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Many people over the years have asked us how we met and we always seem to look at each other and smile, feeling as though we’ve known each other our whole life. For as much as fate plays a part in one’s life, it was fate that brought us together that one spring day. I had been living the typical post college life on my own, with three roomates in an apartment, but above my father’s doctor’s office. I was teaching during the week to pay my way and attending whatever party was available on the social scene to mend my broken heart after recently breaking off an engagement.
After a depressing winter, Spring had finally come. The trees were in bloom and the birds were singing. In just a few short weeks it would be time to go down to the Jersey Shore, my most favorite place in the world. Two of the girls that I was living with worked in Philadelphia at an engineer firm. They were talking about this new, young and oh so hot engineer that had just been hired. Tommy was his name and that I should someday meet him.
The company my friends worked for participated in a lot of spring sports. After the games the team would relax at the local neighborhood bar, The Manor. After one particular day, I teased up my South Jersey Sicilian hair, put on a little lip gloss and drove my smokin' Camaro over to the hot spot. As I entered I met my roommate and we made our way over to the cute Italian sitting in the corner surrounded by at least a half dozen girls. Our eyes met, we said hello and my heart sank as the competition pushed me aside.
After a depressing winter, Spring had finally come. The trees were in bloom and the birds were singing. In just a few short weeks it would be time to go down to the Jersey Shore, my most favorite place in the world. Two of the girls that I was living with worked in Philadelphia at an engineer firm. They were talking about this new, young and oh so hot engineer that had just been hired. Tommy was his name and that I should someday meet him.
The company my friends worked for participated in a lot of spring sports. After the games the team would relax at the local neighborhood bar, The Manor. After one particular day, I teased up my South Jersey Sicilian hair, put on a little lip gloss and drove my smokin' Camaro over to the hot spot. As I entered I met my roommate and we made our way over to the cute Italian sitting in the corner surrounded by at least a half dozen girls. Our eyes met, we said hello and my heart sank as the competition pushed me aside.
The days went on, but I didn't forget about that Tommy, and as luck would have it I wouldn't have to wait long to have another encounter. That summer, my roommates and I got a summer shore share as has been a ritual for many years; we looked forward to lying on the beach, clubbing, and dreaming about meeting our soul partner. My friends often asked me “what type of man I wanted to find” and I would tell them, “someone who makes me laugh!”
One night the romance gods were smiling down on me, and we ran into that cute Italian boy from The Manor, Tommy. It was that night we finally clicked and spent most of the time talking as if we were the only two in the club. We found that we had many similiarities and views on life. I found out that he was from Pennsauken NJ, the same place where I was born; we talked and laughed all night long.
On our first date he came to my parents house; my brother said he was so nervous that he shooked everyone’s hand at least twice. My mom was impressed with him immediately excited that we had similar backgrounds and he was very close to his family. That night we had our first of many meals at Garrity’s in Sea Isle City. He ordered seafood and red wine, and I was head over heels in love. We gabbed the entire night, laughing and enjoying each others company.
After dating for more than a year, we married on August 21, 1993 at my childhood church in Cherry Hill, N.J. The years have gone by, the love has grown, we have children of our own, but the laughter just grows stronger. We are so blessed to have such a full life and two wonderful children. Although our trips to the Jersey Shore are limited, the memories we made there are still fresh in our minds, and the love in our heart is fuller as the years go by.
Joanne Woodward once said “Sexiness wears thin after awhile, and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh everyday, ah now that’s a real treat!”.jpg)
After dating for more than a year, we married on August 21, 1993 at my childhood church in Cherry Hill, N.J. The years have gone by, the love has grown, we have children of our own, but the laughter just grows stronger. We are so blessed to have such a full life and two wonderful children. Although our trips to the Jersey Shore are limited, the memories we made there are still fresh in our minds, and the love in our heart is fuller as the years go by.
Joanne Woodward once said “Sexiness wears thin after awhile, and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh everyday, ah now that’s a real treat!”
Our kids Nicole and TJ (Thomas Joseph)
