This is an e-mail I received from my parents today – I just had to share it. They are pretty amazing people, I can only hope that I mean as much to my children as my parents mean to me.

It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been 45 years. When you’re young you can’t wait to get older, now you don’t know where all that time has gone. You think of the good things, like seeing your face when we went into Disney world the first time, and wish there had been more, you think of the bad things and wish had been fewer, I guess it all evens out in the long run, just know we love you very much and wish you all the happiness possible, I love you very much, Dad

I’ve been thinking of you more than usual this week – counting the days down to the 25th.  I am so happy that you will have a nice birthday this year.  I tried to say that in the card that we sent but I’m sure I didn’t say it very well.  We were so sad to learn that there were many years when your birthday went unnoticed.  That happened to me once and I was devastated so I can’t imagine how awful it must have been to have it happen to you year after year. It was wonderful to celebrate your birthday with you last year – wish we could do it more often.  I’m sure you know it but I will tell you anyway – we never ever forget you on your birthday.  I always think of the first time I saw you in that little hospital crib.  The nurses tried to wheel you out to the nursery but I grabbed on to the crib and would not let them take it until I had time to check you out – I counted all of your fingers and all of your toes.  Dad remembers that when the doctor came out to tell him that you were a boy, the first thing the doctor did was to reach into his shirt pocket and take out a cigarette! Boy, how times have changed.  Grammie and Grampa Bragdon were there with Dad waiting for you to make your appearance.  By the time that Grampa and Grammie Leblond got there, you had started to look a little bit Chinese due to the jaundice but even so, everyone agreed that you were the most beautiful baby.  So many memories.

We are very proud of you and are so very happy that you are happy now and also, hope you understand this comment, we are grateful that you are appreciated.

We’ll call you Thursday. I love you very much, Mom

Thanks for everything Mom and Dad – I love you guys.

Now somebody pass me a tissue.

Post from: Austin, Texas SEO - Jack Leblond

I have great parents.

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When others are living with the threat of layoffs and shutdowns, my employer is not only strong, but growing.  Effective January 1st, my new title and pay scale took effect  (I’ve had the title unofficially for the last few months).  I am now officially the Director of Internet Strategy and Operations for what will soon be the 2nd largest student loan guarantor in the United States.  When other companies are canceling bonuses, we received ours.  When other companies are freezing, or worse, reducing salaries, we received increases.

This weekend I did two things I have never done before.  I bought something expensive, just because I wanted to and took my shirts to the cleaners.  Big whoop, I know.  For me, taking shirts to the cleaners has always been a frivolous luxury.  Not anymore, I can afford it.  Plus, washing and ironing really sucks.

My personal life gets better every day. The pain and embarrassment of divorce is slipping away and I am newly engaged to a wonderful woman.  My circle web of friends continues to grow and I have the respect of my peers.  I’ve even been named on and  nominated to a few “top of” lists.  This all means a great deal to me.

I sympathize with those that are out-of-work or otherwise suffering and am grateful for what I have.

I am in love, I am loved, I am comfortable in my life-style and confidant in my job security.

Thank you universe, thank you.

What are you thankful for?

Post from: Austin, Texas SEO - Jack Leblond

Thank You Universe

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The shrieks of joy and laughter are from my parents and other daughter enjoying my obvious discomfort. Isn’t family wonderful?

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Jack’s Wild Ride

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Roland Donat Leblond

I was born Roland James Leblond, jr. at 10:48 AM, on March 25, 1965 in Lewiston, Maine. Dad got a parking ticket while I was being born, this was just the first of many things he would have to pay for because of me, hopefully there were more good than bad. As I understand it, I was called “little Jack” after my grandfather from the beginning. My Grandfather was called Jack, although his name was Roland Donat Leblond. What can I say – we’re French. My name officially became Jack James Leblond on October 20, 1970.  I’m sure it’s not at all related, but it was around that time that I had my tonsils removed.   I remember my School bus driver saying he was looking forward to my having to be quiet for a few days afterwards.

We lived at a couple different places while I was small. We lived in an apartment for a while and Mom says I just about gave her a heart attack one day when I decided it would be fun to play hide and seek with her, the problem was that I didn’t tell her we were playing. Sorry Mom. Later, we lived at a place that both Mom and Dad say had grass growing up through the kitchen floor. I don’t think we were there long, mom said she was worried about snakes getting in. Plus, it made a mess when Dad mowed the floor. ;-D

I’m not sure which was first, but I have vague memories of a few places we lived when I was very young. We rented an apartment (or something like it) in the upstairs of a farm house. They had fruit orchards and though I have no idea why, I remember making hobo stew with a group of boys in front of the house. This is also when my parents bought our first color TV; a 27 inch, Sylvania console…in color. I can only imagine it must have cost them an arm and a leg for those three or four color channels. I remember that it took (what felt) like hours in the appliance store while they picked it out. I suspect the wait was made worse for me because there was a McDonald’s right next door and I had to look at those golden arches through the window while we were while Mom and Dad shopped. Whatever they paid for it, we got our money’s worth. That TV lasted at least 20 years, and didn’t die until it was mine while I was stationed in Pearl Harbor (more on that later) in the 1990s. It was also while we lived here that I thought it would be fun to jump off a newly constructed hay-wagon and snagged my arm on the corner, tearing a nice gash in my arm. I had several stitches from that and still have an interesting scar.

Jessica (Leblond) Schend

Later, we also lived in a trailer that was parked on my grandparents’ farm. Back then they were still called trailers and not mobile homes. I remember lots of things from this place, so I must have been a little older. This is where we lived when Jessica, my sister, was born. I remember that this was mostly a fun place. My mother’s brothers and sisters were still in school and living in my grandparents’ house, so I was able to see them every day. I worked on puzzles with my aunts, played catch with uncles. We would go sledding in the winter and get pulled up the hill by the snowmobiles, we played in the rain, climbed trees and generally had a good time. One bad thing I remember was my uncle Ralph, who is only a few years older than me, would like to sit on my chest until I said “uncle’. He did that a lot over the years. He had fun, but I never liked it much. Another not-so-fond memory is the morning after sleeping at my grandparents’ house when I accidentally brushed my teeth with my Grandfather’s Bril Creme (what guys used to put in their hair) instead of toothpaste – yuck.

To be continued…

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Early Memories (pt. 1)

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