From Debbie (along with editing and
comments from Brian):
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy New Year! We hope all is well in your lives. We have had a very eventful
year (that is quite the understatement)! Here is a recap…
It started off quietly in January and February. In March, I turned 60 - can you
believe it? I can’t! I still think of myself as a 40‑year‑old (no comment😉).
We celebrated by renting out The Cook’s Studio in Huntington. We squeezed in 25
people and learned how to make paella (and it came out delicious). The biggest
surprise was that my friend Valerie flew in to celebrate the entire weekend
with me! Then Brian pulled off another surprise when we walked into the bar
next door and more friends were there to surprise me. It was an amazing
weekend.
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| Back row: Justin, Val, Brian, and Aaron Front row: Amanda, Mom, Deb the birthday "girl", and Rebecca |
A few days later, my mom and sisters surprised me with a trip to Iceland! I did not know where we were going until we arrived at JFK. That was a lot of fun!
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| Mom, Deb, Lauren, and Susan |
Rebecca did a fantastic job in planning and throwing Amanda’s bachelorette party that was in Shelter Island which was dubbed “Camp Amanda”. It was perfectly planned, and executed, and best of all, Amanda (and everyone else) had a memorable and great time.
In April, we went to L.A. for one of Brian’s business meetings and had a great
trip. We saw his cousins Victor and Jono and their families, as well as his
Uncle Ron and Claudia. We always laugh and have fun with Brian’s cousins and
only wish we lived closer. We also saw his long-time friend Bruce and his wife
Alex. It was a pleasure spending time together.
In June, the big moment arrived. I officially retired after
30 years and one month (but who is counting) as a speech pathologist with the
Hauppauge School District. Bretton Woods hosted a lovely celebration for the
retirees and it was the perfect way to close that chapter. A few months later I
can honestly say I love retirement. I get to enjoy my days without rushing
everything.
During the summer I spent time sailing, hiking, gardening,
and enjoying Long Island beaches. We were also busy planning Amanda and
Justin’s wedding. In September I went back to work a little and now substitute
at a nursery school. I spend mornings on the floor with two and three-year-olds
and they are a hoot. Brian thinks I am crazy (just one of many reasons 😊).
Yes, the pay is terrible compared to private speech therapy, but there are no
responsibilities and that is exactly what I want right now.
Over July 4th weekend we joined friends Jim and Maria and stayed at Mike and
Janice’s place in Ocean City. It was a spur-of-the-moment trip that turned out
to be a lot of fun.
Later in the month, we were ready to head to Europe.
However, right before we left, Amanda needed to have her gallbladder removed.
Thankfully everything went smoothly and she recovered quickly. (The timing
could not have been better, since delaying it two months would not have paired
well with a certain wedding!) With that behind us, we made our flight and began
our trip.
We started in Florence, then visited Cinque Terre, Monte
Carlo, Nice, Avignon, and finally Paris. The trip originally came about because
Brian wanted to play in the World Backgammon Tournament in Monte Carlo. Quite a
few others from his backgammon group also attended. We stayed at the Fairmont,
right next to the famous casino. It was quite an experience and the whole Monte
Carlo vibe is unforgettable. Brian held his own in the matches and is tempted
to go again at some point. I might too, although next time I would like to stay
on the French Riviera side, maybe in Nice. I really loved Nice and want to
explore more of that area. Cinque Terre was beautiful, but I still prefer the
Amalfi Coast (ditto). Paris was also wonderful. Returning to a place you have
already visited takes away the pressure to see everything, and you can simply
enjoy the city. Traveling without kids changes the experience too (agreed)! It
was a fantastic trip.
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| View outside the home of our dinner hosts outside of Cinque Terre |
In September, the big day arrived - Amanda and Justin’s wedding on September 12th! It was the highlight of the year for us. Their wedding was beautiful, joyful, and filled with family and friends (and Amanda and Justin could not have been a happier couple, and we were thrilled seeing how happy they were and how smoothly everything went). The venue was wonderful, and the DJ kept the dance floor full all night. (We also used the same officiant that did my brother Ben’s wedding last year, which was Rebecca’s boyfriend Aaron. He again did a wonderful job but hopefully keeps his day job – especially as it is working alongside with me).
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| The Gray family (note to self: in the future, do not stand next to my wonderful (but very tall!) nephews for pictures) |
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| Aaron officiating at Amanda and Justin's wedding |
In October, we headed to Charlottesville, Virginia for the wedding of our
friends’ daughter. This time we took the train, which was an interesting way to
travel. The wedding was beautiful, and we had a great time exploring the area.
We returned home only to leave the next day for another of Brian’s business
meetings, this time in Newport Beach, California. It is absolutely stunning
there, and I even rode a bike along the Pacific Coast Highway. I loved it!
In November, I visited Austin, Texas with my high school friends Moira, Ellen,
and Valerie, to celebrate our 60th birthdays. It just so happened Brian had a
meeting there at the same time, so we met him for dinner one night. Austin was
vibrant and fun. There was an open art studio event, a huge book fair with
speakers, live music in many places, and we watched the bats fly out from under
the bridge at dusk (if you have not seen it, it is wild).
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| Deb, Val, Ellen, and Moira in Austin |
In December, we celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas. We spent Christmas at the Dassatti’s in Connecticut. My cousin Jim, his wife Julie, and their daughter Katie were able to join us while visiting from South Carolina. The house was buzzing with activity, lots of laughs and good times (as always)!
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| The Gray family on Christmas Day |
Now for the update on our girls (or to be clear, adult children, as they would point out):
Amanda left Stony Brook Hospital and now works for Northwell
Health as a desk receptionist in Riverhead. She enjoys the people she works
with, although being on the phones all day is not her favorite part.
Rebecca also changed jobs and now works doing project management
at NYU Langone. She goes into the office three days a week and works remotely
two days a week.
Brian continues to work, and retirement is not in his vocabulary.
This is totally by choice, as he enjoys what he does, and spending time with
“the guys” at work, far too much to stop. He still enjoys tournament backgammon
and recently he and his backgammon partner Debra (not a typo, as Debbie
does not play competitively, nor have any desire to) finished “in the money” by getting to the
semifinals in Boston for the double’s event (out of 32 doubles teams from
across the country).
Our sweet Buddy is now 15 years old, deaf, and his eyesight
is fading. He also has what we lovingly call “doggie dementia.” We treasure
every day with him.
As for me, retirement is everything I hoped for and more, with many adventures planned in the year ahead. You never know when I (or we) may show up at your doorstep, so consider this a friendly warning. My focus is to spread love, enjoy life, and keep laughing at myself while I continue driving Brian and our family crazy (of which I have no doubt….and continue to look forward to).
Love to all,
Deb (and Brian)
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