Roger Federer and Mirka Vavrinec

Transitions can be difficult, and it seems as though Roger Federer is going through one now.

To everyone's surprise he's had a rough Grand Slam season, exiting in the semi-finals in the Australian Open in January, the quarter-finals in the French Open in early June, and the 2nd round at Wimbledon to a player ranked 116th.

Despite everyone's hope for a Federer miracle, he lost in straight sets to Tommy Robrado of Spain at the U.S. Open just days ago.

"I've definitely got to go back to work and come back stronger," Federer stated in a post match interview.
"Get rid of this loss now as quick as I can, forget about it, because that's not how I want to play from here on, I want to play better. I know I can."

Always in his corner giving him support, love, and advice is his devoted family.

Federer was born in Binnington, Switzerland, a small area near Basel. He credits his amazing tennis skills to the variety of sports he played growing up: badminton, cricket, and basketball.

He is an avid cricket fan, and knows that he is interested "whenever a ball is involved."

Apparently that interest extends into his personal life. In 2000, while competing for Switzerland in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he met and fell in love with fellow Swiss teammate, Mirka Vavrinec.


 After suffering from a foot injury in 2002, Mirka retired from tennis and took on the role of Federer's personal relations manager.

The two were married in a small ceremony near Basel on April 11,2009, and on July 23rd 2009 Mirka gave birth to identical twins, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva.

Big Win for Federer!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Federer

Henry Ford The Great Believer

Although Henry Ford and Clara Bryant grew up within eight miles of each other, they first met at a New Year's Eve Ball when Clara was 18. They spoke for only a few minutes, but Henry Ford would always recollect that he knew Clara was the girl for him right away. Henry Ford, who loved dancing, attended many more dances that season, but it was nearly a year before he saw Clara again. The young couple soon became engaged and were married on April 11,1888, the bride's twenty second birthday.

Henry Ford often referred to his wife as his great believer. Clara always showed faith and confidence through all the years of hard work and challenges.

Her support was rewarded.  After living in a total of ten rental homes, Henry's dream of success finally came true. They bought 2,000 acres along the Rouge River in Dearborn, and Fair Lane, the home where Clara and Henry would live the rest of their lives, was constructed.

In Dearborn, Clara and Henry would entertain friends and family at Fair Lane. The Fords also continued to enjoy dancing; Henry saw to it that Fair Lane had a large dance floor and that it was regularly used.

In a 1938 issue of The New York Times Magazine, Henry Ford was quoted as saying, "The greatest day of my life was the day I married Mrs. Ford."  Apparently Henry Ford was a great believer,too.

http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/press-releases-detail/651-clara-ford

George and Martha

 

George Washington was about to emerge a hero from the French and Indian War when he proposed to Martha Dandridge Custis.


 She was a young, beautiful, recently widowed and very sought after prize in the affluent and powerful Chesapeake society. Chances are good that George and Martha had known each other through mutual friends. They became engaged sometime in early summer 1758 and were married on January 6,1759.



There is always strong speculation that George Washington was passionately in love with Sally Fairfax, the wife of his best friend George William.  It seems, however, that all parties "moved on" and the Washingtons and the Williams remained the closest of friends. 

When George proposed to Martha he was undoubtedly enamored by her independence and diminutive beauty (she was a full 13 inches shorter than he), but there is no doubt that Washington was taking care of his future and marrying someone with more wealth and power than he possessed. 

The marriage ended up to be a wonderful one. Martha had two young children by her previous marriage, and George Washington raised them as if they were his own. He was heartbroken over the loss of 17 year old, Patsy and had tried all attempts to save her from her illness. When his step son, Jack, now a young father himself, died from typhus,Washington raised his children and assumed responsibility for their futures.


Martha proved to be the perfect match for this straight forward, yet ambitious, man. She hated being away from home and hearth, but dutifully traveled to Valley Forge each year during the war campaign to bolster the morale of both the troops and her husband. I think the most telling aspect of their marriage is George's instruction to Martha that she destroy all correspondence between them in the event of his death. Clearly he poured out his heart and soul out to her and, being the very discreet man that he was, did not think that history should intrude on this private love.


During this president's weekend we will see the familiar image of an old George Washington on everything from dollars to car sale signs. Martha has been forever enshrined as the old woman wearing the bonnet. Let's, though, remember them for who they really were; he, a 27 year old handsome soldier just home from the battle front , and she a 27 year old, diminutive Southern Belle, mother of two, who wore purple silk shoes with spangled buttons on her wedding day.

