Happy New Year

Dear Family & Friends – 

I hope this note finds you well.  As you can tell I am late with cards this year, but taking the New Year as an opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy one and also provide some updates!

I continue to enjoy my career at Blank Rome, LLP working in Information Security & Audit – basically I am the “Super Sleuth” protecting the data and integrity of the Firm from cyber criminals.  I enjoy it very much.  I also enjoy designing various rooms in my home, all in my mind and on paper, but will leverage contractors eventually.

Marley is doing great, spoiled and enjoys the company of his dog sitter while I am at work.  He had a few trips to the Vet this year, but doing much better.  He will be seventeen this March, his favorite activities include watching SpongeBob Squarepants, NY Met’s and NY Giants games and sleeping.  

John-Paul is still living in South Philadelphia, which I rarely visit as he has no garage for me to park while visiting. What can I say, I live in the suburbs with two way streets, a driveway and garage – I parallel parked enough to get my license and they rest was forgotten after. However, John-Paul and I are very close and we talk daily.  He continues his career as a Professor at CCP and adjunct teaching at Jefferson University and Camden County in medical science subjects that I will not attempt to know or spell correctly.  He and his partner Brian became engaged this year and they also welcomed eight new feet into their home – two pups – Cooper and Otto.  They now have four pups and I am sure Oscar and Ernie love their new brothers.  

Last, but certainly not least as many may have heard, we lost the Patriarch and our Johnny this past April.  He passed peacefully and was reunited with our Mother and his late wife, Kathleen on April 04, 2016.  Just in time for their wedding anniversary on April 06 and I am sure Kathleen greeted him with much love (and yelling – to catch him up like old times.)  While my Johnny was a fighter and dealt with various health issues, that did not stop him from vacation and one last cruise to the Eastern Caribbean in March.  He went with many friends and John-Paul – he was determined and enjoyed the vacation very much!

 

So as we continue into 2017, I am sure I can speak for John-Paul as well – we look forward to a great New Year!  Our Folks may be gone, but taught us so much and we live on through them.  

Much Love –

Danielle & Marley 

Adoption, forever pest, Marley, Jacob!

Happy Adoption Anniversary to my baby boy! 

December 01, 2011 – fifteen years ago my Mommy, Brother and I were shopping in Center City and we were in Wanamaker (Lord & Taylor) and had dinner reservations planned so we had to be quick.  I needed new gloves and a scarf so was going to make it quick.  We went in and my Mommy saw the sign SPCA on floor 7.  She yelled out “Oh SPCA is here, let’s just browse.”  I replied, “Mommy we are on a time limit and have dinner reserves so just what I need and then we are off.”  She said “okay” – we get in the elevator to go where I need and Mommy immediately pushed floor 7.  I looked at her and said “really, that is not the floor I need.”  She replied “Let’s just browse and say Hi.”  We get to 7 and step out and this dog runs up to me – tan colored with big floppy ears.  My Mommy yells “Oh he loves you.” And then the adoption lady comes running over w/ adoption papers and said “look how much he loves you.”  I took a strong stance and replied “I just lost Bootsy after 14 years and because of you Mommy I have Jacob now and that is plenty.  The adoption lady said “Oh how cute, like A Christmas Carol you have a Jacob pup and this one can be named Marley – get it Jacob Marley?”  I half smiled and said “another character in A Christmas Carol is scrooge and you are looking at her, so NO!” 

In short, dinner was cancelled and Marley came to his forever home with Jacob and I.  Jacob was not impressed and was king so he trained Marley so he knew that.  Marley was just happy to have a home so whatever Jacob wanted he got.  Three years later Jacob had a rare bacterial infection that was trial and error with medication and unfortunately Jacob ran out of time before the right medicine came along. 

So Marley became King and if I don’t say so myself – I am his peasant working for everything he wants and needs.  All in all – he is worth it, my best buddy!