I met Frank in 1982, the first night I attended Parents Without Partners. I had recently been divorced and was talking to my girlfriend about men and how nasty they could be. All of a sudden I heard a deep sexy voice saying that not all men are nasty and looked up and saw a beautiful person, with a beautiful smile and very handsome. I talked with him for quite a while and saw in his eyes, sincerity and a beautiful soul. He told me that he was also divorced and he lived in Staten Island. We danced together and I can still remember how delicious his scent was. The following week I again attended Parents Without Partners and was looking all around for this wonderful person. As I spotted him, the next dance was a ladies' choice and I rushed over to him to ask him to dance. The song they played was Welcome to My World. He accepted the dance and warned me not to touch his neck or squeeze his hand too tight because he may get excited, he was so cute. Of course I touched his neck and squeezed his hand and held him tight. When the evening was at an end he asked me where did I park and I told him around the corner. He told me that his car was in the parking lot and that he would drive me to my car. I accepted. In his car, he leaned over to kiss me and it was like we were both struck with lightening. It was a kiss neither one of us ever forgot. He was a gentleman and drove me to my car and asked for my phone number which he didn't write down. He then followed behind me to make sure I got home safely. I remember hoping that he would remember my phone number. As I was heading to bed that very night, the phone rang and it was him and we chatted a bit and he said he would call me but on Friday nights he plays cards in Brooklyn with his friends. The next day being Friday, I was at work and thinking of him all day and of his kiss. Later that evening I sat home and thought of him and all of a sudden at 10:30 p.m. my phone rang and it was Frank. He said he was playing cards but wanted to know if I would like to see him and I of course said yes and he left his card game and came over my house. He took me out to a little romantic place for a drink with nice soft music. After that I invited him back to my house and we talked until 7 a.m. the next morning. He wanted to take me out Saturday night and I said that I was coloring easter eggs with my children and that he was more than welcome to come over. He called me on Saturday and asked if I needed anything and I said yes, some easter basket grass. He came over with easter grass, jelly bird eggs and all goodies for the baskets. We all colored eggs together and my kids loved him, he made them laugh so much that night. We all enjoyed that evening and I still remember it so well. As we said goodnight to each other, we hugged and kissed and he drove off. We spoke on the phone the next day and we couldn't wait to see each other again. He came over for coffee and a visit and we planned to see each other when I would come home from work the next day and the day after that, etc. We became such good friends and it didn't take long at all to fall in love with him. We did everything together as a family, his children and mine. We went on vacations together and all the children got along really well. Often if we took road trips we would have to take 2 cars with 5 kids and 2 adults. One trip up to the Poconos we both took our cars and his broke down and we had to all pile in one car. Sally, Frankie, Jimmy sitting and Lisa and Joey on their laps, all carrying on and laughing. We had a great weekend. Our kids all got along and became close with one another. We would remember before we met each other how lonely our lives were and now everything was so perfect. Frank's entire family were all gems and all accepted me and said we made a good match because we were both crazy. Yes, we were crazy and had a great time together, no matter what we did. One night we put our songs on, opened a bottle of wine and we danced to almost every song, just the two of us by candlelight. We played Scrabble together often and some nights just sit and cuddled watching movies on TV. We went out to dinner every so often but mostly you preferred home cooking and I enjoyed cooking for you. Honey, I miss cooking for you. We liked to go on vacations together and sometimes with all the kids. We took them to Disney World and have great videos of much of our vacation. We took them to the Bahamas and did they love that and again I am thankful for the videos I have of that trip as well. I still have that very funny video of you carving a turkey and I still laugh every time I watch it. Our years together passed so quickly and I have so many memories to last me until we are together again. I can never forget that beautiful day we were married. We decided to get married when I returned from vacation with my friend and all our kids. I missed you so much that whole week, I was writing your name in the sand and mine, making hearts and my friend was goofing on me. I sent you post-cards every day too. As soon as I came home I called you. You came over and I came out to meet you by your car. When you got out of the car, we kissed and hugged in the street and I can remember the neighbors who were sitting out, started applauding us. We came in the house and you proposed to me and without a blink I said yes. We planned our Wedding in 12 days, you and I ran around taking care of all the details. You found a place and a DJ, I was calling everyone to invite them, you went to the photographer, I went for my dress and you went to the travel agency. You planned the most beautiful honeymoon one simply dreams about. Paradise Island in