I married Jeff in 1965. I was 18, he was 26. I was still finishing my B.A. Both Jeff and I needed to get out of our parent’s homes and make a life. It was a classic “jailbreak” marriage and for a long time, it worked well.
But time marched on and I wanted to move on. He wanted everything to stay the same — and so we parted. I went to Israel and he stayed where he was.
Graphic Jeff, Studio A
When I was sad, Jeffrey used to sing to me. This is the song he sang.
For one birthday, I bought him a wind-up snow globe. It played “You Are My Sunshine” and had a big green frog on a lily pad in the water. When you wound it, it played that song. He kept the globe as long as he lived, which was not nearly long enough.
Happy birthday, Jeff. You would have been 80 years old today and I wish you were alive so I could tease you about your age.
You should still be here.
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Categories: celebration, Marriage, Music, Relationships, Video
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Gordon, I’m just so glad YOU asked this question. Because I was – since 2 days ago – wondering whether I got my knickers in an almighty twist over my remark because, if I remember correctly, I wrote my comment thinking that I made it to Marilyns post, but replying to Garry’s comment…. Speaking of complicated! 😉 😉
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Kiki, it’s ALL complicated. No worries.
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who responds to the wrong person!
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That’s a lovely tribute to him.
Leslie
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It’s good that you remained friends even to the point of giving birthday presents! And for Owen’s sake as well. Touching tribute, Marilyn!
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Very nice, true feeling.
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He should have been around so we could all laugh at him finally getting old. He always acted old, but he never got there.
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It’s a complicated but nice story. Very, very true.
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Not to intrude on what perhaps you intend to keep private, but I have to ask. Is this Jeff the same one Garry just honored? If the query is too personal, bury it unanswered in cyberspace! Hope you and Garry have a great first day of Lent.
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Yes. We had complicated lives.
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Complicated? An understatement.
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It’s always complicated for people who are alive to life, Marilyn. So glad you and Garry have each other and each pay tribute to Jeff.
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Gordon, you’re on target. It always makes for a great story. Exhibit A for “It’s complicated”.
Ditto on Lent.
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It’s good to be able to part and not be angry/bitter/frustrated…. Happy Birthday Jeff…. RIP
I feel the same about my ex. He gave me my son Daniel and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
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I just liked him. We always liked each other, but the question of love loomed. Maybe if we’d been a bit more mature when we met …
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You’ll always have Uniondale.
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Marilyn; that’s a song I know every verse of…. 😉
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Kiki, many people have “thank you” to say to Jeff. To use that over-used cliche, “He turned our lives around”.
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Well done. I miss him.
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He should have hung around longer.
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The Old Ranger is riding the high coutry….
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I always get a kick out of how we still refer to him as “The Old Man” considering how much older we are now.
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Pancho, true. But we’re still young at heart.
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I know. I think of him as “older than me,” but of course he never got as old as I am or even close to it. But he always was “old” in some strange way. Even when he was still really a kid.
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P, The Old Ranger taught us well and gave us room to grow. He should be around now to see us as genuine old farts.
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I find this to be very touching, Marilyn.
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He was my friend & Owen’s father.
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And, my best friend-mentor. What a grand legacy, truly.
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