Dear Kathy,

It was 50 years ago this summer that we made sweet love. Remember the apartment on Blondo at 80th St. My two roommates had left for the summer and I had a job with the Dept. of Transportation doing work in a research project called a density-distance study.

Often we would watch television and hold each other. We used to have a few drinks. I liked the Beach Boys and Beatles and you liked the Beatles. I took you to a Beach Boys concert.  We used to drive around  Omaha and the surrounding environs.

In 1966, you would start university work on a bachelors and I would have my second semester for a masters degree. You had long hair and got a unisex cut that was great. I dyed my hair blonde and then it turned  orange so your colorist fixed me up. By Christmas I had my blonde-brown hair back.

You said that the relationship would not last and I agreed. For some reason, we watched “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” I still remember the show.

Periodically, I would see you and I introduced you to my wife at the West roads. Kathy we were Liberal-Left and of course much did not come to pass, but some did and the country moved far to the Right after Nixon and Reagan.

In 1967, I met my wife Jennifer and we have had 48 years together. We have 2 sons. The oldest is a venturer and he has done nearly everything.  He has lived all over the west and Australia. Our youngest lived in the East Village during 9/11 and has moved many times since. He is a web analyst innovator and generally works for Condi Nest. For three months, he has traveled all over Scandinavia, Europe and UK as a techno-artist. His commercial name is “Bombardier.” Our oldest is now a job analyst. Both graduated from Iowa University with honors.

My wife started as a teacher, then school psychologist, and then a top administrator at any Area Education Agency.  For me, see joelsnell.com   and 56THST.COM Thank you for being such a good friend and a wonderful lover.

If you want to see me, I should be buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha. There is my name, date, and the inscription GOOD VIBRATIONS/ STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER. Does that make sense?

Joel

2016/May 27