Always Remember ~ My 100th post

Today was a beautiful day.

I had the day off
so I did a little shopping
got myself a new bra and a pair of black jeans
went to the library
had a nice chat with an old friend
made new friends on FaceBook
baked cupcakes with Birdie for Mr. Flanagan's b'day

I've been thinking about what I wanted to post today
so I wandered around Blogger for inspiration.
I found it!
And it reminded me to always remember, so

I will always remember...

the black and white photos of my childhood,
especially the ones of my siblings lined up on the couch,
my brother holding the newborn baby (me),
all of them smiling so happily!
how freaking cute all of them were back then
the picture of them lined up in front of the tree
how few pictures there are of me growing up
the ones I remember most were taken at Nonie's house

Nonie's parlor with the blue-green furniture
DelVeneri's Bakery
the crusty bread baked in a wood-fired oven
the rare occasions we ate dinner at Nonie's *yum*
the lillie's of the valley & peonies on Meadow Street
the huge wedding picture of my parents

camping at Lake Dunmore with Dad's parents
my brother yelling "Irma!", which got him in trouble
the sweet smell of Grandpa's cigars
Uncle Johnny teaching how to bounce quarters on our beds
exploring upstairs at Aunt Tracy's house

peeing my pants in Sister Justin's 1st grade class
never wearing a seat belt as a kid
bouncing from seat to seat in the station wagon
the attic adventures in the old house on Spellman Terrace
stowing away in the bed of the pick-up while Dad drove to work
going to the 50 cent matinees every Saturday
sharing banana splits with my friend Lisa at Woolworth's

my first french kiss ~ too much tongue *yuck*
my first real boyfriend, Lenny
dumping him for the gorgeous guy who took my virginity
having my heart broken for the 1st time by that gg
senior year religion class with Father LaValley
the huge picture of me that hung in the window of Bartlett's Studio

the first time I got drunk
the first time I smoked weed
the first & only time I tried "coke"
my 1st apartment
bar hopping
moving away from the town I grew up in to escape a bad relationship

being in the best shape of my life
dating several guys at once to regain my confidence
the trip to Long Island with Janice & Dottie
getting set-up on a blind date with Hubby
my first concert with Hubby ~ Stevie Ray Vaughn & Joe Cocker
Hubby's wedding proposal 7 years later

our first home in Hinesburg
our wedding on the beach of St. Lucia
our honeymoon cruise through the Grenadine Islands
the birth of our 1st baby ~ a beautiful son
Birdie being rushed to the NICU 2 days after birth
the day Hubby told me I lost my nephew
telling Hubby that Birdie was going to be a big brother
the car accident on the morning I went into labor with Nut

Birdie's rendition of Santa Claus, sung to the BratPea
Nut's uncanny ability to always make me laugh
Hubby's unwavering devotion to his sons
how lucky I am for being the Queen among these Princes!