Kristin Cavallari celebrates daughter Saylor's 5th birthday
'Happy 5th birthday to my little Say baby!' she captioned the post, which featured pictures from her youngest's babyhood to now.'Happy 5th birthday to my little Say baby!' she captioned the post, which featured pictures from her youngest's babyhood to now.
One early January day in 1999, 51-year-old Georgene Martin, née Huber, received a delivery of red roses. Her husband had recently passed away, so the flowers didn’t seem completely out of the blue. But the name on the note that came with them did. The last place she had seen that name, Jerry Zimmermann, was in her high school yearbook—from 1965.
© Courtesy Zimmermann Family Georgene Zimmermann, née Huber, in 1965 “Dear Georgene,” Jerry’s card read, “I was a classmate of yours, though I don’t believe you knew who I was.
I was painfully shy, and you were the prettiest girl I had ever seen.”
It was true that Georgene hardly remembered Jerry. Nearly four decades had passed since their paths first crossed in the hallways of Farnsworth Junior High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where she still lived.
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“Though I now live in DC, I keep close ties to Sheboygan,” Jerry continued. “I return several times a year. And now to the crux of this letter—I will be visiting the weekend of May 15th, and I’m wondering if we could meet for a coffee? I am, however, sensitive to the recent loss of your husband. If this approach comes too soon, I will understand—and wait another 40 years.”
Why not? Georgene thought to herself as she put down the letter. She was certainly curious to see what Jerry looked like after so many years. If nothing else, it would be nice just to chat with him. She wrote back and agreed to meet with him that spring.
In Washington, DC, Jerry anxiously checked his mailbox each day. When Georgene’s reply came, he was elated. She finally said yes! Georgene didn’t know it, but she had broken Jerry’s heart all those years ago.
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Jerry’s interest in Georgene Huber began when he noticed her in the ninth grade. Her sparkling eyes gave him a euphoric jolt whenever they glanced, albeit fleetingly, at him. Jerry’s shyness prevented him from saying a single word to her until their junior year in high school.
© Courtesy Zimmermann Family Jerry's handwritten note that started it all A newly minted driver, Jerry was on his way to school one morning when he spotted Georgene walking with a friend. Before he could talk himself out of it, he pulled over and asked the girls whether they wanted a ride. They did.
The friends climbed into the front seat, with Georgene sitting next to Jerry. The beautiful girl he had been pining for was sitting just inches away, and it petrified him. Unable to think of anything to say to break the ice, Jerry didn’t even introduce himself. Once at school, his passengers thanked him and went on their way.
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Jerry spent all day mulling over his next move. His plan was simple: After school, he would drive around until he saw Georgene walking home. Then, just as he had done that morning, he would offer her a ride. She would accept, sit next to him again, and that would be that, he thought. Happily ever after.
When the last bell rang, Jerry raced to the parking lot and started driving around the school. He soon found Georgene walking with the same girl from that morning. Jerry pulled over and rolled the window down.
“Fancy another ride?” he asked.
Georgene looked at him. “No, we’re going to walk.”
No? Jerry couldn’t believe it. In his mind, the three of them were already good friends. He slowly rolled the window back up and drove away, devastated.
It only got worse. The following year—their senior year—he learned that Georgene was engaged. Jerry didn’t dare approach her again.
After high school, Jerry found work making deliveries for an electrical and plumbing wholesaler. He enjoyed the job until he was sidelined by a back injury in 1983. Jerry, then 36, was forced to do desk work, which he hated. A divorce and the death of his father added to his misery.
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Then one evening, Jerry opened up the Sheboygan Press and saw an ad for the University of Wisconsin. “Do you want to improve your life?” it asked. Intrigued, he read on. The ad advised a meeting with one of the college’s counselors at the local library. By the end of his meeting, Jerry was signed up for two classes. He wasn’t totally convinced more school would help redirect his path, but he really enjoyed his coursework, and he eventually earned a degree in physical geography.
Jerry soon left Wisconsin for Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a cartographer in the mapping
department of the U.S. Geological Survey. He was later promoted to the U.S. Department of Defense’s mapping agency in Washington, DC.
Moving to the nation’s capital was a big adjustment. Jerry, who had been raised on a farm, was accustomed to seeing grazing animals and wide-open spaces. In DC, he found himself surrounded by politics and traffic. He missed Wisconsin. He called home every week, and he returned at least twice a year, for his birthday in July and again at Christmas.
“Usually one of those times,” he says, “I’d drive by Georgene’s house, just to get a look.” When he would see her out and about, he still couldn’t work up the nerve to talk to her. Jerry would look in the local phone book for her name. It was always there—beside her husband’s.