the beautiful Bahamas with the one I loved, YOU! It was one of the most romantic weeks of my life. You and I returned there almost every anniversary. We went to Antigua, not as nice as the Bahamas. Then we went to Aruba a few times and realized we never have to worry about hurricanes. It was beautiful there too and on one of our vacations we bought into timeshare in Aruba. We loved it there, beautiful ocean with a beach bar; pool with the swim up bar; palm trees; so many all inclusive restaurants, we said we would never starve here. We had the poolside lunches and hung in the water together. After our dinner we would race to the casino and have a ball. We always went up to our room together, it was always like we were on our honeymoon. I love you so much..my honey. In between our fun we raised our children and watched them turn into adults. We loved our children very much and two of them were taken from us so abruptly. We went through much suffering but kept one another strong, you were always my strength and always made things possible. I need YOU! I miss cuddling with you, I miss your gentle ways, your sincerity, your smile. I miss holding hands with you, I miss your hugs and kisses. I miss everything without you near me. We did everything together and had so many laughs together. The beautiful memories you made for me are my salvation. Today is one month that you left to meet Jesus. I remember when Sally bought you a Halloween Costume, it was an orange shirt that read "This is my Halloween Costume" and you wore it at her party. She loved to have parties and we were always invited with all her friends. She loved you very much but I know you knew that. You would save all your change and give it to Sally because she loved loose change. The first time the kids met you is when we colored Easter eggs and you made them laugh so much. They all had so much fun with you and Sally told me the next day that we make such a cute couple. Joey loved when you came over during the week and played Pac-Man with him. As he got older you taught him how to play chess. Lisa always remembers how you were at all the important events in her life, all her graduations and parties. You came to all the kids graduations and birthday parties. You, my love, was the father they always wanted. For my birthdays you always bought me those special cakes, with such beautiful sayings on them. I remember the fun weekend that I surprised you for your birthday and took you away to the Summit and when we arrived a bottle of champaign was delivered. You were so happy and hugging me. Then you looked around the room and saw a heart shaped bed, a heart shaped jacuzzi for 2, a sauna room, and a private pool in our room. I took movies of you walking around the room and then of you in the pool and you were screaming and hiding your private. We had so many laughs and after the pool we sat by the fireplace to dry and drink our champaign. I love that video, it brings back so much. I have the video of Thanksgiving when Mom came over and all the kids were at the table. You were carving a turkey and you were having such a time with poor bird. At one point the turkey was upside down but you were determined to finish it. The first piece you carved off was a wing for Jimmy and Jimmy remarked that it was the biggest wing he ever saw because part of the breast and back were attached to it. That video clip would have won a prize on Homes Funniest Videos, I am sure. Everyone who sees it laughs through the entire carving. The funniest part of the video was how serious you were. I love you so much. We were so much alike, the things we did, always joking with each other. We used to step out for lunch together or go to Carvel, always together, that now I feel a piece of me is gone. We were always there for each other and hardly ever disagreed. We had much respect for one another and I know that not too many married couples today get along like we did. You always mentioned how our relationship was so special and you wondered if most couples had the love that we had. You would often say to me that before you met me you were lonely and empty. You said that I saved your life and you wouldn't know what to do without me. Well, my love what do I do without you now? My love, I ordered our Head Stone today. It will have our Wedding picture on it and read LOMBARDO and underneath are 2 hearts side by side, one for your name and one for my name. Underneath, it will read: Soul Mates Forever, Until We Meet Again. Sorry my love but it won't be ready until March. The day after Thanksgiving I am going to buy you the most beautiful Christmas Blanket I could find. In the Spring I will make you a beautiful garden, the same like I did for Sally. I love you my honey. My sweetheart, I am listening to all our favorite songs on here, the words meant so much to us. Have I told you lately that I am nothing without you and love you so much, I miss you every day. I often feel you near my love. I remember so well when we met in 1982 and our years just flew by. At first we were great friends who loved fun times and I loved you as a friend first, we discussed that and you said you fell in love with your best friend. It didn't take long to realize that not only did we love each other as friends but you and I were in love. We often told each other how we loved one another and it would be, I love you more and I would say no, I love you more. You often said if you ever lost me you would lose your mind and I felt the same way. I did tell you though that if I went first and you truly loved me, that you would take good care of yourself for me. It didn't work like that my love, you went first