Brenda & Bert

David & Carol

Brenda was the homecoming princess and Bert was the captain of the football team.

The Bellini's and the Farley's would go on to raise their children in the same neighborhood.

Once upon a time some young folks in California fell in love...

Two of their children later fall in love as well...

Michael

Meanwhile a German boat builder would immigrate to the United States and in the 80's fall madly in love with Brenda. He is now known as "Poppy" Hans.

Bernadette

I can't talk about my Grandparents without mentioning my favorite Grandpa. My Poppy. Plus this video of him randomly stumbling upon a Jimi Hendrix concert in 1970 Hawaii is the coolest thing ever. He's the curly headed guy with the cigarillo.

K, back to our regularly scheduled program.

After high school, Mike and Bernie's friendship grew into something more...

Dad, Poppy, and Mom at their wedding. She was pregnant with me at this time. 1991? Waiting on confirmation from my Mom. Check out that super 80's head piece. Aren't they the prettiest people you've ever seen?

And they brought me into this world on August 19th, 1992.

The story goes... My dad spent this night collecting fireflies in a jar and let them loose in the house to make me happy. Much to mom's annoyance.

I think this may be how I got the family reputation of being "prissy".

Bernadette and Michael didn't stay together, but they were there for each other at the end of his life. Their love lives on in their daughter – me.

It's hard for me to imagine these two people so in love and together. Not because they ever didn't get along but because they are so different. But looking at these pictures tells a different story. The love story may not have been about them, but me.

Always a Poppy & Grammy baby.