 Love comes suddenly to some and gradually to others; the test is in the time. The Custis-Washingtons were happily married for 40 years.

Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr.

On a hot day in August in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led almost 300,000 people in the March on Washington. 

King addressed this huge crowd standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial. 

When Mahalia Jackson called out, urging Dr. King to 'tell us about the dream', he set aside his prepared text and delivered one of the greatest speeches in history.

This April will mark the 50th anniversary of the murder of Dr. King. 
We strive, particularly through these dark times, to honor and esteem  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his enormous contribution to world peace, justice, and humanity, and we still thrill at the words "I Have a Dream".

 We also know of the great work of Coretta Scott King as an author, activist and civil rights leader. 

But when trying to find out how M.L. and Coretta met, there was not much information. 

History has focused on the couple's working partnership rather than on a boy meeting a girl and finding a lifelong friend and soul mate. In the Fall of 1951 Martin Luther King, Jr. had arrived in Boston to continue his studies at Boston University. He called an old friend from Atlanta, Mary Powell, and asked the age old question; could she fix him up with a friend? King, however, was not chasing girls, he was looking for a wife. 

Mary had met a young woman while studying at the New England Conservatory of Music who she thought might be just the right choice for her friend. Coretta Scott has been described as a poised, attractive, independent thinking woman. She could also be described as brilliant and talented. Coretta grew up in Marion,Alabama the daughter of hard working parents who, though uneducated themselves, were determined that their children receive good educations. Coretta was awarded a full scholarship at Antioch College and went on to continue her study in music at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. 

When she met M.L. she was unimpressed with his 5'7" stature, but she soon became impressed with his mind and heart. M.L. told her, "You have everything I have ever wanted in a wife. There are only four things, and you have them all...character,intelligence, personality, and beauty." Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr. were married on June 18, 1953 on the lawn at her mother's house. The ceremony was performed by the Martin Luther King, Sr. Coretta completed her studies and graduated from the  New England Conservatory with a degree in voice and violin. She and her husband moved to Montgomery, Alabama in September 1954.The rest is history!

The Papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Volumes 2-3; Martin Luther King, Jr.,Clayborne Carson,Peter Holloran,Ralph Luker,Penny A. Russell
http://books.google.com/books
www.wikipedia.com/Coretta Scott King

Le Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville

Robert Doisneau

My heart always lies in Paris...especially this weekend.
Pour Paris avec amour...


One Valentine's Day, my very romantic husband gave me a framed copy of Robert Doisneau's Le Baiser. It has always hung over my writing desk offering inspiration and invitation to travel and romance. Dreams do come true, and we have been to Paris many times, each time discovering romance in another part of the beautiful city, all looking like the background of the wonderful Doisneau photographs.


 Robert Doisneau is one of France's best known photographers,and is known for his street photography and the many images of everyday French life. He is quoted as saying,"The marvels of daily life are so exciting; no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street." 


The famous kiss in fornt of l'Hotel de Ville has the spark of spontaneity in its action. The lovers in the photo,were Françoise Delbart, 20, and Jacques Carteaud, 23, both aspiring actors. In 2005 Françoise Bornet (née Delbart) remembered that

 "He told us we were charming, and asked if we could kiss again for the camera. We didn't mind. We were used to kissing. We were doing it all the time then, it was delicious. Monsieur Doisneau was adorable, very low key, very relaxed." 

Although the relationship between Delbart and Carteaud only lasted for nine months, the The Kiss is one of the most celebrated photographs of modern times.


Robert Doisneau had his own romantic meeting. When a lovely French girl, named Pierette, came cycling through the village where he was on holiday, the two fell in love and were married. Unlike the lovers in Le Basiere de l'Hotel de Ville, Robert and Pierette Doisneau were married and remained together until death parted them in 1993. 

Vive le baiser et la romance!

Robert Doisneau


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Doisneau

Go Pats!

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen

I am not a big football fan, but I am a big Tom Brady fan. This guy is an amazing talent, a strong leader both on and off the field, an athlete who is a real team player, and a dedicated husband and father.

