Latest / Age Like a Badass Mother / Ep. 65: What We've Learned from 35 Years of Marriage: Lauren and Her Husband Share the Secrets
Transcript
- 0:00Hi, friend.
- 0:01What's the secret to 35 years of love, laughter and not strangling each other?
- 0:07To celebrate our wedding anniversary, I sat down with my husband, Andy Bernick, for a candid and occasionally hilarious conversation about how we've stayed not only just married, but genuine, only happy for three and a half decades.
- 0:22It turns out the man's been paying attention.
- 0:25Andy shares surprisingly wise insights about long term love, partnership and what it really takes to go the distance.
- 0:33This is a good one.
- 0:34You might even want to listen with your partner.
- 0:37Please don't forget to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
- 0:41And if you enjoy it, I'd really appreciate if you could leave a review.
- 0:45And don't forget, you can watch on YouTube and please subscribe there as well.
- 0:50Okay, now let's check in with Andy Bernick.
- 0:54Hi friend, I'm Lauren Bernick and I'm flipping the script about growing older.
- 0:59From rebels and rule breakers to wellness warriors and wise women.
- 1:05My guests have been influencers since before that was even a thing, and we're not even close to finished.
- 1:13Welcome to age like a badass mother.
- 1:19Today, I welcome my most special guest yet, a man who was brave enough to start law school when he was 48 years old, graduated cum laude and passed the bar on his first try.
- 1:33He is the father of my three babies.
- 1:36The roots to my tree.
- 1:38A man who knows how to pick out dishes that don't look like he stole them off the free buffet at the Hampton Inn.
- 1:44He's very particular about his dishware.
- 1:47What type and how often you should replace them.
- 1:50And even though he defiles my dish towels by wiping up his coffee with them and also wiping his mouth on them, he makes my life beautiful in every other way.
- 2:02Today's or 35th wedding anniversary.
- 2:05I'm already crying.
- 2:07Please welcome my guest who is here against his will and under extreme duress.
- 2:14The love of my life.
- 2:15Since the moment I laid eyes on him.
- 2:17Andrew. Bernick.
- 2:19Welcome, Andrew.
- 2:19Andy. Bernick. How are you?
- 2:23Did you like your, Did you like your intro?
- 2:27Great.
- 2:29Now that I'm known for your dish towel situation.
- 2:34Well, What?
- 2:38So all you can think of.
- 2:40You know. I'm trying to be truthful.
- 2:42What would you have liked for me to say?
- 2:46I don't know.
- 2:47Because you.
- 2:51Well, let's. Let's have a toast.
- 2:53You have some champagne there.
- 2:54Let's have a toast to our our 35th anniversary.
- 2:58Tip. Wait.
- 2:59Don't drink it.
- 3:00Cheers. Chin chin.
- 3:02To our health.
- 3:02To another 35 years.
- 3:06Oh, that's pretty good.
- 3:09It's Kirkland's finest.
- 3:10Somebody left it on our refrigerator after a pool party.
- 3:12I put some orange juice in mine.
- 3:14You know, I don't like day drinking, so.
- 3:16I know it's just one sip. You're okay?
- 3:19So. Yeah.
- 3:20The reason I was talking about the dishes, I mean, you're you are.
- 3:23You're very particular about the dishes.
- 3:25I remember when we were bringing our youngest baby home from the hospital.
- 3:30You said.
- 3:31Do you remember this?
- 3:32You said I have to go get new dishes.
- 3:34And I was like, the baby doesn't even have teeth.
- 3:36You don't remember that?
- 3:36You painted the entire house.
- 3:39And when got new dishes, and then you were nesting.
- 3:45And then also when you were in law school, you told me to go buy some dishes because they were chipped, and I did.
- 3:50And you. That's when you told me you look like these.
- 3:52These were stolen off the free buffet at the Hampton Inn. So.
- 3:58And then you made me FaceTime you from crate and Barrel because you were in law school, and I had to, like, go through and show you all the dishes that you had to approve of.
- 4:05So. Yes.
- 4:06So do you want to. On our first couch?
- 4:09I knew you were going to say that. Okay.
- 4:11And what did.
- 4:13What?
- 4:13What was wrong with the couch?
- 4:16Like. Like it was off the Jetsons.
- 4:18It didn't have any arm.
- 4:20She couldn't relax on it.
- 4:21I hated that couch.
- 4:23It did not have any armrest.
- 4:24Yes. You also like this.
- 4:25Piece of furniture I let you ever let you buy without leasing?
- 4:29Yes. That's true.
- 4:30I screwed that one up.
- 4:31You do like a good arm rest.
- 4:35What do you want to do?
- 4:36You want to tell the story about, how we met, and then I'll.
- 4:39And then I'll correct you.
- 4:42Correct me.
- 4:43Well. You came.
- 4:45I was running a marketing phone room in Houston near your neighborhood.
- 4:50And you came in to apply for a job.
- 4:56How old were you and how old was I?
- 4:58It was 20.
- 4:59And you were 15.
- 5:00You're a child.
- 5:02Literally a child.
- 5:05And so, but we were hiring.
- 5:08You had to be 16 to work there. You lied.
- 5:10You said you were 16.
