Happy 88th Birthday to My Bill!

Today is the 88th birthday of my best friend, companion, partner and now husband for the past fifty-two years.  

I compiled this slide show of some of the hundreds of photos I have of Bill.  Starting with Bill as a five year old rascal, the youngest of three (two older sisters), and ending with Bill teasing my Mother.  

This slide show will give you an idea of what I've been living with for the past fifty-two years.  It's all good folks.  Well, most of the time anyway.

Happy birthday Bill! You'll outlive us all!

Bill at the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Ed Cage 1941 - 2015

Ed at my house in Pennsylvania 1998

This morning my longtime friend Ed Cage died at 4 A.M.  I've known Ed for over sixty years. He died of liver cancer. Rest in peace dear Ed. 

I Am Going to Speak

Bob with "Ronnie" (a cat he named after me) and "Stormy", a brother and sister duo who showed up on his doorstep one rainy night

I've never spoken at a funeral service.  I wanted to at both my father's funeral service  in 2000 and my Mother's funeral service in 2010, but I didn't.  I was afraid I couldn't get through my words without breaking down.  Lucky for me one of my brothers is a care pastor, and he has spoken at hundreds if not thousands of funeral services and he read my words.  

I want to speak at my friend Bob's memorial service.  I feel the need to pay him this one last honor and also to share the Bob that I knew with the new friends he made when he moved to Delaware over thirty years ago.

Am I afraid I will choke up?  You bet.  In fact I know I will.  Heck, I choked  up testifying before both Delaware state legislators for marriage equality.  I am an emotional person.  Why even last night my friend Pat was reading "The Velveteen Rabbit" to me over FaceTime and I choked up at the ending of the story.  I don't know how many times I've seen "Dark Victory" with Bette Davis but choke up every time she climbs those stairs to her bedroom for the last time.

Pat gave me some advice.  He said "Write what you're going to say down on paper.  Practice it in front of a mirror at least twenty times.  You'll get through it." 

Good advice Pat! I'll start this week.

Bob's memorial service will take place Saturday, October 25th at the Metropolitan Community Church in Rehoboth Beach.  Bob used to love going to church.  I went a few times with him (at his urging) but I could never get into it like he did.  But this time I'm making an exception.  I owe it to him.  He was my friend.

Bob at the White Caps Cafe, Oak Orchard, Delaware - 2000

Waiting for Godot er Pat

Pat on his Bus Trip Adventure (no sleep all night)

This time Pat (my friend from Toronto) decided to save on the wear and tear of his Fiat and took the bus from his home to Delaware.  I just got off of FaceTime with him.  He just landed in Philly (Philadelphia, PA) and that poor puppy is TIRED.

Pat caught the bus (Greyhound) from Toronto last night at 7 pm.  Almost as soon as he was seated a Muslim woman with two little darlings children sat next too him.  I was talking to him on FaceTime when I heard her asking "Is this seat taken?"  Pat, being the gentleman that he is, said "No."  Then she piled in with her two little miracles kids.  Right away I heard the little yelps of ear drum piercing screams that only a little girl could do.  I.CAN'T.STAND.THAT.SOUND.  It literally drives me crazy.  That's one reason I moved from our home in Pennsylvania.  We had a neighbor who had a little girl (Stephanie) who, as soon as she burst out her house in the morning, let the world know that she was THERE with a piercing scream, which she then continued ALL DAY LONG.  What is it with little girls and the screams?  I couldn't scream if I wanted to.  Is it because I have balls?

So anyway, Pat settled in for a long night's ride.  

First stop: Buffalo, NY. 

Hassel at U.S. Customs - keep out those terrorists!

Second stop: Syracuse, NY.

Third Stop New York City: ("New York! New York!"

Fourth stop Philadelphia, PA: (where he is just now).

Fifth stop: Wilmington, DE

Last stop: (at 12:40) Dover, DE (where Bill and I will pick him up.

Total time of trip?  Oh about 17 hours. 

17 HOURS!

HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD!

And this is the trip I'm going to make to Canada in August?  Perhaps I will rethink my mode of transportation.  The airline is looking better all the time even though I would have to through all that Security Theater nonsense of removing my shoes and confiscation of nail clippers and toothpaste.  And of course there is the expense of getting to the airport and the plane trip itself, about seven times the cost of a bus trip.  

Got to go now, Pat just left Philly and is on his way to Wilmington.

Pat on the bus from Philly to Wilmington