It would take a long time for me to fully explain how Ed and I met. That is a story unto itself and it definitely suggests that we were meant to be together. The short version is that we met briefly at a gathering in 1990 and Ed subsequently contacted me in 1995. He had recently moved to Virginia when he first called me. We connected immediately on the phone and the calls became more frequent and longer. Finally I told Ed that there was no point to a telephone relationship. So he got in his car, drove to NY to visit me, and basically never left. So, he only went back to Virginia to close up that apartment and drag his belongings back to NY. Fortunately he had still kept his NY coop. Ed regaled me with his cooking and fixing my car and repairs around my house. Most of all we had fun! I learned a lot about his past. He grew up in the Bronx, served in the Marine reserves for five years, and graduated from Pace University in Manhattan. He was a certified CPA. Ed was divorced for many years and had two daughters.
Ed and I did a lot of travelling around the USA in the early days of our relationship. Among our favorites were visits to various national parks. From 1998 to 2005, Ed and I delved into the world of playing video poker in casinos. Ed was a math wiz and he did extensive research of what games to play and how to play them, so we could expect a positive payout expectation over time. We made 9 trips to Vegas and 60 to Atlantic City plus Reno and some other places. When visiting Vegas we also drove to Laughlin NV to see friends and family. Great times! We kept thorough records and were actually up a few thousand dollars in winnings during that period plus all the nice comps. Ed knew how to beat the casino odds!
By the time I retired in 2005, we both lost interest in the casino scene. We had a relatively quiet retirement during that period, with some travelling. Ed enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He was an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, sports memorabilia, frequent meals at restaurants, and day trips. He had a very good sense of humor and an infectious laugh. Old jokes were Ed's specialty, and he would continually come up with jokes I never heard from him before. Ed loved watching Netflix. He had an uncanny ability to often say the next line in a movie or TV show before the actor said it. He claimed it was because he had seen the show before (sometimes years before) and the line just came to him. It amazed me because a lot of these lines were very obscure. Also, Ed would tell me sweet stories from his past, particularly driving out west in his motorhome with his children and going to the New Jersey shore with his parents during his childhood summers.
Ed's daughter, Annette, spoke of Ed's problems with depression and alcohol while he was with his family. I knew Ed was estranged from his daughters and I could readily detect the sadness in him about this. I did not detect any alcohol issues for a long time. Eventually (and I totally forget what year that was), I did realize that he was quietly drinking very excessively while I was at work. When we realized it was a major problem, Ed very willingly went into rehab. After leaving there, he attended AA meetings for a long time. He didn't have a problem after that. He was able to still drink socially and a little at home, but we made sure it was never to excess.
Ed started to develop multiple health issues. I greatly admired him for never complaining about this. He had COPD/emphysema which eventually became severe and he had to go on oxygen 24/7. He was hospitalized five times for his breathing and other problems in 2010-2011. In late 2011, he had multiple major seizures and respiratory failure. Amazingly, he survived this ordeal. He then went into rehab to gain back strength. The first thing he said when I visited him there was "I am never going to smoke another cigarette." That was music to my ears!
In 2013, we finally moved to our new home in The Villages, Florida. Ed absolutely loved it there. Although his mobility was limited, he enjoyed the restaurants, neighborhood and home parties, wonderful weather, entertainment, etc. Ed was extremely grateful. After almost not surviving respiratory failure in 2011, he considered his time in Florida to be a wonderful gift and a blessing.
Ed was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2018. He received radiation treatment but became very ill by October. He was hospitalized and eventually made the decision with his doctors to move to a hospice house. He was there for four days. The nurses were like angels and gave him very loving care to take away his pain. On Ed's last full day, my friend Carol performed a harp concert for him, the military sent representatives to thank him for his military service, a priest gave him last rites, and my family was there with us. Ed was aware of all this. He died very peacefully on December 9 with me by his side. His beautiful funeral was on December17 at the Catholic Church, followed by a Celebration of Ed's Life luncheon at our home. Ed was a quietly prayerful man who always had much gratitude, faith, and hope. I adored Ed and the life we had together. I will love and miss him forever. May God bless you always, my darling Ed.
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