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© Courtesy Zimmermann Family In 2003, now Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann Jerry married—and divorced—a second time. Neither of his ex-wives ever knew of his everlasting affection for Georgene, though his friends back home did. On one of his semiannual visits, in December of 1998, Jerry caught up with his friend Frank Cooper.
“Have you seen Georgene lately?” Frank asked.
“No, not at all,” Jerry replied.
“Her husband died.”
Georgene’s husband had succumbed to a brain tumor after being ill
with it for nearly a year. All that time, Georgene had been his caretaker.
Jerry had to go back to Washington, but before leaving town, he stopped at a local florist. While he didn’t want to seem insensitive to Georgene’s husband’s death, he didn’t want to waste any more time. Leaving his shyness behind, he wrote a note to send with the roses. Composing the letter was easy. The difficult part, on that cold winter day, was squeezing all his warm feelings for her onto one little card.
When he got back to DC, Jerry was already looking forward to his next trip home in May. Once he learned that Georgene was interested in getting together, he couldn’t wait. He called her that night, and the two spoke for more than an hour. He came home as scheduled that spring of 1999 for a brief weekend visit. At 51, he was finally going on his first date with the woman he’d been infatuated with for more than 35 years.
Georgene’s beauty hadn’t faded a bit. “Her hair was different,” Jerry says, “though she was still petite.” He was slender himself. The first thing Georgene said to Jerry when she saw him was, “Wow, are you skinny!”
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© Courtesy Zimmermann Family Jerry and Georgene with their granddaughters, Hannah (left) and Hope It’s perhaps not how Hollywood would have scripted their reunion, but for both Jerry and Georgene, the connection was powerful. While Jerry had longed for Georgene for decades, Georgene had been praying for companionship ever since her husband died. “If you found someone for me,” she used to confide in God, “I would love that.” The two of them had such a great time on their coffee date that they made plans to see each other again when Jerry came back to Wisconsin for a longer visit in July.
Jerry was home for ten days that summer. He spent every one of them with Georgene. The pair took daily walks, usually in a park not far from Lake Michigan. On their third or fourth outing, they decided to stroll along the western banks of the lake instead. “The waters were blue, the sounds were gold,” Jerry says, “and my heart was there—or our hearts, I should say.”
It was the perfect setting for Jerry to confess the full extent of his feelings. “I’m in love with you,” he told Georgene. Then he asked her to marry him. “It was totally unexpected,” Georgene says, “but I just knew he was the one.” She said yes, and Jerry felt triumphant. He now had two yeses to overcome that no from
so long ago.
His next trip to Washington was his last. Jerry quit his job with the government and moved back to Wisconsin. Decades earlier, the most beautiful girl in the world married someone else. That winter, the most beautiful girl in the world married him.
Their two dozen wedding guests received a version of Georgene and Jerry’s love story, 40 years in the making, that Jerry had written. Last year, he shared that story with Reader’s Digest with this postscript: “For several years, things were great. Then I developed a limp.
"Georgene knew what it was, but I needed to hear it from a neurologist: Parkinson’s disease. It’s now in its advanced stages, but Georgene and I continue to love each other while I battle debilitating symptoms. Moreover, we love the Lord and we’re grateful for what we have together because it’s perfect for us.” Happily ever after indeed. Next, read about this couple who were high school sweethearts—and got married 45 years later.
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Beware of bleach in these situations
Bleach is powerful stuff—and that can be a good thing and a bad thing. While there are plenty of smart ways to use bleach, it can also seriously damage objects and surfaces. "Full-strength sodium hypochlorite can damage even surfaces and items on which it is generally safe to use," cautions Janice Stewart, owner of Castle Keepers House Cleaners in Charleston, South Carolina. "It should always be diluted." Make sure you're not overusing bleach, and definitely be sure you're not using it on these things that it could seriously harm. And these are just the things you shouldn't clean with bleach—for more bleach safety tips, here are the products you should never mix with bleach.
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Metal and stainless steel
Yes, this is pretty broad. But using bleach on metal surfaces can cause them to rust, so you should keep bleach away from metal. "As bleach contains ingredients that serve as oxidants, materials such as stainless steel can become corroded when exposed to bleach," says Ana Andres, co-founder of TidyChoice. "It is better to avoid using bleach on metal surfaces such as stainless steel appliances, cutlery, and pots and pans."
