M Tarnowski:  

2016 update: Well, retirement didn't stick! I'm at South Florida State College teaching in the humanities department, editing for a book publisher, and doing freelance web content development. I just couldn't sit still. I see all the "how I met my spouse stories," so I'll add mine. Back in January of 1979, I signed on for a Windjammer cruise -- the one where the "guests" have to sail an 1800-something schooner themselves. A fellow named John Tarnowski and I were taking a shore-side walk during one of the ship's ports of call (St. John, Antigua) and missed the night's last transport back to the dock. We walked almost four hours (over unlit roads and paths that an occasional local would direct us down) to the home-side of the island -- big adventure. Back in the states, some calls, visits (between NJ and Va), and then a wedding that September. Very romantic! And, it stuck. Can't believe it's been 36+ years! He has a great FB page; I don't keep mine up much. Of course I have good memories of the early years, as well, including the year the school burned down and we were all squeezed into split sessions. When my mom (the late Nan Johnson of Red Bank Antiques) woke me up that morning and said the school had burned down, I thought she was joking....Expand for more