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By Linda Federo My husband Jack and I have known each other most of our lives. We lived on the same street, went to the same elementary and high school, and our older siblings had been married 12 years when we started dating in our mid 20s after he joined the Navy. We were the "singles" left on either side of the families and it never crossed my mind to date him because, in a twisted way, he was family. My mother became his biggest fan and his mother and grandmother became mine; they prearranged our marriage. I couldn't help falling in love with him because he was nice, had a great sense of humor, and was just a great guy. In 1980, Jack got stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, and the thought of living thousands of miles apart, and seeing each other occasionally did not appeal to me. We kept in touch. Two years f lew by and he invited me to visit him. Three days after arriving, he took me to the base of Mt. Fuji and proposed. I accepted. Our parents said it would have been cheaper if he'd have walked down the street and asked me. Jack and I were married in July of 1983 near our hometown outside of Chicago. We started our married life overseas and as time passed, had two incredible sons, Carl and Nicholas. Both are married to their loves and each has a beautiful daughter. Prior to marriage, I was a "starving" residential loan officer for a mortgage banker when interest rates spiked in the late 70s and early 80s. To supplement my income, I modeled for several agencies in Chicago, traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada; I was also a job-cost analyst for a company involved in the steel industry. I was busy and life was good, but little did I know it would be better-off with Federoff. No regrets. Years later, one of our moves took us back to Japan, where Jack was the Commanding Officer of the USS Fort McHenry in Sasebo. Having been relocated many times to various parts of the world, it was the most enchanting of our tours in the Navy. We would walk to the local karaoke pub, hang out, and listen to people sing. The owners would always ask me to sing, but at 42 years old, I had never sung before and didn't want to embarrass myself — I would apologize and politely decline. In July of 1997, liquid courage and the "weakness in the woman" got the best of me. I started singing and haven't stopped. The Navy brought us back to the states after a couple of years, which was a very difficult adjustment for me; I had come to love the land of the rising sun, the Japanese lifestyle, and especially karaoke. After settling in Virginia, buying a home, and visiting a local karaoke bar where I had to share the microphone — I went out and bought our first CDG karaoke machine. Karaoke wasn't big at the time in Virginia and not many bars offered it. I had become addicted to singing and had to fulfill my habit, so it was a win-win not only for me, but also for our family and friends. Fun times were in store at the Federoffs with singing, dancing, laughing, and having fun. My passion for singing and performing for large groups didn't come until much later in life, but it felt very natural as I had modeled and competed in pageants before Jack and I married. I wasn't shy then and no stranger to the stage. Oddly enough, as children, Jack and I were both very shy. I grew a mouth in the late 70s when I had to deal with clients in the mortgage banking business and Jack's parents claimed he came out of his shell when his appendix was removed as a child. Not sure of the correlation, but that's their story and they stuck to it. We came to live here on a whim in 2015, after a visit with Jack's aunt to a K. Hovnanian community in Lake Elsinore. I had signed my name and provided my email address in their guest book. A few years later we received an invitation to tour the Four Seasons Beaumont. We decided to check it out when we came from Virginia to visit our younger son, Nicholas, who was a graduate student at Chapman in Orange County. Jack, who was "never going to live in California," was as curious as I was about the affordability of a new house in Southern California. We were amazed by the landscape and beauty of the San Gorgonio Pass Area. After perusing all the models, our agent drove us to the section of our choice and we fell in love. We love everything our community has to offer. Even after nine years, we don't take for granted the views from our windows and are thankful for the friendships we've made. We like being involved in this community and we're lucky enough to find interesting activities. We have been in shows for the Performing Arts Club. I am part of the Social Committee and the vice president of the Wine Club. This is a great fit for us and we will continue to contribute to help make this community enjoyable for all. Having been raised by a single parent of seven children by the most beautiful woman I have ever known, I learned to be patient, that life is ever-changing, and embrace every moment and every day like it's my first and last. I married the love of my life 41 years ago and raised two amazing sons. Happily aging and enjoying our second childhood; we travel and stay busy. I do what I love and love what I do, no matter what. As for me, each chapter of life keeps getting better because that is how I choose to live it and hope it's the legacy I leave when turned to ashes. When that time comes, don't cry for me, SING! ~ Edited by Elizabeth Westbrook 14 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2024 Loving Life Jack and me at Nick's, our youngest son, wedding with Carl, his wife, and their daughter.