Whether you know my darling husband, by the moniker “ex-Marine” in my articles, Steve to co-workers and acquaintances…or “Sonny” (to family and close friends), today is his 70th Birthday! No one could have been luckier than I to meet this over-achieving, kind-hearted, emotional and loving man 32 years ago at a racquet ball/tennis club. Did this poor ex-Marine who despised camping and tenting (been there….done it) ever dream that petite, strong-willed me would argue and cajole him into a lifetime of doing what he hoped was forever behind him when he left the Corps? Semper Fi!!

Sonny dropped out of high school and joined the Marine Corps at age 17, his heart’s desire since the age of 4 when, according to his Mother, he played “…From the halls of Montezuma…” over and over again on his record player and declared that he was going to be a Marine.

Sonny – a proud and happy 17 year old Marine
Sonny gives the Marine Corps complete credit for his success in life. They made a man out of him and gave him the discipline he needed. Perhaps this gave him the impetus to become one of the top salespeople for 41 years of a “major” industrial chemical company. Sonny considers most of his customers friends. He is the first to offer emotional support to anyone who crosses his path, stranger or friend.
Whether it’s hiking…

hiking in the Tatras of Slovakia
…sleeping in the detested tents…

ex-Marine trying to look happy in a tent
…sitting in a zodiac, even though he is petrified of water…

Antarctica, our 7th continent
…trekking…running marathons…visiting god-forsaken areas of the world…screaming at me on mountaintops that it’s “another fine mess you got us into,” or spewing reasons why we shouldn’t go to places like Yemen, it’s always Sonny who has the best time and is the most liked member of a group. (Unlike me who Sonny feels would be killed by friendly fire.) His charisma radiates throughout the world and a group of teen-age girls rushed him in a Japanese National Park screaming, “Rocky…Rocky…” and insisted on a group photo with “Rocky.”

Rocky and teens in Japan 

Sonny dressed for the Japanese court
While still selling chemicals, Sonny’s great love of people spills over to volunteer work. Look for him walking around Chicago’s O’Hare Airport terminals wearing a big, red City of Chicago “Ask Me” button, ready to answer traveler’s questions. Or in the USO, assisting servicemen, servicewomen and their families.
Today is Sonny’s 70th Birthday and even although we’re celebrating in Paris (a milestone birthday deserves a special place), I hope you’ll all join in with good wishes for health and many more years of active traveling.

Sonny and his newest friend in the Khampa area of China
70 years or not…you will always be the good-looking, sexy and loving man I fell for. Happy Birthday! With love,
Sheila