos. I mentioned it in an earlier blog. I am throwing out so many photos that we have kept for years and years. There are duplicates and triplicates of non-sense. I have a stack I am keeping, to scan, and then they will be tossed, too (except for a few precious ones that I just can't toss). I just don't want the boys to someday have to go through boxes and boxes of stuff that will mean nothing to them. I'm trying to get rid of stuff - and it feels good, really.
Anyway, speaking of "the boys"....our oldest son, Joey, was a certified life guard and swimming instructor for the American Red Cross. They asked him to be part of a photo-shoot for their new brochure. This is from back in 1983, and that is when we lived in Virginia. Actually, Joe and I were just dating then. We didn't get married until 1985. I found the brochure that we kept, and snapped a photo of it....
That's Joe, in the lifeguard chair.
He was just out of college (or close to finishing),
and around 20 years old.
and around 20 years old.
Joey is standing in the back, next to the young lady.
I remember how excited we were when these came out! It was a very fun time for all of us. Joe's first wife (and mother of Joey & Jeff), Loretta, died of cancer in April 1983, after a long decline (brain tumor). Joe and I met in August of 1983, and I was a little afraid of a relationship that close to him losing his wife, but we both have reason to believe that she was guiding us. That's another story for another time. Let's just say that it clicked and the rest is history. The boys accepted me, and even Loretta's parents called me their adopted daughter. I have been so blessed.
So, that's my throwback story and photos for this Thursday, February 6, 2014. Tomorrow, I will be driving down to Pompano Beach (near Miami) with Joe. He does an annual audit for a client down there, and it is again time to get that done. I do the driving (about 3 hours each way), and just hang out in the car and around town, while he works. We get lunch together, and then he finishes around 4:30 or so. We usually stop for dinner on the trip back up and get home around 9:00ish. The neighbors are taking care of the cats for us, since we'll be so late getting home. This also means I will be without internet all day tomorrow (panic!!). I'll have my phone, but I just can't type much on it.
Thanks for stopping by! I wish you a good Thursday and Friday!! Peace, love & hugs.
I love the lifeguard shots. Neat!
ReplyDeleteYou and Joe are the perfect couple, and I can see why they love you so much and why you two are perfect for each other. I love that you have such a solid marriage. You both deserve it as do the kids!
It wouldn't surprise me if Joe's first wife picked you out. I would have!
Safe travels...
xo
Sheila
The brochure is fun to see. So happy you and Joe found one another. Have a safe and enjoyable trip.
ReplyDeleteHow neat that you saved that brochure all this time. What a nice memory! Have a safe fun trip
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing your 'throwback' Thursday pics. Neat that Joe was chosen for the brochure. Hope you enjoy going with Joe again this year. Be safe and have fun too!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm a day late getting 'round to visiting the Hodgepodgers this week. We were on the beach, freezing our toochies off! Cold wind, and not it's 37 degrees here this morning. I'm so ready for Spring.
ReplyDeleteLOVED your answer to #4 on Hodgepodge...what you shared with your thoughts on that subject is so true! It still peeves me, but as you say...with the social media these days it's hard to stay private.
Love the lifeguard Joe!!!
I keep talkin' about clearing things out, but then I get hung up on those photos and memorabilia, such as you shared. Great pics and how cool that he was featured in the magazine. Our son was a lifeguard too from age 14 and into college. Being incredibly handsome didn't hurt those guys either!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day tomorrow. I look forward to hearing "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say.
What a fun throwback and what a good looking guy he was.
ReplyDeleteHave a fun trip tomorrow!
What a wonderful throwback. Your son is very handsome. Have a safe & fun trip tomorrow. Blessings
ReplyDeleteGetting to blogs late today! Love your throwback photo! Your son is so handsome! He could have easily been a model! I hope you write more about how you and Joe found each other!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't done when I hit publish..lol. I wanted to add to have a safe trip tomorrow and enjoy the day!
ReplyDeleteI used to panic at not being able to check my computer or blog but after 7 years of retirement and often in an RV where there was no Internet connection I have been weaned a bit and that is a good thing. One of our sons actually asked me to sort through the shelves and shelves of albums so he wouldn't have to try to do it when we die. So when we were clearing out the house for renters I did manage to pull all the old magnetic albums and the ones with little sticky corners you licked to paste, from the era before that, into photo boxes that cover decades each. I sent a pickup load of "impotent" stuff like that to the dump (mis-spelling intended). It was a relief actually. Some day I will do that with the boxes and really cull them. All my photos go into my computer now. Some blizzardy day I will have to cull them too. I put some on disks but that seems silly now and I like to see them on the rotating screensaver.
ReplyDeleteGreat Throwback story and photo. I love hearing happy endings! At least you're in south Florida where at the weather should be nice this time of the year, right? You guys aren't suffering like the rest of us, are you? Gee, I shouldn't complain coz I don't have it so bad here in Knoxville like my northern friends do. But...I can't deny it, it is cold! Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteYour photos remind me of a student I had many years ago who was a model for Coca Cola. He was so sweet and was always smiling. Like others have commented before me, I enjoyed learning a bit about yours and Joe's early days. Good luck with getting rid of clutter!
ReplyDeleteHe looks just like his dad, doesn't he? What a hard thing though to watch someone decline with brain cancer. So sad.
ReplyDelete