All you need is love.....???

First of all, Happy, Happy Valentine's Day. I am hoping that some man somewhere listened to at least ONE of the recommendations on this blog, (because Dave McKeon sure didn't, but we all know that Dave McKeon doesn't ever read the blog, which is probably a very good thing) and that some woman somewhere is sporting a new piece of hardware, and if she is, that smart man is sporting a big old smile because he has/will get his special reward. Moreover, I hope that each and every one of you ladies got an enormous bouquet of flowers (no mums, no carnations) that was so beautiful that when it was delivered to your place of business it made at least two of your co-workers politely excuse themselves to cry softly in their cubicles in jealous despair...

Interestingly, I got some verbal feedback today on the blog, and one woman told me that her favorite Valentine's Day gift was a new screen door, another told me that all she wanted for Valentine's Day was for her husband to take some lights down from some tree. ...Hey, to each her own. .I can appreciate a screen door as much as the next person, and God knows, I love a man who will perform household chores, but I am still sticking by my life long credo of "If I can't wear it, it's not a gift"... and don't be applying gift status to necessary household items that we probably would have bought any way...I'm not falling for it, it's still not a gift.. even if you put a bow on it...

Hey, remember the good old days of the Burberry Fit Club Challenge? Me, too. Finally, here are the photos of our winners, with their victory scarves...
Directly Below is The Beautiful Mrs. Judy Pulera in her Burberry Scarf....look what you were up against, Louis...tough to beat a winner like Judy...and seriously, Judy really can do like 100 pushups, even wearing the scarf.....not that we need to open that whole Judy vs. Louis protein vs. carbs can of worms...

Now, here is a picture of the equally lovely Angela Fitzpatrick wearing her Burberry scarf as she meets her hero husband Brendan at the airport after his tour of duty in Afghanistan . Doesn't she look amazing? Doesn't he look great? Aren't their kids so cute? I am so honored that the Burberry Fit Club scarf could be a part of this special moment. Ok, admit it, I picked the absolute best Fit Club winners and the scarves are all good.

Every time I see this photo, I just tear up. It's so touching and a great reminder to all of us that so many men and women are in war zones, defending our freedom, our country and our friends. Love is all you need, indeed...... I hope that the Fitzpatrick Family is having the best Valentine's Day EVER. They deserve it....

I must say, nice sweaters on the boys. Coincidentally, the McKeon children wore these exact same sweaters in 2001 for our Christmas card photo to make our own patriotic statement.  Great minds and all that.

I loved these sweaters and made my mom dress the five big kids in them when they met Dave and I at the airport when we brought Posey home from China. It was so sweet seeing them all there to welcome their new little sister to her new country, except Annie exercised her right to civil disobedience by quietly refusing to take her coat off the entire time, because she hated wearing the same sweater as her brothers, and guess what? here is what happens at chez McKeon when you civilly disobey,...your mom chooses a Christmas card photo where you have your eyes closed....Kind of wish you had taken that coat off, huh, Annie? ....I guess she learned her lesson, because as of less  than a year ago, she was proudly wearing the same dress as her little sister for Easter...see above...great photo, eyes open ...all good...

Now, in honor of Love, Marriage, and all that those entail, I am teeing up a column I wrote almost five years ago. And because it truly is a small world after all, one of those couples I refer to in the column is ANGELA AND BRENDAN FITZPATRICK!!! The circle of life....or blogs...or photos....or just coincidence...

      COLUMN ORIGINALLY RUN IN JULY OF 2006 IN THE KENOSHA NEWS

  We’ve been invited to seven weddings this summer—SEVEN!  (four Catholic, one Methodist, one nondenominational and one Catholic-Hindu hybrid).  That’s a lot of fondue pots.  I love weddings. I really do.  I love the ceremony, the music, the dresses, the flowers, the reception, the dancing, the bouquet toss, the whole shebang. My eyes start tearing up the minute I hear the first strains of Pachabel’s Canon.   And by the time the couples say “I do”, forget about it—I’m a blubbering idiot. 

