Last summer when I announced I would be retiring effective Jan. 1, 2018, it seemed like it was so far in the future. Well, I’m almost six months into it now and the time keeps whipping by.
We’ve been spending more time in Henderson than we anticipated because our daughter, Toni, took a new job with Gucci.
She went to New York City for three days of training and she has had outstanding sales. She was named the store‘s top sales person four times in her first two weeks on the job. She’s working in the same high fashion mall (The Shops at Crystals) as her last sales position with Jimmy Choo. In fact, it’s just two doors away.
That has meant more time with our grandson, Camden. His dad, Jason, works out of his home on the telephone selling sports cards and memorabilia.
That‘s where we come in. Jason wouldn’t be able to get anything done with Camden around. He’s such a little chatterbox.
We spent four days with daughter Holly and her family at their home in Carlsbad, California the second week of May. We had a great time sitting on the beach watching for whales and dolphins. Holly said this has been a good year for seeing them from the beach. We didn’t have any luck the day we went.
It was a bit cool but it felt good after leaving 90 degree temperatures in Vegas. The water temperature was 62 degrees, too cold for me to go in.
Another day, we went to watch the girls’ gymnastics class. Brooke is 9 years old and Addy is 7. Brooke was elected to the student council. I joked with her about running for Congress someday.
“Oh grandpa, all we do in our meetings is make posters and plan fund-raisers,” Brooke said.
I want to thank all of you who called or sent cards and other wishes of condolences to me in regard to my brother Steve’s passing. Our family is still in a state of shock.
He was considered the healthy one in the family (other than my mom who will be 92 in September). Two months ago he had a complete physical and his numbers came out perfect. He worked out religiously and one room in his house was dedicated to his workout equipment.
He got up every morning at 4 a.m. to work out. And his body looked like he was in the habit of working out. His body was as they say, “ripped” with big biceps, and tight abdominal muscles. From the neck down he looked much younger than his 66 years.
But all of that didn’t make any difference. Steve actually grew when he was in his early 20s. When he graduated from high school, he was 5-foot, 10-inches tall and wore a size 10 shoe. On his 23rd birthday, he measured 6-foot, 3-inches tall and his shoe size was 13.
Hours before he died, he spent three hours in the sun and 90-degree temperatures with a friend, removing an old spa. A new one was to be delivered the following week.
Over-dehydration and a blood clot contributed to his death.