What to use instead: Andres suggests just using warm water and dishwashing liquid to clean metal cookware. For grime that's really stuck on, you can try loosening it by soaking it in boiling water, if possible. "A wire or plastic scrubber may also be useful," she adds. As for stainless steel appliances, Natalie Barrett, cleaning expert and quality supervisor at Nifty Cleaning Services, uses white vinegar combined with olive oil to remove grease stains. Speaking of wire scrubbers, find out the things you should never clean with SOS pads.
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Wood surfaces
Think you can just run a swipe of bleach across your wooden countertops or floors? Think again. "Wood is porous, and bleach will seep into the fibers," explains David Cusick, Chief Strategy Officer at House Method. "You won’t be able to remove the bleach for safe sanitation, and it will cause discoloration and weaken the wood." And, yes, this goes for hardwood floors, too: The bleach will simply seep right into it rather than properly cleaning it.
What to use instead: Water and dish detergent should suffice for cleaning most wooden surfaces, or any water-based cleaner! Plus, find out the 8 best ways to clean hardwood floors.
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Stone countertops
While porous wooden countertops are one thing, you should avoid using bleach on your stone countertops for a whole different reason. While bleach will soak right through wood, it can do serious damage to granite countertops. "Absorptive surfaces such as your stone, granite, and marble countertops should never be cleaned with bleach," warns Andrew Barker, founder of HomeownerCosts. "They will become dull, discolored, pitted, and etched."
What to use instead: Surprise—it's water and dish soap again! "Instead of bleach, you can use cotton or microfiber cloth in cleaning your stone countertops," Barker says. "Thoroughly soak your cloth in a mixture of water and liquid dish soap." If you're not cleaning with microfiber cloths, here's why you should be.
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Anything edible
This might seem obvious, sure. But in this hyper-clean era of virus panic, assuming "the cleaner the better" might lead you to consider cleaning your food with bleach. But you shouldn't do this! "Using bleach to clean fruits and vegetables is an absolute no-no," Barrett cautions. "Bleach is made up of sodium hypochlorite, surfactants, and chlorine. These substances are extremely dangerous for humans when inside the body." And as well as you may think you're washing off all of the bleach, there's no reason to risk it as it's very unlikely that it'll be completely gone.
What to use instead: Barrett's advice is to "wash the skins of your vegetables and fruits with fresh water thoroughly. Where possible, remove the skins for maximum safety." While water is the safest choice for your food, here are 14 things you should not clean with water.
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Pet products
You don't want to risk this potentially harmful cleaner crossing paths with your furry friend, so avoid using bleach to clean anything they come into contact with. "Bleach should not be used to clean cat items because of toxicity issues to the feline's kidneys and liver," says cat blogger Jenny Dean. She says that the only exception could be " if you receive a litter box secondhand or something along those lines, you can clean it with a SMALL amount of bleach mixed with water (like a one-to-ten ratio)." But she says that after that, you should clean it again to make sure that there's no lingering bleach.
But as a general rule, don't clean any pet products, be they food bowls, bedding, toys, and the like, with bleach. You should also be careful about using bleach on any floors that your pets regularly walk across. If your dog or cat gets bleach on her paws, and then starts to lick her paws...bad news.
What to use instead: Just use water and a mild soap like dish detergent to wipe down your pets' accessories. Alternatively, you could use a DIY cleaning solution of one part vinegar to three parts water. Find out the things you shouldn't be cleaning with dish soap.
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Humidifier parts
The main reason you shouldn't take bleach to your humidifier is, unsurprisingly, because parts of it are made of metal. But Albert Lee, founder of Home Living Lab, says that "bleach can do a good job disinfecting the humidifier water tank." This might lead you to just use it for the whole humidifier, even the metal parts that it could potentially damage. But, just like any other stainless steel, it could corrode them and cause lasting damage.
What to use instead: "To clean these humidifier parts made of stainless steel, a simple mixture of water and detergent is more than adequate," Lee says. "If you really must use bleach, be sure to get a bleach-based cleanser that is designed for metal and [that the metal] has been passivated." Here are 12 ways you're shortening the life of your home appliances.
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Grout lines
Yes, eliminating mold is one of the cleaning tasks that bleach is best suited for. Unfortunately, though, the same can't be said for grout lines. Specifically, "it can discolor grout lines," Cusick says.
What to use instead: Cusick has a simple method: "Use warm water and vinegar, spray the mix on the grout lines, leave for a few minutes, then scrub away and rinse." He also suggests trying a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide: "Apply it on the grout lines, scrub away, and rinse." Find out the things you shouldn't clean with baking soda.
