I’m probably not using the title of this blog in the same sense that Naughty By Nature did back in 1991, but it’s fitting.  Mimi Audrey , my (step) grandmother died earlier this year.  She wasn’t the healthiest women, but she was a fighter.  At times I thought she would share the title of last human on earth with Keith Richards, and she would be damn proud of that too!

Not only did she leave my family a cat, 10 bottles of Sweet Vermouth (key ingredient for a Manhattan), seven fur coats, and an apartment coated with hairspray and Newport 100s, we also inherited photographs, jewelry, textbooks, and other keepsakes from her first husband – whom she divorced in the 70s – long before I was born. As it turns out, these photos from the first husband were cool (two favorites below). I mean this guy’s family could have invented pizza for all I know.

I couldn’t quite wrap my brain around this – why someone would want to keep these personal keepsakes from an ex-husband. Now, I don’t know this man, and I couldn’t locate him on Facebook (you never know).  I did google him however, and discovered that he graduated from Ithaca College.  I sent their Alumni office an e-mail, expressing my wish to reunite Joe with his belongings.  Sure enough, Joe reached out by e-mail, sending me a message in all caps, voicing his exuberance at the thought of finally acquiring his old keepsakes.  Yesterday, a 40 pound package of memories was sent to his address in Florida.  Although I don’t know him, I hope this finds him well.  I like overdue reunions and surprises.

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