CHAP. 7...OUR STORY

TODAY JIMMY TOLD ME HE HAS GOTTEN THE PRINTED LIST, AND HE IS ON IT,TO GO TO THE HALF-WAY HOUSE. I'M KIND OF EXCITED! BUT STILL, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE.  THERE HAS BEEN A 'BACK-UP" IN THE SYSTEM, SO THEY ARE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE BEFORE THEY CAN PLACE THEM.IT IS A PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTRY.PRISONS ARE OVERCROWDED. THEY LOCK UP EVERYONE FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.PRISONS ARE FILLED UP WITH MEN WHO DON'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT. THERE ARE AROUND 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE IN PRISON IN OUR COUNTRY. AND NOW, WITH MARTHA STEWART GOING THERE, IT SEEMS QUITE FASHIONABLE, AND THE 'THING TO DO!".WELL, BACK TO "OUR LOVE STORY."  THE DAY AFTER WE CAME HOME FROM PALM SPRINGS, JIMMY TOLD ME HE'D BE UP EARLY TAKING CARE OF HIS BUSINESS BACK IN NEW JERSEY.  SO SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS STILL DARK OUT, AND I COULD HEAR HIM DOWNSTAIRS IN THE KITCHEN, TALKING ON HIS CELL. WITH THE 3 HOUR TIME DIFFERENCE, LIFE WAS AWAKE BACK IN JERSEY.  IN MY USUAL LAID- BACK WAY, I CAME DOWNSTAIRS AT 10 A.M.  JIMMY HAD BREAKFAST MADE FOR ME.  HE WAS ALREADY IN CONTROL OF THE WHOLE KITCHEN AND THE HOUSEHOLD.  I JUST LOVED IT!  WE WENT OUT TO THE CAR TO GO SHOPPING, TO HOME DEPOT.  I REMEMBER LOOKING OVER AT HIM AS WE SAT IN THE CAR.  HE RATTLED OFF A LIST OF THINGS WE WOULD DO TODAY. I SAID ,"JIMMY, YOU ARE IN FAST MOTION. YOU DO EVERYTHING QUICK, AND I DO EVERYTHING AT A SLOWER PACE. IS THIS GOING TO WORK BETWEEN US?" HE SAID,"FRAN, YOU ARE PERFECT. I DO NOT WANT YOU TO CHANGE. DO THINGS AS YOU NORMALLY DO THEM.  I NEED SOMEONE TO "SLOW ME DOWN A LITTLE. I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE." SO THERE WAS THE START OF OUR LIFE AS "MAN AND WIFE."  AND TO THIS DAY, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN US...A MERGING OF 2 BODIES, SOULS, AND MINDS.AND WE JUST LOVE IT! IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS JIMMY HAD TOTALLY RENOVATED THE HOUSE! THE HOUSE WAS PAINTED, WALL TO WALL CARPET THROWN OUT,TILES INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE, WITH CERAMIC TILES IN THE KITCJEN. HE MIRRORED THE LIVING ROOM AND BEDROOM. HE BOUGHT NEW FURNITURE.BLACK LEATHER FURNITURE FOR THE LIVING ROOM, AND A CALIFORNIA KING SIZE BED, WITH MIRRORS AND LIGHTING.  I NEEDED A STOOL TO CLIMB UP INTO THAT BED!  WE ARE BIG PEOPLE, AND I SLEEP WITH ABOUT 10 PILLOWS, LOADS OF STUFFED ANIMALS AND A FEW DOLLS, 2 CATS AND A 50-LB DOG.......WELL, THERE WAS STILL ROOM LEFT OVER! JIMMY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE "MARRIAGE BED" WAS JUST PERFECT!.........AND IT WAS!  (smile)

CHAPTER 6...OUR STORY

THE DAY AFTER WE GOT MARRIED, WE ALL DECIDED TO DRIVE TO PALM SPRINGS. JIMMY WANTED TO RIDE THE "ARIAL TRAM" TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS. SO WE PILED INTO MY CAR, AND L DROVE, WHILE JIMMY AND I SAT IN THE BACK, CUDDLING. AS ANYONE KNOWS, IT'S A VERY LONG TRIP TO CALIFORNIA TO DO IT IN ONE DAY,BUT WE DID IT! I HAD LIVED IN PALM SPRINGS BEFORE NEVADA, SO I WAS FAMILIAR WITH IT. THE RIDE UP THE TRAMWAY WAS JUST FANTASTIC! SUCH BEAUTIFUL VIEWS!WE TOOK LOTS OF PICTURES AND EVERYONE ENJOYED THEMSELVES! 

