August 16, 2022 — About five years ago now, Cardie Ann Wilkening introduced herself to us via email. “I have the gift of a lot of inspiring women in my life,” she wrote, “so I love the new Wonder Woman card. I have ordered 10 and will be ordering more. Would it ever be possible to create a similar card for men featuring Superman? I would love to send it to the men in my life who have worn their capes well without realizing it.”
As it happened, Meanings of Life artist Joanne Friar was already working on just such a design at the time, so we were thrilled to be able to add to the card back that it was “Made with Ann Wilkening and her men in mind.” Ann’s response to seeing the new card: “Tears of joy! My husband of almost 49 years and my son are truly my Supermen!”
I thought of Ann and her great line, “worn their capes well without realizing it” this time last week, when three of the world’s best buddies honored me with a visit here on Miami Beach.
They were on their way back to the Midwest, where we all grew up together and two of them still live, from a guys’ getaway to Key West. Here you see L-R Bowie, Tony and Tim shuffleboarding while on their road trip. Truth be told, I sensed they all kind of missed their great wives, so I found it pretty amazing that they had committed to spending a full week away, reconnecting with each other.
The best part of seeing these fast friends again after, yikes!, 30 years … they had not changed one bit. Seriously. It was like we’d never been apart. We spent two days lounging around under a big, cool tent at the shore, and then kept yakking under the full moon over Miami well into both nights. Ok, they talked, and I laughed and laughed and laughed. These super men are all extraordinarily quick and clever.
Bowie (in da boots) continually cracked us up, as he has since we were kids. His sense of happiness was so good to see given that nine years ago he experienced every parent’s worst nightmare; the life of his beloved 19-year-old daughter was taken in a tragic accident.
Bowie thoughtfully thanked me for having created the card above in Annie’s memory. Then it was powerful to hear this super man speak so openly about how his heart would likely have burst had he not released the pain through crying, crying, crying. Bowie brought meaning to our mission of “honoring emotions,” and his resiliency gives us all hope that we can withstand whatever life may have in store.
Tony (center and always amazingly centered) is from a loving tight-knit family, too, and lost a brother in their teens. Like Bowie, he lives with a joyful heart today. Tony has a deep, mischievous laugh like no other, and it’s especially fun to hear one bubble up to preface whatever funny thing he’s about to say.
Always ready to follow Bowie into mischief, it was clear during our time together that part of this super man’s heart was back in Illinois … he and his sibs had recently moved their 93-year-old mother into assisted-living.
“Each of us kids has a day of the week we spend with her,” Tony told me, and the wistful way in which he said it made me wonder if he wouldn’t almost rather be back helping out there than lazing around on the beach, looking out at the gorgeous sea. He definitely sounded happy and relieved to say that his mom would be sharing a room with a former neighbor she had long enjoyed.
Tim still serves as the voice of reason he has always been to his boyhood buddies’ more-boisterous ways. What was really cool was hearing how his career in cybersecurity had taken him literally to all parts of the world.
It was as if our page-turner card came to life, listening to Tim so patiently tell us of all the fascinating places he’d been and lived in the various chapters of his life. From Chicago to Shanghai, New Orleans to Tokyo, Phoenix to Istanbul, wow, this super man has flown high and wide. When asked his very favorite place, “Wherever my wife and daughters are.” ❤️
As our few days together were drawing to a close and the guys were packing up to hit the road back to wives and lives they love, I marveled at how long and well these men have loved each other. “Well we’d kind of have to,” Tim sagely said, “to spend a week in the car, a room, and a kingsize bed with Bowie!”
To the super feeling of long and abiding friendships.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
August 16, 2022 — About five years ago now, Cardie Ann Wilkening introduced herself to us via email. “I have the gift of a lot of inspiring women in my life,” she wrote, “so I love the new Wonder Woman card. I have ordered 10 and will be ordering more. Would it ever be possible to create a similar card for men featuring Superman? I would love to send it to the men in my life who have worn their capes well without realizing it.”
