HELLO, AUGUST,2021!! I thought you would never get here. Frankly, I love September. But August is full of surprises for me. I “remember” 2 wedding anniversaries, 5 birthdays of important people in my FORMER life, and one VIP death. So, I am up and then I am down. Let’s share and walk down memory lane, shall we? A moment to reflect.
Two Important wedding anniversaries:
August 17, 1957: I had my first big wedding on August 17, 1957. It rained that day. Plus, I was 3 months pregnant with my baby daughter. And Darrell MacIntyre was considered a major “catch” everywhere but in my hometown. I was very excited. And it was a memorable event. We went to the Cloister in Sea Island on our honeymoon. I found Darrell very sexy. The marriage wasn’t’ so hot. Stay tuned.
Then, on August 7, 2005, I married a man I loved very much – STEVE ORLANDELLA. He was also considered a “catch”. We booked our wedding and honeymoon night at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was glamorous, fun, and wonderful. I was a successful attorney in Los Angeles, AND I was very happy. I think he was, too.
Now, for the five birthdays that were special to me. NOTE, these are birthdays from long ago when I had special friends in my hometown of Gainesville, Georgia, when I was growing up, all except for Steve. I had best friends at that time. And, I was good about remembering their birthdays. August was filled with them.
First and foremost, August 11, 1950 was Steve’s birthday. He was born and died in August (1950-2016).
August 7, 1938: Alice Whitehead Paris. She was a best friend. We have lost touch over the years. But, she was special. She is the tall, gorgeous one with me and Angela at the beach.
August 13, 1935: Rosemary Wood Johnston Dodd. She was a special friend and wonderful artist and actress. I had her paintings for years. We have also lost touch.
August 14, 1937: Carole Lilly Jones. We were best friends and still are good friends. Our parents were friends. She is my one, special lifetime friend and will always be.
August 27, 1973. Christopher John Uhler, my stepson for 12 years. A real cutie.
AND, the worst part of all of these memories is the month of August 2016, that Steve spent in the hospital in Nice, France, while the doctors battled to save his life. We NEVER dreamed he would die. We were on holiday/delayed honeymoon in July 2016 in Sardinia. It was wonderful. We were so in love. And, happy to be in France near Formula One in Monaco. Not in our wildest dreams…….
And, gone but never forgotten, Steve died on August 31, 2016. A man with a big heart, his heart failed.
I was supposed to go first. Not Steve. But, health issues plagued him and still plague me. In the plague in Paris. SO, those memories play over and over in my mind EVERY August. So, I will leave you with a picture of Steve on a good day in Marseille in June 2016 – two months before.
Best, Jay
Support JAYSPEAK
Thanks for any help at all that you will give to me. Aging is dealing with health issues – major and minor. Glad to still be alive with a 5-year plan in place. I plan to continue writing – as long as I can.
$50.00
JAYSPEAK 
I remember you when you were, perhaps ,in the Gainesville Junior Service League.
You were in a production for enrichment
of children. Part of the program was,
“These Boots Were Made For Walking.”
You did a great job and the kids loved it!
I was a young teacher at that school named Miller Park, a Gainesville City School, that has long been closed. You will not know me as I came to Gainesville
by marriage, not by birth. I still enjoy living in this growing town.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for your comment. I loved all the children’s theater fun. Yes, I remember Miller Park. We were all young. Enjoy Gainesville.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw the picture of Steve lying in the hospital bed and remember the talks we had while he was there, so young.
I’m very impressed with your photos from long ago.
I remember you before you married & you were gorgeous and still are. Try to enjoy August ‼️ The Wedding picture was beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I remember all of it very well and I like all of the photos I used. I have more I did not use. Thanks for the compliments. I plan to do what I can to remember all the good things about the people who mattered to me for so long. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You and Darrell look like the perfect couple. It’s a shame it didn’t work out. Moving back to Gainesville might have been your downfall. You probably heard that Alice’s husband Tommy died this year from sepsis and her 28 year old granddaughter died this summer from cancer. We have had quite a few friends in Gainesville to die from Covid-19. There is a steady stream of bad news here. Children from prominent families dying from OD or suicide all the time. I remember you and Alice because you were so beautiful and popular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I did not know that. I don’t keep in touch with former friends. I knew about Tommy but nohing else. Yes, Darrell and I had a lot of good. Long story. Gainesville was not good for me but Darrell loved it. Thanks for your comment.
LikeLike