Memory Tidbits

Owning your own business for over twenty years, produces many outstanding memories.  We can talk about the majority of them, choosing to forget the ones that probably didn't matter at all.  Both Bill and I hit milestone birthdays during our years at Fred's.  Although Mr. Potato Head was two days shy of his forty third birthday, as we signed papers making Fred's News our own place, I was but a mere child.(sounds pretty good to me).  A few years later, the dreaded forty appeared on the calendar.  For me, it wasn't a big deal, but to family and friends...let's celebrate!  What a wonderful party they planned!  Recently, I was unpacking another box from the move and found loads of photos.  Yes, there are still a few unpacked boxes, even though it is closing in on three years since we have left Connecticut.  For some ridiculous reason, all of our photos were not packed together.  I really thought I was much more organized than that, obviously I was wrong.  OMG...an admission of guilt!  What I found, was a box with cards and pics from that birthday party, allowing for a rush a great memories to escape from the crowded hard drive of my brain.  First of all, can't believe some of the clothes people were wearing, including myself.  We must of all thought..."cat's meow"!  Then the funky hairdo's, mine, minus the gray and OMG..BIG HAIR reminiscent of the Bon Jovi do's.  My kids, no exception, Todd with his mullet, Matt and Mark at least they still had hair, oops, sorry boys, but Mr. Potato Head was minus the paunch, on the thin side.  We haven't seen that for an awful long time, although he has dropped almost thirty pounds since we sold Fred's News.  As for myself, I haven't changed!! Gotta love that magic mirror I look into each day.  In reality we have all aged gracefully and thankfully, with only a few bumps along the way.

On the flip side, a reality of the life hit me.  So many in these great pictures are looking at us via the great big Fred's News in the sky.  Many, because of age, others prematurely.  Phylliss was the first I saw, having passed away just a few years after this celebration.   An outgoing woman with a hearty laugh, she and husband Henry always walked hand and hand.  She spoke often of their plans for retirement.  They too looked forward to moving to Florida.  Phyliss did live to see the move and always had a great positive outlook, even with the grim diagnosis she had been given.  Henry remained in Florida, always returning to Fred's News, when he came north to visit family in the area.  Henry recently joined Phyliss, he too, sadly missed.  Hogan's wife Edna, my longtime friend and confidant was in the photos.  Every year on my birthday, Edna made a bowl of Ambrosia Salad just for me.  It was absolutely the very best, and a great cherished memory from a beautiful friend.  After her death, Hogan ocassionally made me that same salad.  Obviously, Edna taught him well, it was the best.  The list of deceased patrons is large, but all allowing for these wonderful stories.

As Bill approached his fiftieth...the Egg-Nazi warned..."No party!"  We observed his wishes.  Always a wise crack from him, he didn't disappoint.  Reason for his decision, "with all the friends he had, you could probably hold it in a phone booth!"  Mr. Bill, although a smart mouth, joke cracking wise ass, is basically very shy.  His preference, stay home, have a great meal with me and the boys.  His wish was granted.   Phyliss on the other hand, had recently hit her fiftieth, receiving a number of over the hill gag presents.  Due to a dream revelation Bill had discussed with patrons in Fred's News, she obliging parted with her large "Depends", announcing, "Mr. Bill needs them more than I do!"  Everyone knew the Egg Nazi was on his way to "the senior years!"

My fiftieth birthday, although a milestone, but not something I wanted to celebrate with a crowd.  Son Mark was in Florida, having been the first to leave the area.   Although my Dad had passed away, Mom was still a very active woman, always on the go.  The family celebration they planned was the best.  Thanks to his brother Matt, Mark made it back from Orlando.  This was the best any MOM could ask for.  The small party was at the Mohegan Sun Casino, thanks to Chef Matthew, he planned it for Mom.  We had a cozy dinner together..unknowingly, it would be the last milestone birthday my Mom would attend.  As a young person, I had made a cake for my Mother's fiftieth.  Dad and I came up with the message on the cake. "Happy Half a Century Mom".  Although she laughed, she later shared, "I really DID NOT need to be reminded it was the half century mark!"  As we celebrated that night at Mohegan Sun, Mom whispered to me, "Happy Half a Century my youngest daughter."  I laughed, remarking "Thanks, Mom, somehow I knew that statement would someday come back to haunt me!"  Love that woman!