and I feel like my soul is gone and my heart broken. I miss you terribly and want you to come to me any way you can. I feel your presence very often and very often when I am losing it, I can hear you and feel you comforting me. You are always in my heart, right there with Sally. You and I had a love that can never be duplicated, you always said it was a one of a kind love we had for each other. I miss your hugs and kisses. I miss your beautiful smile and your loving eyes. I miss holding your beautiful strong hands. I am so sorry everyday that you had to go at such a young age. I wanted you to continue to enjoy your life and do all the things you loved to do so much. We loved to laugh together, we wanted to go on more vacations, continue to go to Atlantic City, watch the ponies run. I can't believe that when we booked our trip to Aruba, we were leaving on 10/19/07 and you were so looking forward to that trip and instead, you were called away forever on 10/19/07. It's so hard for me to think that I couldn't do anything to save you. Prayers didn't work at all. I would do anything for you, forever and ever and I feel so useless now, like why was your life cut so abruptly, we could have had so many more wonderful years together. We loved so hard, it was fate that made us meet. Thank you, marrying you I found the dream I always thought marriage could be, perfect in every way. We as a couple had it all and we were very thankful for each other. Thank you my love for everything, you gave me a life that I would have never had without you. No one can imagine the strength of our love, or the caring, sincerity and respect we had for one another. My love you were perfect in every way, when I was sick you took care of me in every way, you were kind and caring and if you ever got sick, I took care of you, our love got us through everything. My love, my soul mate, please wait for me so that we could spend all our eternity together. I still wear my wedding band that has no beginning and no end and your wedding band is hanging on a chain, I wear every day. I kiss your ring very often, my love I will bring your ring to you one day and put it back on your finger. I love you and can't tell you enough and can't wait to be with you. My love always, I love you so. It is now July, 2009 my love and I just stopped by to say hello and tell you that I love you and miss you 24/7 and will for the rest of my life. You were always my gem, my wonder, my love and most of all you were my gift from God, see you soon, and I love you so...xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox My love, our anniversary this year brought back memories of the day we got married and then a beautiful honeymoon. Yes my love, it's 2010 now and I'm still here. Next month is your anniversary in heaven of 3 whole years. Is heaven as beautiful as we both imagined it would be? I want to sit on a blanket with you in the sunlight on a green grassy field and just hold you and kiss you when I get there. I love you so much. My love, I love, love, love you and you know that. Thank you for letting me know you are near me very often, it's a feeling I have and I know, cause you always make me feel better when you are near. It's already July 2011, just seems so weird that our lives here keep going on and on. I feel I belong with you forever and it's almost 4 years come October that you left to go with the Lord. My love, did you see your huge flowers, they are so big and pretty, you and Sally's place match. I know for sure what I said a long time ago, that Sally waters the flowers for you and at her place. Meanwhile back at Bent Street, I water flowers and they die anyway. Kiss Sally for me and give her a hug. Give my love and kisses to Gloria and Lisa, so sorry they had to leave too. Jimmy mentioned that his whole family is gone and it's sad, I know the feeling of loss all too well. Jimmy knows I love him and he is my family and Lisa is his sister and Joe his brother. We will be getting together in a couple of weeks. Oh, tell Sally to go with you on August 21st to the chapel at resurection, her mass will be said at ll:00 am on her anniversary. I will know that both of you will be there. I love you both so much, love your soul mate, Anita. My love, I keep finding dimes with Franklin on them, I know you are dropping them for me to find and so often, oh how I love you so. I miss you, my heart aches for you every day and going to bed to try and sleep without a kiss and a hug from you makes me cry often. It is April 2012 and spring is here again, time to go and make your garden and Sally's garden pretty again. Our wedding song is on now, And I Love You So..........so much and I am so sad without you and Sally all the time. Life is so lonely without you, my friend, my love, my everything, one day we will be together for all eternity, I love you so!!! Sweetheart, missing you now and always, just stopping by to give you a hug and a kiss, xoxoxoxoxoxoxo; Your birthday came and I brought you a cake I made, artificial of course, then the holidays came and I was in very deep depression, glad they are over. Happy New Year 2013 and I am still here alone without you. Took all the Christmas decorations from the cemetery and I decorated for Valentines Day, hope you saw how pretty it all was. It's now March 2013 and I already bought all the Easter decorations for you and my Sally and soon I will go and decorate. So sad, this is all I can do for you and Sally, besides talk to both of you all day and at night. The pains of loss is like no other pain in this world. I almost feel gutted sometimes and so sad, I need your hugs and Sally's too. Miss you both and love you always.