Flaming June's Love

 This is Allies 10th Birthday, in the top photo.  Missi is 8.  The same age that Jack is now.  The bottom photo is on our bike trip to Lehigh Gorge, the first summer I was with Andy.  They were 12 and 10.   This is Missis 8th grade graduation.  I bought her dress with modesty in mind since she was in EIGHTH GRADE!  The other girls looked 20.  Not our girl.  Most beautiful girl there.  Here is our Bitty looking so much like Allie  She was a Junior in HS.  Allie her senior year, Cheerleading best friend Kellie.  Kellie is now an anchor woman in Ithaca NY. Jack and MaryJane, today.  What will we say about this picture 10 years from now? 15? 20? I can look back on photos of the girls and remember the day they were taken, smell the fall air of Allies cheering days.  The spring flowers of Missis graduation from Saint Nicks school.  Even down to the clothes they are wearing in some of the p...

For Terry I I have known Sandy for 15 years.  When we met we were both instructors at a little school in Edwardsville.  She was divorced and had a young son.  He was about 15 when we met.  Handsome, tall, and had two different color eyes.  One was a crazy green the other blue.I remember he would come into school when he reached his late teens and visit his Mom, she would show him off, and he loved it. He obviously adored his Mom.   He was charming.  For a young man he could talk to anyone, had a contagious smile and could make you feel comfortable. He joined the marines right out of HS.  Spent a few years in the Corp and then returned home and got in  the Union as a pipe fitter.  We crossed paths again when he began dating one of my good friends.  He was now in his early twenties and we actually went out all together a few times.  Now he was grown up and I found out just what a super guy he was.   He...

This is my girl Allie at the John Mayer concert.  We were in the first row of the second section.  We had good seats, not first row, but good seats.  I have loved John Mayers music since Allie and her friends introduced him to me when they were in HS.  I spent a lot of time singing along with him, in my kitchen on Gardner ave, in my car, on my earphones and plenty of time with HIM in this house.  Ive cried along, smiled, sung my heart out. What is it about him that I love?  He is an honest writer.  AND He makes truly BIG MISTAKES. He had a few years of talking about things he shouldnt, old girlfriends and things.  He got alot of bad press which he deserved. I love that about him.  I had some tough years of saying things I shouldnt say, then.... I SHUT UP. So did he. SO far. hahaha As of today he if still goofy, super smart, deep deep deep and apparently changed. Grown up. A bit. Anyway, the beautiful girl, yeah she is my girl. My ...

Just finished up our annual Labor Day weekend celebration at the "mountain". Those who aren't in the know, the mountain is both a place and a frame of mind.  As you can see from Jack and his Nana, THIS IS THE MOUNTAIN.  Lets go back. The way I understand it, my Grandfather, his brother in laws after world war II came home and somehow acquired this patch of land in bear creek.  Not on a lake, not ON a mountain, no significant patch of beauty, but a piece of land that they decided to turn into a haven. They built four homes.  All the homes each belonging to one of the Burke sisters.  and their families.  The fourth belonged to my Grandfathers sister and her husband.  Adeline and Bud. So these men, hand built these homes.  Pieces from other houses torn down, scavenged tubs, windows, sinks, to create... Our mountain. I rememebre as a young child spending my summers there.  Our house, was Adeline and Buds house.  My Mom and Dad...

Summer 2013.  Sara and I have been talking and planning this summer all last winter.  Now e are here and it is almost over.  It was a successful summer.  Here are a few pictures to give you all an idea of the few things we were up to.  Went to Knoebels. Spent alot of time at the FF pool. Best summer tan EVER. Went to Baltimore for the Fourth of July, went to Dap where Andys paycheck comes from.  Saw fireworks, went to the Aquarium and had some good food. Jack delivered the flowers at the fourth of July Memorial in Wyoming.  That was great, he looked a million bucks with his seersucker suit. We went to Fla.  Witht he family.  It was nice.  The beach and ocean were beautiful and jack loved the ocean.  Allie and Ryan came down for two days and that was a highlight.  Jack fed fish, went to a childrens museun and made some friends at the pool and ocean.  Flights were fine and we survived it all. ...

My date of birth, 47 years ago today I came into this world, to my Mom and Dad.  After three boys in 6years.... This bundle of pink was a pleasant surprise. Today was an excellent day.  It was Jacks last day of FIRST GRADE.  After the trials and tribulations, WE MADE IT THROUGH. I would say it was an80% -20% year.  The majority-unremarkable and quit tolerable..  But that 20!!! He certainly had his tough days.   Which in turn were my tough days. BUT here we are report card of all Bs and Bplus's... We are happy, satisfied and ready to wind down for the summer. No camp for Jack this year, we are doing the Mommy Jack and friends summer plan.!! We ar going to swim at the FF pool, we are going to visit our Nanas pool take day trips to cool adventure places and enjoy each others company. Today was a great day- My birthday, the last day of school and the school trip to Knoebles grove. Jack loved it, he was a great boy and we LOVED watching him interact...

I was just reading a fellow bloggers take on being and having a sister.  I am a sister but don't have one. When I was pregnant with Allie I prayed for a girl.  Tim used to yell at me saying I was junxing him with girls.  I always wanted two girls.  When they were little they shared a room.   From the day missi came home from the hospital they shared a room.  I rememebr telling Allie to whisper her dreams because he "Baby" was in the crib.  She would hold her and feed her and look at her lying in her playpen. Interestingly enough they were never much for "playing" together, Allie wasnt a play kind of kid.  Missi did all the playing and Allie did all the watching.  Mothering. They had seperate beds but shared a room until 1999.  Thats when we bought the  house at 102 Gardner.  allies room was 8x8.  A closet in most homes.  Missi room was the nursery, larger but attached to the mster bedroom by a door, wh...