No, that isn't a typo.  I put the letters all together as one word to show how unified they were in heart and in our minds.  I have no memories of anyone talking about just "John" or just "Gloria".  It was always John and Gloria.  They lived in a little house in Ventura.  That tiny little house sold for a fortune when they died.

As a girl, I'd walk up Harbor Blvd, turn right on Seaward, and walk up to Thompson turning right on the first street after the shopping center.  I dont' even know the name.  It was just "their street".  They always welcomed me.  I'd stop in and talk for a while. I thought Gloria was glamorous.  She wore her hair exactly the same way she'd worn it during "the war years" when she'd met John.  All the gorgeous twists and twirls in her black silky hair looked exotic to me.  She had a mole above her lip.  It looked like a beauty mark.

Gloria smoked.  I honestly don't know if John did, I never noticed.  I always imagined her with one of those long cigarette holders from the 1920's.  She'd have been glamorous!

John loved to garage sale.  He'd shop for months storing things in his garage until he had enough for his own garage sale.  He'd reprice things and put them out on tables and enjoy shooting the breeze with his customers as they came to the sale.  He loved it.  Long shorts, trouser socks, hawaiian shirts, loafers, and his ever present glass of scotch and soda (at least that's what I always thought it was, I really don't know!).

Mom used to love to bring them treats.  My favorite times were when I'd arrive home from school, wiped out from riding my bike, and the scent of Hungarian Coffee Cake greeted me before I even entered the door.  It usually meant we were on our way over.  We'd climb into our pale yellow Chevy Impala and drive over.  Sometimes it was Hungarian Coffee Cake, others it might be buns or dill bread. 

Mom taught me a lot with those visits.  People are precious.  Treasure them while you have them.  Don't wait until they're gone to honor them.  We all need to see and feel that we're loved and appreciated. 

Mom, I love and appreciate you.  More than you'll ever know.