MARTHA STEWART

I'M SITTING HERE, WORKING ON THE COMPUTER, WITH THE T. V. ON.I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT! THE FACILITY MARTHA STEWART WILL BE GOING TO,IN DANBURY, CONNETICUT.IT IS A MINIMUM SECURITY PRISON,JUST LIKE THE ONE JIMMY IS IN!IT IS A VERY OPEN, SOCIAL TYPE PLACE, NO LOCKED DOORS, NO BARBED WIRE.  EVERYONE WORKS(JIMMY IS THE CLERK FOR THE SCHOOL TEACHER FOR GED).MOST WORK IN THE KITCHEN OR MOPPING FLOORS, ETC.  JIMMY MOPS AROUND HIS OWN BED EVERYDAY (HE IS A CLEANLINESS FREAK, ANYHOW).THERE ARE 75 INMATES SLEEPING IN AN OPENED ROOM, LIKE A DORM.  JIMMY IS LUCKY, AND SHARES A COTTAGE WITH 3 OTHERS. THEY SLEEP IN BUNK BEDS. THEY HAVE "COUNT" 4 TIMES A DAY.THE INMATES GO AND STAND BY THEIR BED.  THEY ARE COUNTED TO MAKE SURE NO ONE HAS ESCAPED.  DOORS ARE KEPT OPENED.  JIMMY GOES OUTSIDE TO WALK , AS MUCH AS HE WANTS.NO LOCKED CELLS.NO BARS.IT IS LIKE A "BOYS SCHOOL".I ALWAYS JOKE WITH JIMMY THAT HE IS IN SCHOOL.IT IS A VERY DISCIPLINED ENVIRONMENT. THEY CAN BUY SNACKS FROM THE CANTEEN,LIKE SOUP, POPCORN,TUNA FISH.THE MEALS ARE VERY SCARCE, AND THE FELLOWS ARE HUNGRY. TODAY, FOR DINNER THEY ATE A SCOOP OF NOODLES, WITH MEAT ON TOP OF IT THAT LOOKED LIKE ALPO DOG FOOD, 2 SLICES OF BREAD, AND FRUIT COCKTAIL...I JUST WANTED TO CRY, CAUSE JIMMY LOVES FOOD.THEY GIVE THEIR SPAGHETTI TO JIMMY, AND JIMMY, WHO IS A GOOD COOK, "FIXES UP" THEIR FOOD FOR THEM...HE RECOOKS IT IN THE MICROWAVE WITH SOME SPICES, ETC.  HE IS LIKE THEIR "DADDY."  HE IS A WISE MAN, OLDER THAN THE MAJORITY, SO EVERYONE COMES TO HIM FOR ADVICE, ETC. JIMMY IS A LEADER, EVEN IN PRISON. YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE THAT TRAIT AWAY FROM HIM.YOU CAN BUY A TV OR RADIO. JIMMY HAS CHOSEN A RADIO WITH HEADPHONES. HE WOULD RATHER READ AND WRITE WHILE IN PRISON, INSTEAD OF GETTING TAKEN UP WATCHING TV(DOESN'T HAVE CABLE, ANYHOW!) .JIMMY LIKES TO LISTEN TO TALK SHOWS. HE TAKES LOTS OF BOOKS OUT OF THE PRISON LIBRARY.MY JIMMY READ ALMOST ALL OF JAMES MICHENERS NOVEL WHILE THERE.AND YOU KNOW HOW BIG THOSE BOOKS ARE!  HE HAS THE"WALL STREET JOURNAL" DELIVERED TO HIM EVERYDAY, ALONG WITH SEVERAL MAGAZINES. HE SPENDS TIME IN THE LAW LIBRARY, HELPING OTHERS. HE IS KNOWN AS "THE JAILHOUSE LAWYER," .HIS INTELLIGENCE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TURNS ME ON.  THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A STRONG, POWERFUL, INTELLIGENT MAN!AND THAT IS MY JIMMY!

