No, that's not "Doc" Adam Briker (Bernie Kopell) with cruise director Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes) aboard the Princess Pacific. And although, more than likely smaller than a dingy on the luxury liner and most certainly not able to provide yardage enough for a musical production by Ann Miller complete with as many back up dancers that would have made Ziegfeld envious, this black and white version of the love boat was a romantic and comic tale of the passengers aboard just the same. The sweethearts aboard this love boat are my parents, sans sand, sans wedding bands, and sans children. They were courting and their love was exciting and new! The era was post WWll, when men were men and women were glad of it and when women had the cutest figures and greatest clothes in the history of wardrobes! Her little two piece nautical number is ideal for floating off toward the horizon to watch the sunset. I doubt if it crossed her mind while hanging on to her hunky beau that her daughter some 60 years later would be oh-ing and ah-ing over the clothes she chose for that days voyage, but here I am doing just! Thanks Mom for your love of fashion and your sense of style, (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree), and for your romantic tale, 60 years in the making, what a tale it is! Now Mom, I realize you'd say the sound track to your story would be something sung by Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, but in keeping with the theme of this post Jack Jones will have to make due! http://classic-tv.com/TheLoveBoatThemeSong.htmlIf you set sail with your sweetheart on the waters of lake Erie or any other, make sure you are prepared, life jackets, ores, wine glasses,a fine vintage and.... http://www.etsy.com/listing/47612440/bottle-stopperhttp://www.etsy.com/listing/47609707/wine-glass-charmsthey are authentic, one-of-a -kind, and beachy keen!
Fishing was one of my Dad's favorite past times and that is certainly evident by the look on his face in this picture! Posed, proud and poised he and his catch of the day are captured forever in film. When the lake was smooth as glass, the temperature rose above 80 degrees and the humidity laid on your skin like a wet suit, the fish would jump out of the water and my Dad would jump in to his favorite fishin' hole! He certainly knew how to make great "gone fishin'" moments. My siblings and I are creating "gone fishin' moments today, just like my Dad did years ago. It's so wonderful to put our feet in the same sand, fish in the same lake, sleep under the same roof and breathe in the same air. Nothing would make him happier than to see us laughing like mad while playing spoons at the dining room table, to hear our nephew Brian's girlfriend Lizzy, sing a tear jerking rendition of "Hallelujah" in the front room of the cottage...(he was a sucker for a pretty girl, especially an Irish one, who could sing)! or to see us enjoy each other's company during our annual hors d'oeuvre party we will be having tonight. That is what our cottage is for...family, families making "gone fishin' moments and those moments becoming memories, memories that capture your heart.... hook, line and singer!!One of my favorite recordings ever sung is "Gone Fishin'": Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjZ7hx4--iUYou can hear the scratchiness of the vinyl against the phonographs needle...I love that sound. Take a listen, then...go fishin!
4:43 p.m., my text signal beeps on my cellie!
It reads."OMG...ENGAGED"!
Why, that could mean only one thing!
Rewind; two-n-a-half weeks ago. My sis and I are working diligently on delightful pieces of wonderfulness. My handsome, big, strong, bro-in-law, was hanging with the wonderful creative ladies of 1226 Designs (because where else would he want to be)?. Enter: Nick. My niece Katie's hunky beau. A slight tension takes over the room. Not the kind of tension that makes you a little sick to you belly and encourages a run to the loo rather, the kind of tension that makes you sit still because you want to see what comes next...a, this is gonna be good kind of tension. Nick, the dear, sweet, keeper, then pops the question to my sis and her big daddy hubby. He asked for our Katie's hand in marriage. AHHHHHHHHHH!!! Just thinking about it makes me well up! I can't tell you how happy I was to be at their "parent privilege" moment. Although, it goes with out saying. I am Aunt "horner-inner" (It's a long story and this is a happy blog so gory details are not permissible), but since I've been single, my siblings children, are to me like my own. I'm there for it all. Whether they want me to be or not, I'm horning in! Any way, the three of us (My sis, her hunky hubby and myself) all give our blessings and blubber a bit. He leaves the room and we three chitter-chatter about 'lil Katie, teen-aged Katie and now all-grown-up Katie. My how time has flown. Anyway, let me just say this, it's been tremendously difficult holding this information in. Nick asked the three of us not to mention the news to anyone and I had to show our new, soon-to-be relative, that Auntie Horner-Inner can be trusted for corn sake. Plus, not to blurb it out to Katie was crazy killin' me. She's like my sister-daughter-niece and bestie rolled in to one. (As are all my my nieces).
Cut to present. Today, my sister and her beautiful daughter, our Katie, were recreating on the beach, in front of our family cottage, and found out for themselves just how shore 'nuff engaging the beach really is! Nick, Katies hunky beau, got down on bended sandy knee and proposed marriage. It couldn't have been at a more appropriate place to do so. Katie has grown up in this lovely beach community. She is the fourth generation to experience the love affair with these hallowed grounds, this 4 mile radius, our family compound. And this moment has marked yet another milestone in her life by accepting his hand. Congratulations Katie and Nick, I am so so happy for you both!!!!!!!!!! Nick's a lucky man, because Katie is authentic, one of a kind and beachy keen!
Oh, yay! Now we get to start planning a wedding!!! We already have perfect shower favors. http://www.etsy.com/shop/1226designs
What? I know, I know, shamelessly self-promoting, but if you're not gonna toot your own horn, who is? Listen, you have to put the oxygen mask on your face first, survival one-o-one!
I love you Kate!
No, that's not "Doc" Adam Briker (Bernie Kopell) with cruise director Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes) aboard the Princess Pacific. And although, more than likely smaller than a dingy on the luxury liner and most certainly not able to provide yardage enough for a musical production by Ann Miller complete with as many back up dancers that would have made Ziegfeld envious, this black and white version of the love boat was a romantic and comic tale of the passengers aboard just the same. 