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Stuffed animals and toys
Yes, kids' toys can get pretty nasty—but you still shouldn't break out the bleach. "Even if the stuffed animal is a light color, many just weren’t made to withstand it," says photographer Michael Freeby. Keep bleach away from kids' bath toys, like squirty toys, too, says Andres: "It’s difficult to rinse thoroughly out of the inside of the toys and could then pose a danger to your child."
What to use instead: For squirty toys, there's a simple solution—and a way to tell if you just need to toss them. "If squirty toys don’t come clean with a vinegar and soap solution, then they need discarding," Andres says. Freeby has a specific method for cleaning stuffed animals: "My best results have been with shoe cleaners (the kind that would be used for canvas type shoes), followed up immediately with an organic hair conditioner to keep the fur/plush soft." Of course, he's trying to get them spick-and-span to be photographed, so your stuffed animals might not merit that level of cleanliness. You can try washing them in the machine on a delicate cycle, placing them in a garment laundry bag or a pillowcase to protect them. Make sure you're aware that bleach does expire.
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Red wine stains
It can be tempting to throw everything you've got at a red wine stain, especially if the garment is light in color. But even if it's white, you shouldn't bleach it to remove red wine, says Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, President of ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba. "Don't ever use bleach to clean red or pink wine stains from garments—this will stain the garment yellow," she warns.
What to use instead: Hydrogen peroxide! "Dab a bit of hydrogen peroxide over the stain, let it soak for five to ten minutes, apply a bit of dishwashing soap over the stain, and throw it in the washer," says Rodriguez-Zaba. "Wash on the recommended cycle." Here are 10 laundry mistakes to make sure you avoid.
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Anything near your plants
If you're a dedicated plant parent, make sure you're not potentially harming your plants by exposing them to lots of bleach, especially undiluted. "Undiluted bleach can quickly kill your house and outdoor plants," warns Stephen Jones, Chief Marketing Officer at 420 DC. "If you're spraying off deck chairs or cleaning around indoor pots, make sure you're diluting your bleach and move your plants to another room during the process."
What to use instead: Like Jones says, you can move your plants when you're using bleach, and make sure the bleach is diluted. Or, "better yet," he suggests, "use a bleach-free cleaner in these areas to be safe." Next, find out 10 different ways you're not using bleach, but should.
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Sources:
- Janice Stewart, owner of Castle Keepers House Cleaners
- Ana Andres, co-founder of TidyChoice
- Natalie Barrett, cleaning expert and quality supervisor at Nifty Cleaning Services
- David Cusick, Chief Strategy Officer at House Method
- Andrew Barker, founder of HomeownerCosts
- Jenny Dean, cat blogger
- Albert Lee, founder of Home Living Lab
- Michael Freeby, photographer
- Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, President of ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba
- Stephen Jones, Chief Marketing Officer at 420 DC
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The post 40 Years After Falling for a Girl, He Finally Got to Be with Her appeared first on Reader's Digest.
Girl Scout Cookie Sneakers Are Coming to Make Your Shoe Game a Whole Lot Sweeter .
Girl Scouts USA announced its partnership with K-Swiss to create three designs inspired by the iconic cookies. The collection will be available starting March 1 at KSwiss.com, girlscoutshop.com and Footlocker.com. RELATED: Girl Scout Cookie Season Kicks Off with a New Cookie — and Delivery Is Now Available on Grubhub © Provided by People Girl Scouts of the USA Toast-Yay! Girl Scout Cookies Beyond this collaboration, Girl Scouts are doing some big things for this year's cookie season, including launching delivery for the first time by collaborating with Grubhub.
'Happy 5th birthday to my little Say baby!' she captioned the post, which featured pictures from her youngest's babyhood to now.'Happy 5th birthday to my little Say baby!' she captioned the post, which featured pictures from her youngest's babyhood to now. 
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Despite turning down plenty of modeling opportunities over the years to protect her 16-year-old daughter privacy, the mother-of-four believes Leni is 'old enough now.'Despite turning down plenty of modeling opportunities over the years to protect her 16-year-old daughter's privacy, the mother-of-four believes Leni is 'old enough now. 
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Girl Scouts USA announced its partnership with K-Swiss to create three designs inspired by the iconic cookies. The collection will be available starting March 1 at KSwiss.com, girlscoutshop.com and Footlocker.com. RELATED: Girl Scout Cookie Season Kicks Off with a New Cookie — and Delivery Is Now Available on Grubhub © Provided by People Girl Scouts of the USA Toast-Yay! Girl Scout Cookies Beyond this collaboration, Girl Scouts are doing some big things for this year's cookie season, including launching delivery for the first time by collaborating with Grubhub. 
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