35 years

We were young. I was a month shy of 20; he was almost 23 -- an older man! But he was handome and suave -- and he had a good job! We hit it off. Okay, I was swept off my feet, even tho the night we met he tried to convince me that he was a priest! I saw through that line but not all the rest; he proposed and we "ran off" and got married.

We only ran to the next county and were married in the Methodist Church with his friend, Hollis, to stand up with him and Little Jan, with me. We chose the next county because we didn't think anyone would get the Adair County newspaper and in those days the marriage licenses were published weekly -- and sometimes hit the print before the actual wedding. Later, we found out his Grandmother Antonia did indeed take the paper but, unusual for her, she hadn't read the marriage license entries!

We met with the minister ahead of time and were "counseled". The minister gave us both one piece of advice. To me, he advised, when my husband stomps off muttering, DO NOT ask him to repeat what he said. And his bit of wisdom offered up to my husband -- has been lost to the annals of time! However, one more thing he told us that I remember is that it is NOT always a 50 / 50 partnership -- that marriage sometimes requires one partner to put in more then their 50%. Sometimes it is 25 / 75 or 75 /25. It should equal out over the long haul tho -- it should average 50 / 50.

I sewed my flocked white, A-line dress, packed my bags, pots and pans, linens and my pillow and on July 17, 1970, he picked me up in his '64 black Plymouth Fury and off we drove to our destiny.

It was midafternoon on a hot summer day. His cousin Mike heard the ol' man was getting married. Not willing to believe it without seeing it, Mike came along on good intention and no invite and the wedding party was the minister, the bride and groom, two attendants and Mike, alone, in the front pew.

After a trip to Shagbark to announce our marriage to the folks and then to Prescott to meet my father-in-law for the first time and be reintroduced to his mother (I had met her once, on the street), we left for our honeymoon. Arriving at his apartment, he carried me over the threshold and thus we started our married life -- in a one room efficiency apartment in Sioux City, Iowa with a hide-a-way bed and the kitchen(ette) in the former closet. We had 6 honeymoon days together before he left me. So, he wooed me, whisked me away 180 miles from home and Mother, then abandoned me and went away to summer Guard camp! Don't know how he finangled it but he got a weekend pass and showed up on my (his) doorstep unannounced in the middle of the night. But that is a story for another day.

And, 35 years later, here we are, 4 children, 2 sons-in-laws, a daughter-in-law, 5 grandchildren, 3 states, 5 or 6 towns and several professions later and I am reminded of a line from a favorite book, Except for Me and Thee. The father, at the holiday dinner table, looks at the family seated all around and to paraphrase Jess, "I've been too busy to notice -- but look what I have begun."

Miss Gabrielle Nadeen, 3 years old!

The party girl is in the middle of her third birthday party and enjoying every minute of it! There was no nap for this girl, on this day -- she wasn't going to miss out on one single minute!

Sweet Gabrielle is articulate, bright and pretty much knows her own mind. She is a tiny little thing and likes everything to do with being a Princess, even naming her new kitten, Princess. Gabby likes dress up, Nana's high heel shoes and songs -- she is a singer, already knowing the words and melodies to many songs. (The other night I sang "Honey, you can't love one" to her only three times. I wonder if this week she is going around singing "la de da, poor boy, whoowhoo"! ) Gabby joins in the play with the other children but then, later, she may be away, by herself making her own entertainment and dreams.
Looking at her with her boa, I can imagine Gabrielle in 20 years, up on stage, singing and dancing!
Gabrielle is graceful and agile. She runs like the wind. She is gentle and caring with brother Joe one minute, furious, scrappy and fearless the next. Gabbydeen loves animals and when Dakota was injured, nursed and tended him (Mama found him covered and smothered under Gabrielle's tender care! )

Gabrielle, Nana knows that you will have fun and adventure in the years ahead. Should you grow up to dance and sing, become a physician, a veterinarian or astronaut, I know that you will have fun and good times along the way. Your sense of humor, cheerfulness, determination and your beautiful blue eyes just spell out achievement and success! Nana loves you.

July 4th, 2005

I love it when we are all together and the Hofs enjoy the 4th of July as much, or more, than they do Christmas. And we were all together this day, July 3, 2005.

Here the bairns and Kenna are sitting around the porch, having their picnic lunch. The fresh air and exercise has given them all an appetite and they "chow down". For a few minutes, they are all in one place, all connected, before they jump up and run off to enjoy the place called "the cabin". I hope the cabin stays with them and when they are grown, they look back fondly on their days spent at Nana and PaPa's cabin.

Madeline, Gabrielle, Kenna, Morghan, Joe and Jack, from left to right.

Johanna Rosanna Danna

or Banana. Or Joanitor. This girl has so many nicknames that I didn't know which to use. Being the baby of the family, she was destined to be teased and picked on. And usually, she's a good sport about it -- and always gives as good as she gets.

We were all so excited about the new baby's arrival, that 5-yr old Erica shared the news at her kindergarten Show and Tell. The teacher told me later, it was the first time bashful Erica had something to share!

'Anna, she was to me, as a toddler and I delighted in the days of her youth. We were in the grocery store then and my flexible work hours allowed me to spend time with her. We loved her, played babydoll with her and the older children protected her when I would try to discipline her.

When she was five, the slightly older neighbor girl learned to ride her bike so Johanna, determined sprite, learned to ride hers. She spent hours on the front sidewalk, wreaking, crashing, waving away her daddies offer to help. I was afraid that folks would think I had been beating her; she was scrapped and scratched and bruised. She did ride that bike, tho, and she did it on her own.Now, a young adult, she celebrates her 26th year. Creative, perceptive and saucy. Still determined. An artist, she paints, makes jewelry, likes pottery and tile and rock. She loves tag sales and bargains.

Hannah, Happy 26th! May you find your dreams. I know that when you do, you will do it "on your own"; you will do it your way! Love, Mom

Anthony P. Fontana

Tony, husband to Kristy, chef, music lover, fisherman and camper had a birthday in April.
It seems whenever I take a photo of Tony he is interacting with his nieces and nephews. In this photo, Morghan, Jack and, way back there, only a speck of white, Maddie Mae are chasing Tony in retaliation for a water balloon, I imagine. Or for the pure love of running.
Tony, may this year be interesting, entertaining, rewarding and challenging. Happy 31st birthday!