How did we meet?  How did our lives intertwine? This is it in a nutshell

At the age of 21,  several girlfriends and I rented a house for the summer. My first job was change girl at Barneys' Casino and Johnny was my boss. Yep, change girl and graveyard slot manager romance. And when the summer ended and my friends left, I stayed with Johnny. We were married in June of 1972.

Our son, Michael,  was born at the Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe and our  first home together was in a mobile home  park by the lake .  I have fond memories of walking the beach area together and tossing rocks into the water .  Tahoe is so beautiful, a easy spot to be in love!

We were young, and very happy.  (As the years passed), we worked together at  the Nugget and Harvey's in South Lake Tahoe, Ormsby House in Carson City,  and Sharkey's  in Gardenville. I was a cashier and he was a bartender then).  We once owned a little grocery store at Lake Topaz. The store is gone now and I almost don't recognize Gardnerville or the Lake Topaz area but when I return I always remember our times there.  (We  played  kissy face, huggie bear down by the lake).   Last summer while Johnny was in the hospital, I went to the Topaz Lodge again;   I was trying to send him positive get-well vibes. My prayers worked then!

We only had eight years of marriage but thirty six years of a strong friendship.  We went our separate ways  but always stayed connected.  Neither of us ever remarried. We both had longtime relationships with others but in the end we were together.

When Johnny retired three years ago,  he moved back to Jackson and moved into his family home. Oddly enough, I had just ended a longtime relationship and was free to spend time with him.  I  lived in Stockton and worked but spent as must time as possible up in Jackson with him. Many a Papa Murphy's chicken garlic veggie pizza and red wine were shared by candlelight; and our favorite thing to do was watch movies and eat popcorn. He in his recliner, and me in his mom's.

He will always be in my heart, and if you have this coin, he touched your life too.

I hope you are in love and have a strong connection with your loved ones. Faith, family and friends our a true healer and add so much joy to one's life.