I've never been to a Patriots game, but I had the privilege of seeing Tom Brady up close one night when my husband and I were walking back from dinner in Harvard Square. We were walking by the football stadium when we saw this amazing pass. It ended up to be the Special Olympics football night with Tom Brady and a host of other players. And...there was Brady, making another winning pass to help out his team.


We hung around till the end of the game, and were walking away when my husband spotted Brady's Audi 8 parked and ready to go. There was Tom walking toward the car and stopping to sign all autographs requested by any kid near by before being whisked away.


Another time the Brady Mobile was noticed was after an early morning Boston accident. The damage to both cars was minor, and, fortunately no one was hurt, but the press was all over the fact that Brady was passing through the city at a pre-dawn hour.Suspicion grew as Brady professed to be on his way to a practice down at Foxboro. Would a super star like Tom really be up so early to go to work, or was he on his way home from a late night? An annoyed Coach Belichick assured the cynical press that, yes indeed, Tom Brady was up that early to attend a mandatory practice.


Tom Brady and Giselle Bündchen met on a beach in Rio de Janiero. He, of course, was "tossing" around the football and she "of course" was quite taken.


By all accounts Tom and his wife Giselle are a happy couple.They live in Boston with their son,Benjamin and their daughter, Vivian Lake.

 http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/tom-brady-gisele-bunchen-love-story

John and Annie Glenn

John and Annie Glenn

John and Annie Glenn don’t really have a very exciting “how they met” story. John and Annie have known each other their entire lives. Growing up in Ohio, their parents were close friend, and often plunked their baby boy and girl together to share a playpen. The childhood friendship blossomed, and all through high school. everyone knew that any event would have John and Annie coming together. They shared a love of music, a love of each other, a deep bond, and an unbreakable trust.

As John’s fame catapulted his young bride into the public spotlight, Annie’s secret struggle, her disabling stutter,became even more of a burden . Never a problem with her best friend, John, Annie was rendered literally speechless when in any public setting.

After years of frustration and struggle, Annie finally found an intensive speech therapy program which worked. John Glenn wrote of his wife’s experience,

"I saw Annie's perseverance and strength through the years and it just made me admire her and love her even more...I don't know if I would have had the courage."

They’ve loved and supported each other through trying times and dangerous journeys. 

 As a Marine, John flew nearly 150 combat missions and later flew the famous Friendship 7 mission on February 20, 1962. Before dangerous deployments, or the terrifying 4 hours:55 minutes:23 seconds of space travel, the Glenns practiced the same good-by ritual. Using the lyrics of an old song, John would say,

 “I’m just going down to the store to get a pack of gum.”

Annie replying,

“Don’t be long.”

When John Glenn went up in the Space Shuttle Discovery, on October 29, 1998, he handed Annie a small pack of gum to hold until his safe return.

This week on April 6th, 92 year old Annie and 90 year old John will celebrate 68 years of marriage. Here’s to a wonderful life of love and adventure….God speed, John and Annie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Glenn

Love-All

The U.S. Tennis Open is on, and present will be tennis champion, John McEnroe. Known for his devastating serves and volleys which led to his 17 Grand Slam titles, McEnroe is also known for his on court tantrums and abusive language which led to his being known as something of an...well,you know ... anyway, McEnroe has left the bad boy image behind and has emerged a favorite commentator and participant of today's world of tennis.   His most important match, with Patty Smyth ended in a Love-All score.

 In 1993 Patty Smyth,former lead singer of The Scandals, was focusing on a single career both as a musician and a mom. She remembers meeting John McEnroe at a Christmas party in Los Angeles.  "His three kids hung onto him like monkeys," she says of Mac,  "His sweetness was surprising." McEnroe recalls that a mutual pal intended to set him up with Smyth that night but forgot to tell her. "I tried in my own pathetic way to ask Patty out," he says, "but she was going away the next day." Their first real date was nearly a year later, and she says, "I knew that night I was safe with him."

Many years and six kids later the couple have a very successful match...at least off the court.

He still needs work on one part of his game. "John is banned from playing tennis with us," says Smyth. "He tortures me. We all get too mad at him."

McEnroe says fatherhood keeps him mellow. "The good part of having six kids," he says, "is there's always one who wants to hug you and say, 'Daddy, I love you.'" In lieu of date nights, he and Smyth watch movies and play Scrabble with the kids. And while he's not big on flowers, she says, "He's affectionate and totally devoted." 

