This blog is called R New Adventures, and its purpose is to document our lives together as we move into our next chapter, retirement.  That’s all well and good, but if something hadn’t happened 39 years ago today, there would have been no chapters in our life and no blog. That’s because  July 3rd, 1977 was a monumental day is Susie and my life.

The summer of 1977 found me working as a Vacation Relief Engineer at ABC, but July 3rd found us in the middle of a 5 1/2 month strike by our union (NABET) against the American Broadcasting Company.  That meant that rather than being in MUSICRADIO 77 WABC’s Studio 8A with the likes of Dan Ingram, George Michael, or Chuck Leonard or in 95.5 WPLJ’s Studio FM-1 with Pat St John, Tony Pigg or Carol Miller playing music, we were outside the ABC Building picketing 3 times a week!  Meanwhile, Susie was working as an RN at Glen Cove Hospital, covering the evening charge shift in Pediatrics.

So, on Saturday July 3rd, 1977 we were both invited to an early July 4th BBQ at our friends’ Maryanne and Bill Epperhart’s house.  I knew Bill from WCWP and Susie worked with Maryanne at Glen Cove Hospital.   Years later, we discovered that the purpose of the whole party was to get the two of us together, but on that day 39 years ago, all I knew was that I was able to attend a Saturday summer party at a friend’s house, because we were on strike and I didn’t have to work!

I’ll tell you something that did work…getting the two of us together!  Susie had some fireworks she’d brought back from a road trip visiting relatives, and I was designated to be the one to help her ignite the display.  Something besides those fireworks ignited that night!  Frankly, it was love at first sight and of course I wanted to see her again!  The next weekend, we went out on our official “first date”.  One of the elements of that date was dinner at a favorite Chinese Restaurant.  My fortune cookie told it all that night.  “You will marry your present lover and be happy”, was what the little slip in the cookie said, and it couldn’t have been more right!

So 39 years later, we still celebrate this day as a milestone in our life together, and every night I give thanks for meeting the most wonderful person, the love of my life, my best friend, and person that I have shared every adventure in this life with!  Love you Susie and am so thankful that July 3rd, 1977 happened and gave me my life!!!  You are the best and the key to our adventures!