Gloucester Friends - By Jackie Ganim-DeFalco

For those of you who don’t know us, we are part of the Gloucester contingent of friends thanks to the many years of work my husband Michael DeFalco has done as the crazy painter who shows up from Gloucester at 6AM on all the Whitla Brothers jobs. Coincidentally, Karen and Stuart have Gloucester connections just down the street from us! Last year, when I decided to plan Michael’s surprise 50th in Jackson, NH – the Whitla Brothers were among the first guests I called and were certainly the first to jump on the chance to surprise Michael and celebrate with us! It was a glorious, perfect weekend (October 21) in the White Mountains and one that we will never forget. What will stay in my mind forever is that – totally spontaneously, Stuart was the one to give Michael his official birthday toast – said so succinctly – “Michael, what everyone fears is that when they turn 50 and get older, they will start to lose it, but you don’t have to worry – you started a long time ago!” For those of you that know my wonderfully creative husband – I thought it would be fun to share Stuart’s words. It was so wonderful to have this special time together and Stuart is very much on our minds and Karen, Doug, and Annie have another community here to call home.