McEnroe-Smyth  final score  Love-All

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20271190,00.html

A Real Bond Girl

When Alex Chapman saw Anna Kuschenko across a crowded dance floor in 2001, he immediately thought she was" the most beautiful girl he had ever seen".


The couple married just five months later and, now we know, that Alex Chapman was Anna's ticket to a dual Russian-British citizenship.


During 2003-2004 Chapman became concerned over his wife's new group of "secretive, well-connected Russian friends."He was usually excluded from her outings and the marriage fell apart, ending in divorce in 2006. An FBI sting led to the arrest of Anna Kuschenka in 2010, and she became part of the biggest spy swap between the United States and Russia since 1986.



So... what happened to Alex Chapman? After cooperating fully with the investigative authorities by telling them all he knew of his ex-wife's suspicious activities, he engaged a well known media publicist and is on his way to fame and fortune.

wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Chapman

Carole Lombard and Clark Gable

On this April Fool's Day, famous internationally for well timed practical jokes, let's celebrate the love of Lombard and Clark, one of Hollywood's most beloved couples both on and off the silver screen, and one who kept their romance alive with humor and a  passion for extravagant pranks.
 

It was 1936 and two legends from the silver screen, Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, met, fell in love, married, and became one of the most famous couples during the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

Carole Lombard was a gorgeous, sexy, blond whose brilliance as a comic actress made her the highest paid star in Hollywood. Off screen she was much loved for her unpretentious personality and well known for her down to earth sense of humor and acerbic quips. Clark Gable was everybody's favorite leading man. handsome, charming, and always the romantic lead, he had a fan following unmatched by most.

The two originally met in 1932 during the filming of  No Man of Her Own, but met again in 1936 at a ball organized by Lombard. Gable proposed to Lombard in 1939 in a telephone booth at the very famous Brown Derby restaurant. Humor, intelligence, and a passion for jokes kept the original spark alive all through their marriage.

After a fight one time, Gable awoke to a flock of doves in his hotel suite. A request for a kitten resulted in the arrival of a baby cougar brought back from a Gable safari.

In 1941 returning home from a trip to boost morale for U.S. troops heading off to WWII, Carole Lombard was killed when her flight crashed shortly after take off in Las Vegas; she was only 33. Clark Gable was inconsolable and joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. he was later in attendance at the christening of the SS Carole Lombard.

When he died in 1960, Clark Gable was buried alongside Carole Lombard in Glendale, California.

www. wikipedia_carolelombard.com

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

 

When romantic meetings occur, usually one person has to take the initiative to ensure that the relationship progresses beyond the initial spark. Queen Victoria had no reservation in expressing her desire to marry Prince Albert of Saxe- Coburg in 1839. Victoria knew that he was "the one" after the Prince visited Windsor with his brother on October 10th. They could not make an appearance at dinner, due to the fact that their luggage had been lost in a stormy Channel crossing, but Albert appeared after dinner in more informal attire. Victoria found him extremely attractive and charming, and found her own heart "quite going".
Albert was summoned to a private audience during which the queen proposed marriage. Albert joyfully accepted and the couple embraced "over and over again". Their engagement was filled with kindnesses and kisses and their marriage filled with love, support, and mutual respect and admiration.

Weintraub,Stanley;Victoria. EP Dutton,NY 1987

The Gift of the Magi

We are never told how Jim and Della meet in O.Henry's famous Christmas short story, The Gift of the Magi, but their deep love for each other is demonstrated by the sacrifices they are willing to make to assure the happiness of the other. The story tells us that...

... there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. 

It's the day before Christmas and there is no money to be had in the Dillingham Young household to buy a gift for her beloved Jim. In desperation Della decides to sacrifice her greatest possession to get enough money to buy Jim a beautiful watch chain for his prized gold watch. She rushes out and sells her long flowing hair before she has time to change her mind.

Luis Tiant and Maria Navarro

Back in the 70's any Red Sox fan was familiar with the chant, "Looo-ee, Looo-ee"
whenever Luis Tiant came on the field.

Tiant was one of the early players coming out of the famous Cuban League. He was always a huge presence in any game and a huge hit with all the fans. His love of cigars earned him the nick-name "El Tiante".

As a young player Tiant traveled from Cuba to pitch for the Tigers in the Mexico League.In 1960, on one of his days off, he accompanied friends to see a woman's softball game. As Maria Navarro came running in from center field, she saw a handsome young man in the stands blow her a kiss.

