Just the Way You Are

Frank & Sarah Labrucherie

It's been 28 years since the proclaimed promise. There have been 7 (maybe more) congregations they've served. 4 children they raised, a girl, a boy, a girl, and surprise...a boy! There have been 7 (or more) cats and dogs that served our family unto death. There have been 10 houses, apartments, trailors that have sheltered them.

Too numerous to mention are the trips, the cross country road adventures, the international jaunts, and the weekends to visit family . There have been many Dodge Caravans and the odd Colt Vista, Volvo, Chevy Chevet, Mazda truck, Ford Pickup, and Geo Prizm,Geo Metro, Isuzu Stylus, and Oldsmobile ;) that taxied us to and fro.

In all these 28 years, there are piles of stories, family jokes, and nights dancing to Billy Joel in the living room, playing poker with chocolate chips, playing let's toss the chocolate chips (with Mom), pinochle late after the little kids had gone to sleep (me and Bubba), Nertz tournaments, and Momma's living room picnics with Dad away on a business trip.

There was that time Joel dropped Bubba from a ledge in our house and broke his foot. The time that Joel and Jess made me pee my pants because they thought it was funny (read the story from earlier). The time that Jess wore glasses with the Superman ensignia and was called names on the bus-which her sister joined in in saying. When Joel laughed at Bubba when Bubs pooped in the tub and Mom made Joel clean it up. The time that Mom and Dad let Joel and Jess get parakeets that died, Bubba get anoles named Moe and Elvis that died, and let Nina keep a stray cat and name him Walter Mitty(after the Danny Kay movie character)that sadly died. The time when Dad threw the baseball to me and I caught it with my nose. The times Dad let Jess and Joel drive the Chevy Chevet on our private road.

The best Labrucherie dog: Suzy. The best Labrucherie cat: Mac. The best Labrucherie Horse: Strider....the best chickens, the best rabbit...

The memories that come with any Elton John, Billy Joel, Dan Fogelberg, America, Moody Blues, Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Barry Manilow, Bee Gees, and of course Beatles, song.

And the ever classic Labrucherie Family Favorite Films: The Princess Bride, Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Avonlea and Anne of Green Gables, MIB...etc, etc....favorite TV shows: Carole Burnet reruns, Simpsons, Star Trek The Next Generation (...these are the voyages of the starship Enterprise...), Law & Order (before Jess and Nina moved to NYC), and so many many more.

I know that I'm forgetting somethings, some memories but you can add to them. For those of you who are not Labrucheries or Hays, I'm sure we all have similar family memories, so go ahead and relate!

Happy Anniversary Momma & Papa!!

Longer-Dan Fogelberg (mp3)

River of Dreams- Billy Joel (mp3)

Penny Lane- The Beatles (asx)

While My Guitar Gently Weeps- The Beatles (mp3)

and Good Night (the Beatles)