“Another year is dawning,
With a chance to start anew,
May I be kinder, wiser, Lord,
In all I say and do.”
“New Year’s Prayer” By Kay Hoffman
I must mention that my New Year’s resolution is to be more organized. There are things everywhere around the house. I buy cards to send to our family and friends and then cannot find where I put them. I have finally learned, at least, to paper-clip the envelope to the card so I won’t lose it. I also won’t put new cans of food in front of the old cans. I promise.
Every once in a while, Hubby and I will check out the canned food in the pantry. Most of the time a few are several years out of date, especially those on the higher shelves where I can’t reach. Those I empty out and recycle the container. Hubby usually brings up the food from the cellar fridge when we need it. I know that the milk is fresh because we use so much of it. I haven’t looked into the corners of that fridge in quite a while. I will wait till a warmer day and go down to investigate to see what is long gone.
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I was sorry to hear, from pal Ann, that Barbara Genduso had passed away. I first met Barbara when her husband of 50 years, Bob, was president of the Pope’s Hill Neighborhood Association so many years ago. Our E Board would have its meetings at the Genduso home. I also saw her often when she worked at the Neponset Health Center. I am sure that the membership of the PHNA sends its sympathy to her husband Bob, to their children Robert Jr. and his wife Stacey and Andrea and her husband John Krause. Barbara was the grandmother of Abigail Rose, Lily Elizabeth, Ryan Robert, Connor James, and Andrew Joseph.
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Hubby and I were looking forward to Monday, Dec. 8. On that day we were invited by the city of Boston to attend a party for those couples married 50 years or more. The party was to be held at the Taj Boston Hotel in Boston. We received notice that a van would pick us up at home by 10:30 a.m. and take us in town. On that morning, we were ready with our coats on when the van arrived. As we boarded, we were surprised and delighted that our friends Ken and Mary Bruynell were seated in the front seat. We knew we would have a great time because we enjoy Ken and Mary so much. There were several other couples that joined us.
When we arrived at the Taj, we first had our photos taken. The photographer took at least five or six formal poses. He told us that we were very natural and were probably used to having photos taken. I told him that Hubby takes a great many photos so we that we are, indeed, well used to posing. Then we found the table where we were assigned. We were delighted to see Ken and Mary already sitting there. Then we met another of our friends from the van, Julio and Evelyn Guisti, from the Clam Point area. Across from us sat Maureen Bruno and her husband.
All the while we were chatting, the band “Four Guys in Tuxes” played very appropriate music for this group of senior citizens. We heard: “Could I Have This Dance?” … “Silver Bells” … “Fly Me To the Moon” … and “Memories,” from the musical “Cats.” The Commissioner of Elderly Affairs, Emily Shea, came to the microphone to welcome us. Emily then introduced Mayor Marty Walsh, who received a big ovation from the seniors. He made us laugh several times with his remarks. His biggest laugh came when he announced that there were 75 couples attending this luncheon so there were 75 wise men who know when to keep their mouths shut.” He told us that there was a total of 3,820 years of marriage with all the couples in attendance.
I am not thrilled with champagne so I was delighted to have our glasses filled with cider. It was very tasty. The chicken dinner with mashed potatoes was scrumptious. The couple who cut the huge (six layers) wedding cake (which we had for dessert) was the couple who were married the longest, 72 years. They were Ben and Rosemary Kreder, who met at a picnic 75 years ago. Believe me, neither of them looked old enough to be married 72 years. Another couple who sparkled on the dance floor were Yunzhong Xie and his wife, Cuie Zhu. Cuie had on a beautiful, long, pink Asian print dress. When the two of them danced by us, looking like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, I gave them a “thumbs-up.” Cuie waved and smiled at me. As we left the dining room, each couple was given a pair of fluted champagne glasses, with the date and Mayor Marty Walsh’s name embossed in gold on the glasses. What a lovely remembrance! On the way out of the Taj, Commissioner Shea wished us well. Our van awaited us and we were home before 3 p.m. By the way, I saw my new friend from the 50th celebration, Evelyn Guisti, at Mass for the holy day that evening at St. Ann’s Church. “I kidded her and said, “We must stop meeting like this.”
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This is a short column this week. Hubby came down with a “stomach bug” on New Year’s Eve. Granddaughter Erin came down with the same thing on Friday morning. Then, not to be outdone, I came down with the same thing on Friday evening. I was in the house all weekend. I watched a great many episodes of “Blue Bloods” and also “Hart to Hart” on TV. I mentioned to daughter Sue, on the phone, that “Hart to Hart” was on, so she was hooked on that program all day Sunday. I also slept a lot. I feel better today and was able to go to work. Daughter Jeanne said that the bug was going through her school just before Christmas so she knew how to treat it. It is not pleasant.
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Here is a wise thought for the new year: “Today’s preparation determines tomorrow’s achievement.”
