Wedding Sirens

July 9, 2017

So, after a very sad Friday, we had a very happy Sunday! My Little Honey Bunch says to me, "Do we have anything going on Sunday?"

"No. I don't think so."

"Want to go to a wedding?"

"Sure....for....?"

"My sister, Kristin. And it's a surprise."

Alright then. Apparently, Tony decided to propose to Kristin and marry her in one fell swoop. Nervous about what a disaster this could potentially be...I mean...you know, girls. What if you're wearing the wrong thing, you have no makeup on, heck, you may not have even showered!

I guess Tony was confident. Or crazy. Or drunk.

Anyway, he got Kristin to the firehouse on the premise that he was getting an award. So they had a few chairs set up in the yard. It wasn't even that big of a deal that her parents were there, but when she saw her sister, Lisa, she was like, "What is my sister doing here?"

Then it happened.

The ladder was moved over in front of Kristin and Tony held up his sign.

So luckily, she said YES and the veil and bouquet Lisa made didn't go to waste!

They were married by one of the other firefighters in a quick and sweet ceremony!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Perry!

Beautiful!

My Little Honey Bunch and I toasting the couple at home! I have more pictures at my DropBox site.

By the way, I made an interesting observation. EVERY last firefighter looks HOT in those firefighter pants. Gotta get me some of those for my Little Honey Bunch.

Goodbye, Friend

July 7, 2017

Today, I attended a Celebration of Life for my friend, Kathy Yung. She died on June 15 of lung cancer.

I was asked by Kathy's daughter, Stacie, if I wanted to say anything about her mother and I told her I would more than honored! I typed up my tribute because I wasn't sure if I was going to get through it without bawling and would have to have someone else read it. Here's is what I said:

When I Met Kathy….it changed the course of my life.

I was a young, single parent, with two small children, looking to provide for them. After taking a secretarial course at a local Skills Center, I signed up with a temp agency and shortly after, I received a call from IBM. They were looking for a secretary in their Marketing Division.

I was apprehensive because I had never been a secretary but I accepted anyway. Luckily for me, Kathy was the one whose job I was taking. She had decided to advance her career and take a promotion.

She could see my lack of experience but held my hand as she trained me while at the same time, learning her new job. She could have easily told our superiors that I didn't have the experience and gotten somebody else. I guess she saw something in me and 'kept' me.

A year later, I was hired permanently. Through that year she always helped me and we built a permanent bond. She was sweet, passionate, and fiercely protective of her family. Her mischievous smile and dancing eyes always lit up the room. I loved that she always wrote with a calligraphy marker.

During one of our lunches over the years, I told her I had become Zumba instructor and that she should give it a try. She did, and it warms my heart that she made many dear and life long friends through Zumba and Yoga.

At my last lunch with her, when she told me she probably would not make it to her 70th birthday, I didn't want to believe that. I wanted to believe that somehow, she'd make it. It was touching to see that she got to spend so much time with her family in those last few months.

Today, I have a wonderful life. I have a loving husband that I would never have met if I didn't work at IBM. I have four great kids and a beautiful home. It was Kathy's decision to choose me as her successor, that set my life on this wonderful path. I am where I am today because of Kathy.

When I met Kathy…for the last time, I was glad to finally be able to thank her.

I will miss you, my friend.

Her family put together this beautiful program.

At the bottom of the program, there is a link (click here) to donate to the Cancer Support Community. She made new friends from this support group in her last few months. I was honored to have sat with them at lunch today. The flute, the tributes, the poem, the video, the lunch...it was all so lovely! Even though she had told me the story of giving up a son for adoption and then finding him, it was wonderful to hear it all again from her son, Mark.

This is definitely how I want to go out! What a celebration.

When we were in Elementary School, I used to hang out at my friend Julie's house. She lived a couple of blocks away from a little corner store on California Street. I don't know that the store had a name. We just always called it Mr. Li's store. I remembered way back that Kathy and I discovered we both new Mr. Li. Her sister, Debbie, was married to Mr. Li's son and at one point, they lived above the store! Anyway, I spoke with Debbie today and told her about that connection. And she says, "Well, here's Mr. Li's son right here!" I didn't get his name (doh!) but he and I chatted about the old neighborhood for a while. He'll probably remember the red headed sisters (Julie and Kathy Horne) who used to hang out there with me and Patty (RIP). He said he was usually there on the weekends to let his dad have some time off. So, Kathy's nephew, Gavin Li, is Mr. Li's grandson. Small world. Julie, isn't that a kick?! Mr. Li's son with glasses facing the window and his grandson with his back against the window.

In addition to sewing her own clothes (including her wedding dress!), she also painted.

And just because I can't help myself...nope, not chicken butt. Chicken head.

Actually, I was not expecting lunch. It was quite a feast and it was all quite delicious!

The picture in my header was taken from the Emeryville, behind Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood Restaurant, where the Celebration was held. A beautiful day to pay tribute to a beautiful person.