Mama Rose Marie and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek returned safely from their ‘Theo & Louise’ whirlwind cross country travel odyssey this past weekend. We attended an outdoor family wedding in Missoula, Montana, on the 4th of July. It was lovely to celebrate all things ‘Red, White, and Blue’ in such a picturesque part of America.

My second cousin, Maria, and her husband, Nate are not living with diabetes. My maternal grandmother, Maria’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary Zinni, had diabetes. She died of heart failure at the age of 78. This year, marked the 100th Anniversary of her marriage to my grandfather, Dominic Zinni. Although my grandfather could not read or write, he raised several college graduates. I’m proud to say our family legacy includes several teachers, doctors, lawyers, horticulturists, civil engineers, energy healers, retail specialists, artists, musicians, and a happy healthcare host!

If you are and you’d like some tips to celebrate the ‘Big Day’ with Diabetes tune in to Divabetic’s Bride’s Guide to Diabetes podcast using this link:

We were overwhelmed by the scenery and overjoyed to be part of such a beautiful celebration. The bride and groom wrote rhyming vows that they exchanged to each other to everyone’s delight and astonishment! Several couples were asked to offer their pearls of wisdom to the newlyweds. Mama Rose Marie shared insights into her 50 + years of marriage to my father, Stanley Szadek, Jr. during the ceremony. 

“I’d like to compare my fifty years of marriage to the fifty or so mile journey I took from my hometown of Batavia to my new home in Rochester. A long stretch highway that my husband drove with me by his side in our blue-colored 1959 Opel car. Although our journey started with love, first and foremost, like many newlyweds embarking on a new life together, we were scared. We wondered if we had enough things in common to stretch the distance and bridge the gap between our pasts and our future. And probably most of all, we wondered if there was some map to lead us in the right direction. Midway through the years, we found ourselves no longer traveling alone. There were three then four children in the backseat. The small car we started out in was now a full-sized station wagon! Bumps in the road that once brought tears or laughter became precious memories between my husband and me as we kept driving. At some point, we didn’t need a map because we had our faith, commitment, and strength to lead us in the right direction after a half-century together.

As you begin your journey together, I want you to know the only road map to follow in your marriage is the one in your heart. It’s not where you go, but who you are traveling with that’s important. Congratulations!”

If Missoula, Montana sounds familiar to you, it’s because our recent Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Author Richard Fifield (The Flood Girls, The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton) lives there. Unfortunately, epic travel delays prevented a face-to-face meeting but you can still enjoy our interview with the best-selling author on June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast using the link below:

5 things you need to know to stay safe and healthy this summer from the American Heart Association:

• Heat illness strikes thousands each year
• The 65+ and other risk factors
• Keep hydrated, by the numbers
• Sun protection 101: Use SPF 30 or higher
• Swim safely, don’t become a statistic

Keep cool as you refuel tips from the American Heart Association:

Try light, healthy pre-and post-workout snacks that can also help you stay cool, such as:

• Chilled or frozen fruit
• Cold salads loaded with vegetables, beans, legumes, and heart-healthy fish like albacore tuna or salmon
• Crisp, chilled raw veggies like cucumber, carrot, or celery with a light, cool dip
• Cold sparkling water with a splash of 100% fruit juice or slices of citrus or cucumber