Blast from the Past

My parents invited Daxton & I to go with them out to Newark to visit my old babysitter

who had just celebrated his 89th birthday.

Ernie & Louise took care of me from when I was only 3 months all the way to when I was 8 years old

and were like my adopted Grandparents.

They even took me on vacations with them in their RV.

I remember Ernie taking me to the donut shop where I always got sprinkled donuts (and still do to this day).

Their adult son had a chocolate lab named Hershey that stayed at their house sometimes

& Hershey was my pal.

It was interesting how small of a world it was when after we stopped being babysat

by them I ran into Ernie at my elementary school.

He was the milk man that delivered the milk for the school lunches.

I always got a free milk when he came.

(The perks of knowing the milk man.)

Unfortunately, Louise, who suffered from Alzheimer's &

was living in an assisted living facility,

died the Monday before we went to visit. (4/22/12).

It was sad to hear him say that she hadn't been the same for about 10 years.

On a happier note, it was interesting to walk into their house & have so many memories

come back to me.

I specifically remember sitting in this exact spot watching "Care Bears" & "My Little Ponies".

It was even weirder/ neat to be sitting there

with the youngest of my three boys playing with a My Little Pony.

4/27

Here we are with Ernie who is one tough man.

89 years young.