A few days later, Maria and Luis met more formally at a teammate's party. They talked, danced and began dating soon after.

On October 1st of that year, Luis went back to Cuba The couple stayed in touch through letters and occasional phone calls. On May 25, 1961 Luis landed in Mexico City on one of the last flights allowed to leave Cuba.

Luis and Maria were married. Maria remained in Mexico City to live and raise their children, while Luis played in the major leagues. In 1974, at the height of his Red Sox success, the family moved to an area just outside of Boston, and Maria could be found at Fenway Park whenever the Sox were in town.

Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson

I am a shameless Barack and Michelle Obama supporter and really admire the Obamas as a couple.


Michelle Robinson is an attorney and was, at the time of their meeting, working at the very prestigious firm of Sidley Austin in Chicago. In June 1989 she was assigned a summer associate to mentor,Barack Obama.


By all accounts, Barack had a pretty good opinion of himself, and I would bet that Michelle's first impression was one involving eye rolling and raised eyebrows, but...that Obama charm, personality, and smile eventually won her over.


Barack and Michelle attended many social functions together and, although she was impressed by his intelligence, sense of humor, and good looks, she always declined Obama's requests to date. Finally at the end of the summer she gave way to her feelings and their friendship evolved into a relationship. Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama became engaged in 1991. They were married on October 3, 1992.

So, here's to a couple who inspires me everyday and provides truly great role models for couples everywhere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama

John Keats and Joseph Severn

 If you find yourself over on the Spanish Steps in Rome, take time to stop in at 26 Piazza de Spagna to view the rooms occupied by John Keats in his final months of life.

On Spetember 17,1820 Joseph Severn accompanied Keats to Rome in an attempt to find a cure for Keat's lingering illness. For Severn this trip was a sacrifice born of the love and admiration he felt for the young poet. Severn was leaving England as his own artistic career was beginning to flourish. His decision also marked the end of  his relationship with his father. He writes about their farewell that (his father)"in his insane rage he struck me a blow which fell me to the ground."

Severn provided constant care to Keats as his health failed and he began to slip away. Often watching his beloved friend endure the horrific attempts of 19th Century medicine to cure tuberculosis, Severn was at a loss as to how to relieve the emotional and physical suffering barely endured by Keats.

Recognizing his friend's selfless devotion, Keats wonders aloud to Severn,

""Severn I can see under your quiet look -- immense twisting and contending -- you don't know what you are reading -- you are induring [sic] for me more than I'd have you -- O! that my last hour was come --"






Severn's poignant sketch of Keats, finally sleeping peacefully just before the end, revelas a patient and enduring love for his subject.

Joseph Severn lived the remainder of his life in Rome. After a successful marriage, art career, and service as British Consul in Rome, along with fathering 7 children, Severn died at the age of 85. He is buried in Rome alongside his once loved friend and poet, John Keats.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Severn

Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis

 

The romance between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis remains one of the legendary and tempestuous ones of modern times. Maria Callas, an American born Greek soprano, was considered one of the most renowned opera singers of the twentieth century. 

Aristotle Onassis, an émigré from Turkey, established himself over time as one of the world’s wealthiest men. When the two superstars met in Venice in 1957, both were at the height of their power, fame, and attraction. The fact that Callas was married at the time of their meeting, did nothing to dissuade Onassis from pursuing what he wanted. He extended several invitations to Maria and her husband to join him on his yacht, the Christina, and each time the invitation was refused.

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied

The closest I came to watching the brilliant, yet disturbing film, "Black Swan" was surreptitiously glancing at my seatmate's movie screen on a transatlantic flight.  Even with the cushion of visual distance and no sound, I watched the tortured Nina through fleeting sideways glances, unable to endure her emotional and physical despair. So, it was with great joy that I learned the true ending of the film;the happy union of Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied. For those of us who love a "happily ever after" ending...thanks!


The brilliant and beautiful Natalie Portman was swept off her feet by NYC Ballet principal dancer, Benjamin Millepied during the filming of Black Swan. Millepied trained Portman to execute her amazing Oscar winning role as Nina, the lead dancer in the company's rendition  of Swan Lake.




Millepied also played the role of Nina's dance partner, and found himself in awe of Portman and her performance. Natalie and Benjamin are engaged and had a son this past June. In her Oscar award acceptance speech, Portman thanked her fiancee' for giving her "the most important role of her life".
Happy endings to all!

