Member Spotlight is where we choose one member from Tarzanz Jungle to share a bit about themselves.

This months spotlight is on two of our members, Bigganga, and SixtyRocks, we all know them as Bob and Mary! They are truly a delightful couple, and big time competitors!

Bob and I are thrilled to be ask to share the 'Bob and Mary' story with everyone. In order to keep this from being a novel, we have included the most important things in our life together.


Bob and Mary were previously married for 28 and 20 years, respectively. Having endured pain during the marriages and after, we were not looking for any thing serious but longed for friendship. Bob lived in Baltimore, Maryland and Mary in St. Louis, Mo.


Bob worked for the Social Security Administration from 1967 until 2001. Shortly after graduating from high school, he joined the United States Air Force and served in the U.S. and Taiwan. Bob loves baseball, golf, fishing, bowling, and is an avid Baltimore Orioles fan, Baltimore Ravens fan, and now, an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He was a little league baseball coach for his 3 sons for 20 years. His favorite hobbies are music, especially the 1950's, 1960's and soul, and model trains which include a 1948 American Flyer and a1951 Lionel given to him by his father.


Mary was a stay at home mom for 20 years providing for a husband and 2 sons. Upon her divorce in 1986, she began attending college and achieved her degree in Computer Science upon graduation. Bowling became her passion while averaging 200+ for many years, high 3 game series score of 792, and many high single games of 279,288, and 299. Mary's desire to serve others led her to Director of the Junior Archway Bowling Association for over 15 years. This organization was designed for junior bowlers with the help of several St. Louis Professional bowlers (Dick Weber, Ray Bluth, Don Carter,etc.) to mirror the professional bowling circuit to teach bowling and learn life style skills. There were 9 tournaments per year and drew junior bowlers from 7 area states. Before being physically limited, she enjoyed fishing, golfing, and family outings.


Shortly after the loss of Mary's mother ( December 1999) and brother (January 2000) , she met Bob playing online pinochle under the id of Sixtysrock2000. Many of you may remember the days in Yahoo a room called Everest. It offered a venue for competition and friendships. As luck would have it, we found many things in common especially strategy and playing style. We both looked forward to our pinochle 'date' nights and the friendship that grew.


A year later we decided to meet in person. Neither of us was looking for more, especially Mary who frequently reminded Bob that she had 'been there, done that'. The first visit we could both tell that our feelings were something more than friendship. But living 900 miles a part created a hurdle and allowed the relationship to grow slowly. A few months later, Bob visited St. Louis to meet her family. Mary's sons were very protective of their mother and gave Bob the okay after many questions and interrogations. The grandchildren, 7 and 3 at that time, fell in love with him immediately and called him 'Grandpa'.


In September 2001, Mary with the help of her older brother, traveled to Baltimore to help Bob with some painting to get his house ready to sell so he could move to St. Louis. Something didn't seem right with Bob and after a doctor visit we found out he had pneumonia. After returning to St. Louis, Mary became more concerned about Bob's health and asked his son to get him medical care. One of the hardest challenges we have had in our lives together, came in October 2001. Bob was admitted to John Hopkins Hospital with a Macro Pituitary Adenoma in his brain. I took the next flight out and was there for the surgery and the critical few days after. The location of the tumor and 10 hour surgery left Bob legally blind with no vision in his left eye and minimal tunnel vision in the right eye. With no depth perception or peripheral vision, many things he could no longer do including driving a vehicle. After his recovery and rehabilitation, Bob moved to St. Louis to be with Mary as he adjusted to his limitations.


As the days passed and our relationship grew, we decided to get married in September 2002. It was not easy with Mary's 'been there, done that' and Bob's 'won't take no for an answer' but we got it done. With all of our family and friends, we became husband and wife. Everyone knew our story and gave us their support and unconditional love. Today we both agree it was the best thing that ever happened to us. When it is true love, we know we have been blessed by God in this union and it is up to us to make it work.


Bob and Mary love to travel and have been many places together. Our favorite was a trip to Disney World in 2005 with our son Rich, and our 2 grandchildren, Haley and Eric. We spent 10 days on the grounds and did it all! In 2008 we went to Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota to fulfill a promise to Mary's father as he passed away before getting to go. We know he was with us in spirit and enjoying every breathtaking view. With son, Rich, and grandson, Eric, we took a whirlwind of a trip in 2010 to Indianapolis, Indiana to the Speedway, Cincinnati, Ohio to a Cardinals/Reds game, Cooperstown, NY to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and to Niagara Falls, NY to see the falls from both US and Canada. It was a lot of miles in 6 days but worth every minute of it.


We are a blended family that live across the country. Mary' son Rich, 48, lives with his wife Rene in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. Rich has 2 children, Eric 17, and Haley 21. Michael, 45, is Mary's other son and he lives with his wife, Lori, and son Harrison 18, in Le Claire , Iowa. Bob's oldest son of 3, Rob 41, lives with his wife Cindy in Tupelo, Mississippi and has a daughter, Emily 17. Middle son Michael 35, and his wife, Gina, have 2 daughters, Abby 8 and Olivia 6, and live in Baltimore, Maryland. The youngest son, David 34, and his wife, Brenna, live about 1 mile from us but we don't see them as often as we would like. In addition, we have 2 spoiled Shetland Sheepdogs, Cody and Mr Ty, who have us trained very well. Family is very important to us and cherish every moment with them.


In closing, Bob and I are no longer physically able to travel like we would like. We look forward to each day to spend time with those in the Jungle get our pinochle fix and so much more. Good luck at the tables and enjoy those you are with.... no one is promised tomorrow.

 

A tribute to our friends that have passed so that they will be remembered, because they are forever in our hearts.