 

CHAPTER 5....OUR STORY

THE NEXT DAY,SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2001, DAWNED BRIGHT AND SUNNY, AS EVERYDAY(just about), DOES IN THE DESERT. AT 7AM YOU SEE AN ORANGE SKY AS THE SUN RISES ABOVE THE MOUNTAINS.THE RAYS OF THE SUN ARE INTENSE AND STRONG IN THE DESERT, EVEN AT 7AM.THOSE OF US THAT LIVE THERE ACTUALLY CRAVE THE STRONG RAYS...THE HEAT TO WARM OUR BODY.AND SO, TODAY, WE WERE GETTING MARRIED!WE GOT UP AND WENT TO A BREAKFAST BUFFET ON THE STRIP.JIMMY'S 2 FRIENDS WERE WITH US,WHOM I'LL CALL L AND S, I TOOK A LIKING TO L AND S..THEY WERE FUN AND HAPPY PEOPLE!  S WANTED TO GET A TATOO, SO WE DROVE THERE AND HE GOT ONE!  THEN, JIMMY AND I LEFT THE 2 AND DROVE DOWNTOWN , ALONG LAS VEGAS BLD. TO GET OUR MARRIAGE LICENSE.  IT WAS A BUSY PLACE SO IT TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS. EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY SECOND, JIMMY WAS HOLDING MY HAND, OPENING CAR DOORS,OPENING EVERY DOOR. HE TOUCHED ME EVERY SECOND WE WERE TOGETHER, AS IF I WOULD DISSAPEAR INTO THIN AIR.  HE LOVES TO TALK TO PEOPLE, SO HE WOULD TELL EVERYONE THAT WE WERE GETTING MARRIED! I REMEMBER , THE SKY WAS SO BLUE, THE SUN SO BRIGHT...EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT WITH THE WORLD! WE WENT HOME. I RESTED. JIMMY SAID,"FRAN, WE'LL GO RIGHT BEFORE MIDNIGHT TO GET MARRIED. I LIKE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN LIFE."SO AROUND 11PM, WE PROCEEDED DOWNTOWN TO THE JUSTICE OF PEACE OFFICE.  JIMMY HAD A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS FOR ME.  L AND S AND V(THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR), WERE WITH US. IT WAS A WOMAN THAT MARRIED US..IT WAS A CUTE PLACE, THAT THEY HAD SET UP LIKE A CHAPEL. ACTUALLY, IT HAD A VERY SPIRITUAL, ESOTERIC FEELING IN THE ROOM.  YOU COULD FEEL THE PRESENCE OF LOVE THERE. THAT MANY PEOPLE BEFORE US HAD STOOD THERE TO PROFESS THEIR LOVE AND SAY THEIR VOWS.....AND SO, IN A FEW MINUTES WE SAID..."I DO.".............WE WERE SO HAPPY........I WAS WALKING ON AIR.......I THINK I WAS ACTUALLY HAVING AN "OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE!"......I JUST WAS NOT WITHIN MYSELF!...........AND SO WE WENT HOME. WE REALLY WANTED TO JUST BE ALONE!......L AND S REALLY JUST WANTED TO GO TO "THE STRIP!"............AND SO, EVERYBODY HAPPY, THE HOUSE QUIET. THE LIGHTS OUT, WE WENT UPSTAIRS TO BED............AND OH!  ONE OTHER THING!  PRINCE, MISTY AND JIMBO(our dog and 2 cats)  WERE SO VERY HAPPY TO HAVE A WONDERFUL "DADDY!"

