Saturday, April 23, 2005

Let me introduce myself

I'm 56 year old, recently widowed, with one son. I used to work full time in an electronics company in Quality Assurance and Quality Control. I say used too because I retired on February 10, 2006. Woo Hoo!!!

Maybe I'd better start at the beginning.

I was born in 1948 in Windber Pennsylvania and grew up in Florida. I lived there until 1963 when my mother sent me to live with my father and step mother on Long Island. I graduated high school in 1966 and was drafted in 1968.

Off to Vietnam in October and wounded about a month later, four days after my 20th birthday. I had an out of body experience when I was wounded and saw myself lying dead on the ground. Interesting experience. I spent three months in various military hospitals recovering and then off to Fort Meade Maryland for the remainder of my two years. I was honorably discharged in May 1970.

I met my wife on Labor Day weekend that year and we were married in July 1972. We had a boy in April 1982 and named him Brian. He turned 23 last April.

Life was pretty good for us up until May 2003. That is when they discovered Barbara had malignant brain cancer. They originally estimated she could survive between two months and two years but not to expect anything more. She passed away on October 17, 2005. I miss her a great deal. God rest her soul.

5 comments:

Wenchy said...

Yes, sadly, this is the first time I've read your first post.

Love you Tony!

Jess said...

Tony I just found your blog through Samantha's and I want to say how sorry I am for your loss. I hope you are making it ok day by day...Jess

Paula Rosenblum said...

Barbara was my sorority sister back in New Paltz a very long time ago. I think we also lived in the same dorm. I just read of her passing in the NP alumni news.

Sorry for your loss. She was a good woman.

Best,

Anonymous said...

I was also in the same sorority with Barb in college, and was surprised and saddened to hear of her passing.

Please take care of yourself.

Valerie 7/6/06

anocsanamun said...

You know I read this over and over a few times over the last year. Each time, I wanted to say something. ANYTHING> BUt I felt Im sorry was just too generic and impersonal. Whenever I thought of something else, I realized your picture had you with a HUGE SMILE and I was like... He could be smiling right now, and reading whatever morbid thing you will say about this could really hurt him. So, believe it or not, because I actually cared is why I never said anythign until now. You are an awesome man Tony, and I am sure she was a phenomenal woman. I know the love you 2 had will endure forever.