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett

Will Smith met Jada Pinkett in 1990 when she tried out to play his sassy girlfriend Lisa on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

 Though she lost the part to actress Nia Long (due to her small stature), Pinkett brushed past the 6’2” Smith while leaving the set.

He stopped her and asked, “What’s up?” She responded coolly, “Yeah, how you doing?”

It wasn’t exactly a sparks-filled start, but the two soon discovered they had mutual friends and started hanging out and speaking in more than three-word sentences.

Pinkett supported Smith during his split from his first wife, and shortly thereafter, the pair realized they were meant to be. They wed in a lavish, very private ceremony in 1997 and have been together ever since.


www.dailybeast.com 

Chris Christie and Mary Pat Foster

Bridges to Cross

Chris Christy met Mary Pat Foster when the two were undergraduates in student government at the University of Delaware. Mary Pat, the ninth of ten children, attracted Christy with her independence, faith, and ability to surprise him and have fun.

Christie, a year older than Mary Pat, was student body president his senior year. Mary Pat was elected to the position the following year when she was a senior. Though she felt she had big shoes to fill, she left her own mark by defeating a petition to defund a campus gay and lesbian organization, by leading classmates to a legislative hearing to protest higher tuition costs, and by attempting to fund weekend activities as an alternative to the binge drinking that was prevalent.

The Christies married in 1986 a year after Mary at graduated. Chris was a law student at Seton Hall University, and Mary pat was earning her master’s degree in business administration.

The couple lived in a one room apartment in Summit, NJ that was so shabby it made Mary Pat’s mom cry.

Chris Christy went on to become a partner at the firm of Dughi, Hewit, and Palatucci, and Mary Pat began a very successful career in investment banking, eventually working with the Wall St. firm of Cantor Fitzgerald.

In 2000 Chris Christy was a key player in the election of George W. Bush. As one of the leading fund raisers for the Bush campaign, Christy was nominated to be U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in 2001.

On September 11, 2001 Mary Pat Christie was at work two blocks away from the Twin Towers when the planes hit.

She like many others were evacuated from the city while her family, Chris and their three young children, waited and worried on the NJ side.

Also like many others, Mary Pat was determined to return to Wall St. when it reopened. Along with walking by the remains of the horrors of that day, Mary Pat had the trauma of working for a firm which lost over two thirds of its workforce in the attacks. More than 650 Cantor Fitzgerald employees died that September morning.

Christie made certain that his wife had his full attention at the end of these grueling days. He knew her to be tough, but also knew that she tended to keep her emotions hidden. He didn't want her to feel alone as she coped with the loss and suffering she observed every day.

After some time away she is back with Cantor Fitzgerald and juggles career, family, and politics to be a very visible and pro-active First Lady of New Jersey.

The Christies have crossed many bridges in their 26 years of marriage,and it looks like another one has come along. Whatever comes next,though, I believe Chris and Mary Pat will cross this bridge together.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/post_235.html

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

 
In June, 2011, while living in Berlin, I picked up a German Vogue magazine in an attempt to brush up on my language skills. One of the interviews in Vogue that month, was a charming interview with Jennifer Garner.

Along with discussing the actress's current work and overall career, Ms.Garner found herself talking about her husband, Ben, and what a great dad he is. Interviews, unlike tabloids, focus on areas the celebrity chooses. In this article it was clear that the Garner-Affleck family, like many others, had funny stories about life at home that they were delighted to share with the reader. One part of the article was particularly difficult to translate, it had something to do with Ben Affleck and his daughter's hair.

After struggling a bit, I finally figured out what the article was discussing. It ended up that Jennifer Garner was saying that one could always tell when Dad was in charge of the two girls by looking at the way their hair was "arranged" when they left the house.

 This image made me remember when my husband brought my two daughters into the hospital to see their new baby sister. The girls had chosen their own outfits and had asked my husband for help braiding their hair. The result was wonderful; a wild mix of independence, attempt at symmetry, and a feeling of huge accomplishment.

At the time the 2011 interview was published, I was delighted to learn that the couple was expecting a baby boy. Now all interviews contain the sad news of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck splitting up.

I hope that somehow they continue to find some happiness together in their parenting and with their growing family, and eventually learn to laugh with one another again.