CHAPTER 4...CONTINUATION OF OUR "LUV" STORY

FOR 6 WEEKS WE TALKED ON THE CELL PHONES..ROUND THE CLOCK. I GOT TO KNOW HIM REALLY BY HIS VOICE. WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING. WE WENT WAY BACK TO OUR CHILHOODS.IT WAS STRANGE...WE WERE 2 YEARS APART IN AGE,BORN AND LIVED IN NEIGHBORING CITIES IN NEW JERSEY.SIMILAR UPBRINGINGS..ITALIAN HOUSEHOLD. BOTH COLLEGE EDUCATED AND PROFESSIONALS. IT WAS REALLY KIND OF SPOOKY. BUT TRUTHFULLY, I HAD PRAYED TO GOD ABOUT THIS, BEFORE I EVER KNEW HE EXISTED. I HAD ASKED GOD TO SEND ME SOMEONE LIKE JIMMY. AND SO, I DO BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! AND POOFFFF, JIMMY APPEARED IN MY LIFE!!! SO, 6 WEEKS LATER, ON APRIL 28, JIMMY FLEW BACK TO LAS VEGAS.  I BROUGHT A NEIGHBOR(FRIEND) WITH ME TO THE AIRPORT(IT WAS 11PM), A SATURDAY NITE..A HOT, DRY, TYPICAL DESERT NITE. JIMMY WAS THERE WITH 2 FREINDS FROM JERSEY..ONE WOULD BE OUR BEST MAN. FOR ME, IT WAS ALL KIND OF LIKE A DREAM. I HAD A VERY "AIRY FEELING." HE KISSED ME AND WE WENT TO MY CAR."COULD THIS BE HAPPENING! IS THIS FOR REAL!" WE WENT TO MY HOME, AND I HAD PREPARED LOTS AND LOTS OF FOOD!I KNEW I;D BE HAVING JIMMY AND 2 MALE GUESTS STAYING, AND I KNEW THEY WOULD BE HUNGRY! I HAD LOTS OF COLD-CUTS,SNACKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.JIMMY THEN PRESENTED ME A BEAUTIFUL PENDANT.IT WAS A CRYSTAL MOON,WHICH IS ALWAYS MY INSIGNIA.I ALWAYS WEAR IT AROUND MY NECK...THAT IS ME! CRYSTAL MOON! AND SO, WE ALL ATE AND DRANK SODA,EVERYONE HAPPY! THEN OUR NEIGHBOR FRIEND WENT HOME AND WE GAVE MY CAR TO JIMMY'S 2 FRIENDS. THEY WERE EXCITED TO GO TO THE STRIP! IT WAS WELL PAST MIDNIGHT. JIMMY AND I WENT UPSTAIRS TO BED. AFTRE ALL, TOMORROW WOULD BE A BUSY DAY...WE'D BE GETTING MARRIED!..SO UPSTAIRS WE WENT, HAND IN HAND. WE HAD A LOT OF TALKING TO DO BEFORE WE FELL INTO A BEAUTIFUL BLISSFUL SLEEP! YES, I DID SAY TALKING!........LOL

continuation of our story

THE NEXT DAY WAS MARCH 17, 2001...ST. PAT'S DAY.WE DROVE INTO LAS VEGAS, WITH 2 CARS FOLLOWING, AS I LED.WE DROPPED EVERYBODY OFF AT THE BOULAVARD MALL, AND I TOOK JIMMY TO SHOW HIM MY HOME, AND TO MEET PRINCE , MISTY, AND JIMBO.HE WASN'T TOO HAPPY WITH PRINCE, AS PRINCE NEARLY ATTACKED HIM ON THE STAIRCASE! AFTERWARDS, THOUGH, PRINCE AND JIMMY FELL IN LOVE, AND JIMMY BECAME THE ALPHA. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, WE ALL PROCEEDED TO PAHRUMP,WITH ME LEADING. WE STOPPED AT TERRIBLE'S CASINO, AND HAD OUR FIRST CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE MEAL...THEN WE WENT BACK TO OUR MOTEL, AND AGAIN HAD ANOTHER MEAL OF CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE(THE FIRST TASTED BETTER, THOUGH).WE PLAYED IN THE CASINO.WE TALKED. EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT TIME.EVERY MOMENT, JIMMY AND I WERE FALLING DEEPER AND DEEPER IN LOVE.THE NEXT DAY, THE REAL ESTATE AGENT TOOK US TO SEE THE SKI AREAS ON MT. CHARLSTON.AND SOON IT WAS SUNDAY AFTERNOON,AND TIME FOR JIMMY TO LEAVE. I DROVE HIM AND HIS FREINDS TO THE AIRPORT, AND WENT HOME.WHEN I GOT HOME, JIMMY CALLED ME AND SAID HIS FLIGHT WAS DELAYED AROUND 7 HOURS.SO , I WENT BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND SAT THERE WITH HIM AND HIS FRIENDS.WE ATE PIZZA,AND TALKED,HOLDING HANDS CONSTANTLY.JIMMY DOZED OFF.HE LOOKED VERY DEPRESSED.HE WAS QUIET. AT 11PM HE SAID,"I WANT YOU TO GO HOME NOW, FRAN..I WANT YOU TO KEEP WALKING, AND DO NOT TURN AROUND TO LOOK BACK AT ME." SO, I DID JUST THAT.I WENT HOME AND FELL ASLEEP. BEFORE I KNEW IT, IT WAS THE NEXT DAY AND JIMMY WAS CALLING ME. HE WAS BACK IN NEW JERSEY, IN HIS BAILBONDSMAN OFFICE. HE SAID, "I'M COMING BACK THERE TO MARRY YOU.I'LL SETTLE SOME THINGS HERE,AND BE BACK ASAP." I SAID, "OK..THE SOONER THE BETTER!"HE NEVER ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM WE JUST KNEW WE HAD TO BE TOGETHER AND MARRIED.......A FEW DAYS LATER HE SENT ME A SPRINT CELL PHONE.WITH THAT PHONE,WE TALKED 24/7.HE WAS ALWAYS WITH ME.