In this day of instant divorce, long term cohabitation, and chronic “hooking up” (whatever that means), I am so impressed by these young people who are consciously choosing marriage.   Generation X (or is it Y? Z?) gets a pretty bad rap for being lazy, whiny, coffee swilling slackers, only interested in video games and cell phone ring tones.  But I’ve got to tell you, the betrotheds we know are seriously stand up people, with major careers, good intentioned life plans complete with low interest mortgages and IRAs.  So far this summer, we’ve been invited to the upcoming nuptials of an investment banker, a sales intern, a dental student, a medical student, a lawyer, an IT specialist, two youth ministers and an accountant.  Not a loser in the bunch. 

 To be willing to make a public statement asserting love and commitment takes some guts.  (and obviously, from the weddings I’ve seen so far—a whole lot of tulle).  I am honestly so touched by the earnestness of these newlyweds, touched by the love they have for each other, the dreams they have for the future, and their untarnished belief in the institution of marriage.  You can see the hope in their eyes and the anticipation in their shaky voices as they make their vows before God, family and friends.  Were we ever that young, that unguarded, that innocent?  I recently saw one of our wedding photos, and we did have that same dewy look that the newly married have.  (and my husband had some really dorky glasses, too).While I wouldn’t trade places, (the first five years of marriage are a lot of work), I do envy them that newness of a journey and the enormous possibilities that their lives together will hold .   

As I enter my twentieth year of wedded bliss (some years more blissful than others—as I like to tell my husband, “It’s gone by like five minutes….under water”), there are so many things I want to say to these newlyweds.  Things like “go ahead and go to bed angry, other wise you might not be getting much sleep.”   “A little champagne and roses, goes a long way.”  “Think mean things about your in-laws, but do not say them out loud.”  But would that spoil the surprises and take away some of the lessons that come from living in a marriage?  I hate to say too much for fear of “scaring single” those yet to march down the aisle.

Mostly, I want to tell these fine young couples, love each other. It’s harder than it sounds.  As your married life grows to incorporate in-laws, careers, children and all the joy and stress that they bring, your partner will be the first one you turn to for help, but also the first one you turn to in anger.  Things will not go as planned, ever, so stop trying so hard.  Some one will get sick, someone will lose a job, the babies will come at the most inopportune time, or they won’t come at all.  Money will be tight, tempers will run short.  And some days you’ll look at each other and barely remember what brought you together.  Remember, you’re on the same side.  Err on the side of kindness, cut each other some slack.  And if you want this union to last for the long haul, be willing to apologize (even when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are so right), and be even more willing to forgive.  Because in a marriage there are moments, days, weeks and even years of such sublime joy and unexpected wonder that you really need to share it with the one you love the most.     

Believe it or not, every one of these couples is still together, five years later...even the McKeons.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, BE NICE, BE KIND, and it's not too late to BUY A GIFT (not an appliance)

Today's Top Ten:

1.  The Fitzpatricks and their patriotic homecoming
2. Tretorn sneakers--I am taking full credit for bringing these back. True story--when I was in college, I rocked the sweetest pair of leather tretorns that I wore out. About five years ago, I found some on line and bought some for me, Annie, and Posey. Then I started buying them for the boys...now, they are all over J. Crew, Olive Juice, Zappos...thank me very  much...I am also taking credit for the comeback of the RayBan aviators...if you don't believe me, I will fight you
3. The King's Speech--it is a great movie. I'm not just saying that. Dave "History Savant" McKeon's gives it two thumbs up and asked the following question: "Is this a true story? Who is that Wallace woman? How come no one has punched that p*$$y David guy yet?" That about sums it up
4. The white enamel Hermes bracelet--did not get it for Valentine's Day...hope someone did
5. www.bustedtees.com   this site has the funniest t-shirts ever. And they are a total bargain. There is one with two astronauts planting an American flag on the moon that says "Finders keepers". Always makes me laugh
6. Gummy butterflies from Harry and David--way better than gummy bears
7. The plaid wool small duffel bags from Filson, especially the green one...could be so cool when I go to London to see Annie
8. Egg drop soup--low cal, filling and full of love
9. Patriotic sweaters
10. The book mark that Posey made me for Valentine's Day--nothing sweeter than home made gifts from the kids,...unless the kids can drive, have a job and a credit card...
    

Have a great day, enjoy the post and a special note to Kim Westphal:

Of course the photos of you with ND athletes count, bring them on, missy. Makes you look cool, makes the blog look cool.