As it happened, Meanings of Life artist Joanne Friar was already working on just such a design at the time, so we were thrilled to be able to add to the card back that it was “Made with Ann Wilkening and her men in mind.” Ann’s response to seeing the new card: “Tears of joy! My husband of almost 49 years and my son are truly my Supermen!”
I thought of Ann and her great line, “worn their capes well without realizing it” this time last week, when three of the world’s best buddies honored me with a visit here on Miami Beach.
They were on their way back to the Midwest, where we all grew up together and two of them still live, from a guys’ getaway to Key West. Here you see L-R Bowie, Tony and Tim shuffleboarding while on their road trip. Truth be told, I sensed they all kind of missed their great wives, so I found it pretty amazing that they had committed to spending a full week away, reconnecting with each other.
The best part of seeing these fast friends again after, yikes!, 30 years … they had not changed one bit. Seriously. It was like we’d never been apart. We spent two days lounging around under a big, cool tent at the shore, and then kept yakking under the full moon over Miami well into both nights. Ok, they talked, and I laughed and laughed and laughed. These super men are all extraordinarily quick and clever.
Bowie (in da boots) continually cracked us up, as he has since we were kids. His sense of happiness was so good to see given that nine years ago he experienced every parent’s worst nightmare; the life of his beloved 19-year-old daughter was taken in a tragic accident.
Bowie thoughtfully thanked me for having created the card above in Annie’s memory. Then it was powerful to hear this super man speak so openly about how his heart would likely have burst had he not released the pain through crying, crying, crying. Bowie brought meaning to our mission of “honoring emotions,” and his resiliency gives us all hope that we can withstand whatever life may have in store.
Tony (center and always amazingly centered) is from a loving tight-knit family, too, and lost a brother in their teens. Like Bowie, he lives with a joyful heart today. Tony has a deep, mischievous laugh like no other, and it’s especially fun to hear one bubble up to preface whatever funny thing he’s about to say.
Always ready to follow Bowie into mischief, it was clear during our time together that part of this super man’s heart was back in Illinois … he and his sibs had recently moved their 93-year-old mother into assisted-living.
“Each of us kids has a day of the week we spend with her,” Tony told me, and the wistful way in which he said it made me wonder if he wouldn’t almost rather be back helping out there than lazing around on the beach, looking out at the gorgeous sea. He definitely sounded happy and relieved to say that his mom would be sharing a room with a former neighbor she had long enjoyed.
Tim still serves as the voice of reason he has always been to his boyhood buddies’ more-boisterous ways. What was really cool was hearing how his career in cybersecurity had taken him literally to all parts of the world.
It was as if our page-turner card came to life, listening to Tim so patiently tell us of all the fascinating places he’d been and lived in the various chapters of his life. From Chicago to Shanghai, New Orleans to Tokyo, Phoenix to Istanbul, wow, this super man has flown high and wide. When asked his very favorite place, “Wherever my wife and daughters are.” ❤️
As our few days together were drawing to a close and the guys were packing up to hit the road back to wives and lives they love, I marveled at how long and well these men have loved each other. “Well we’d kind of have to,” Tim sagely said, “to spend a week in the car, a room, and a kingsize bed with Bowie!”
To the super feeling of long and abiding friendships.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
what a GIFT the four of you
could spend time together
after 30 years. ♥
love those cowboy boots !!!!
That’s so great that these three friends not only took a week-long vacation together, but that they also took the time and made the effort to come see you after so many years. Loved this newsletter!
LOVE these men and appreciate their stories of friendship, kinship and connection. What a blessed bunch y’all are — blessed to have each other, good families and long-lasting friendships.
The truest sign of a special friendship is when years have past and when you finally meet again you know you are home.
To Friends!
They take the pain out of life and replace it with joy.
I, too, am thankful for the Supermen in my life — and the recounting of your reunion made my heart happy.