MEETING JIMMY THE FIRST TIME

WELL, I'LL GO ON WITH OUR STORY...SO, EVERYDAY AFTER MARCH 1, 2001, WE TALKED ON THE PHONE. HE CALLED ME ON HIS CELL,EVERY FEW HOURS.HE WOKE ME UP FOR WORK.HE GREETED ME IN THE MORNING.FINALLY. ON MARCH 16,2001, HE CAME TO LAS VEGAS, WITH 2 BUSINESS PARTNERS.MY CO-WORKERS AT THE HOSPITAL, HAD TOLD ME,"DON'T DO IT FRAN.PEOPLE GET HURT MEETING PEOPLE LIKE THAT." BUT I WAS CONFIDANT, AND SURE OF MYSELF.I WENT TO McCARREN AIRPORT TO PICK THEM UP.I COULDN'T FIND THEM! I BARELY KNEW WHAT JIMMY LOOKED LIKE! I HAD SEEN ONE COMPUTER PICTURE OF HIM.SO AFTER A COUPLE HOURS, I WENT HOME CRYING.THERE WERE SEVERAL MESSAGES ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE FROM JIMMY.THEN HE CALLED AGAIN."YOU LET ME DOWN,DIDN'T YOU,FRAN?".."NO,I CRIED INTO THE PHONE.I COULDN'T FIND YOU." "GET IN THE CAR AND COME TO WHERE I AM.WE RENTED A CAR AND LEFT THE AIRPORT WHEN YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP."..HE GAVE ME THE DIRECTIONS. I DROVE NORTH ON 95..I PASSED MT. CHARLSTON. THEN, THE PIUTE INDIAN RESERVATION.IT WAS ALL BARREN DESERT. I HAD NO CELL AND WAS A LITTLE AFRAID..THERE IS ABSOLUTLY NOTHING OUT THERE...DESERT AND MOUNTAINS IN THE DISTANCE.FINALLY, AFTER DRIVING 35 MILES NORTH, TOWARDS TONOPAH (GOING NORTH TO RENO),I CAME TO MY DESTINATION.I WENT TO THE SHELL STATION.I LOOKED AROUND...NO ONE THERE.I WENT TO THE PAY PHONE..HIS CELL DIDN;'T WORK OUT HERE...THESE ARE REMOTE AREAS. I WAS IN AN AREA BORDERING "AREA 51" (UFO AREA)..I LOOKED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND COULD SEE THE MILITARY BASE (AIR FORCE).AS I GOT IN THE CAR, WONDERING WHAT TO DO, A PERSON FROM THE STORE,CAME TO ME, AND TOLD ME THEY WERE LOOKING OUT FOR ME, AND TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY, AND GO TO THE CASINO/MOTEL THAT WAS THERE.  I WENT THERE.I WAS TOLD TO SIT AND WAIT.JIMMY WAS WAITING FOR ME, BUT WAS IN A BUSINESS MEETING AT THE TIME.GEE!JIMMY WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!I WAITED.THEN HE EMERGED FROM BEHIND THE RECEPTION DESK, WITH HIS 2 BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND OTHER BUINESSMEN.IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SET EYES ON EACH OTHER!I,OF COURSE WAS SO EMBARRESED,IN FRONT OF ALL THESE STRANGE MEN!JIMMY LEANED DOWN AND KISSED ME.I TURNED MY HEAD, AND THE KISS LANDED ON MY CHEEK!.........WELL, THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF A FUN WEEKEND FOR ME!........I'LL CONTINUE LATER.