Answering questions like, “How many children do you have?” or “Is your daughter your only child?” can be difficult, and there’s no single, right way to respond. Sometimes we share the full story, and sometimes we don’t—it really depends on the moment, the setting, and whether we’re ready to dive into the complex emotions that come with it. Our journey over the past 37 years has seen both incredible highs and heartbreaking loss, and everything we post here reflects that spectrum of experience.
We have two children. Our son, Eric, passed away in 2006 at the age of 23. Losing Eric is a pain we carry with us every day, and though time moves forward, the loss never fully fades. He was in college, full of life and potential, and we never expected that our journey as parents would include saying goodbye to him so early. Navigating that loss has been a defining part of our story, shaping how we approach life, family, and even the smallest moments. Grief like that changes you, but it also makes you more grateful for the time you have with the people you love.
Our daughter, Shay, has been a source of incredible strength and resilience. In 2020, just 102 days before her wedding, she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer. Her treatment was long and grueling, made even more difficult by the pandemic and the fact that she was extremely immunocompromised. Politics and the chaos of the outside world faded into the background as we focused on getting her through this chapter of her life. Thankfully, Shay has fought her way through the treatments, and we’ve celebrated her milestones, including reaching her five-year cancer-free mark. Her battle has been a constant reminder of how precious and fragile life can be.
Our journey has been about more than just overcoming the tough times, though. It’s about finding joy, building memories, and staying connected through it all. We’ve been married since 1989, and those 37 years together have been filled with experiences that have shaped who we are today. From Mitch’s career in the Navy and law enforcement to Marlene’s leadership in banking, we’ve both navigated demanding roles that shaped our views on life, work, and family.
The decision to retire and move to Northern California wasn’t just about stepping away from our careers; it was about embracing the next chapter in our lives together. We’re focused on spending time with our family, especially Shay, while also creating space for ourselves to explore new passions and purpose. *GenXRetired.com* is one way we’re doing that—offering a platform where we can share our story, connect with others, and build a community that understands both the highs and the lows of this journey called life.
So, when people ask, “How many children do you have?” we know there’s no easy answer. It’s not about the number; it’s about the stories behind the names. Our journey is marked by love, loss, and resilience, and we’re committed to living it fully, with all its beauty and challenges.