- 5:12No, sorry.
- 5:12You didn't lie first you told me you were 15, and then.
- 5:16But I interviewed you anyway before I knew.
- 5:18You're like 15, I guess. I don't remember.
- 5:21You know, you did a sit there and look at me and giggle through the whole interview.
- 5:25I don't think you answered one question.
- 5:30And so it was, kind of.
- 5:34I mean, you're cute and everything, but you were a child.
- 5:38Well, I really much about it.
- 5:41And then you kept calling me and bugging me for a job.
- 5:44So finally I said, okay, come in.
- 5:47If you're that persistent.
- 5:50And so I let you lie about your age on your application, you started working.
- 5:56That's pretty pretty accurate.
- 5:57I, And would you, would you.
- 6:01So you didn't really have any opinion of me because I was a child.
- 6:04You weren't thinking.
- 6:06I remember very well I thought you were very beautiful.
- 6:09And, Then I knew there was some kind of connection between us.
- 6:13I knew that right away.
- 6:15But you were a child.
- 6:18Okay. Years old.
- 6:19I'd been dating the same girl for eight years.
- 6:24Yeah.
- 6:26We married.
- 6:27You know, it didn't really get past that point.
- 6:30My thought process.
- 6:32Yeah, I mean, that's pretty accurate from my point of view.
- 6:35I remember walking into to get a job at this telemarketing room.
- 6:39A lot of kids in my neighborhood worked there selling subscriptions to the Houston Post newspaper.
- 6:45Like, hello, do you want to buy the newspaper?
- 6:47And, I walked in and I was like, whoa, when I saw you, I was like, man, I've told this before that like, the first time I saw you, it was like, that's when I started believing in, reincarnation, even though I was only 15 years old, because it was like I saw you and I was like, oh my gosh, this is my person.
- 7:09Like, how would else would I have known that we did?
- 7:11I didn't even say hello to you yet.
- 7:12I just, I just like I loved you immediately, you know, I did and I, I just wouldn't leave you alone.
- 7:20And really, I didn't care that much about the job, but.
- 7:22Yeah, you said you're only 15.
- 7:22You can't have a job here.
- 7:26So sorry.
- 7:27And I just kept calling you every day and going up there, and you're like, wow, you really.
- 7:32You must be a good salesperson.
- 7:34You really want this job?
- 7:36But we didn't even give you a sales job.
- 7:39Oh, yeah, that's right. You didn't.
- 7:41An office helper person verify.
- 7:44The person. Verify.
- 7:45So when the people would get a sale, like when they sold the newspaper subscription, they'd say verify.
- 7:50And I'd go over and I'd read the information back and make sure they wanted the thing.
- 7:54Did you do that?
- 7:55Just so I would sit next to you at your desk? No.
- 7:59I thought you were too young and goofy.
- 8:01Too silly.
- 8:05Meanwhile, I've made my whole living in sales.
- 8:09I was working there, and I don't know, I don't remember, but.
- 8:15Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're a big distraction.
- 8:18The two of you took my. Yes.
- 8:21So full.
- 8:22Your workforce was all teenage boys, and we were teenage girls.
- 8:25That's why we were at.
- 8:29That is correct.
- 8:30And then do you remember how we finally got together?
- 8:34Like so.
- 8:35We always had, like, a thing and once in a while, we kiss and we'd go out to dinner and, like, you would never ask me out because I was young.
- 8:45I remember my mom said she drove me up there one time and I was telling her how much I liked you, and I said, you didn't like me.
- 8:51And she said, well, at least wait till you get your driver's license.
- 8:55I mean, the poor man.
- 8:56They can't have any respect for for you.
- 8:59You're only 15.
- 9:01And like, it was like, then what happened?
- 9:04What's your recollection?
- 9:06I don't know, I mean, just kind of played out over a few years, but I was dating somebody else.
- 9:13I was actually got engaged to marry somebody else.
- 9:16And I remember you were very upset when you found out about.
- 9:20Yeah, well, that didn't work out, so I don't know.
- 9:25We just started, like, you know, we became friends, and then we were dating.
- 9:29We're not dating, but when you turned 17 and 18, I started by taking you out a little bit.
- 9:35Yeah.
- 9:37And then we started dating.
- 9:40And then do you remember, when I moved in with you?
- 9:44What happened? Yes.
- 9:46What happened?
- 9:47One day, you just showed up in the.
- 9:50You said I'm.
- 9:51I'm living here now.
- 9:52I'm like, great.
- 9:55I just moved into your apartment with.
- 9:57Cigarets at the time, and I said, you can't smoke cigarets in my apartment.
- 10:02It's a disgusting habit.
- 10:04And you go, well, I'll get the apartment next door.
- 10:06If suddenly you're not getting the apartment next door, you're going to stop smoking cigarets, which you did.
- 10:13Yes, for the most part.
- 10:15Then.
- 10:15Yeah, it took me a little while, but I did, I moved.
- 10:18I won't go back a bit until this quick story.
- 10:21So I do remember one day when I actually quit that office, in part because, well, for I don't remember different reasons when when I started working in a different office and I was sitting with this lady, old lady that worked for me at the time, Dorothy.
- 10:38Oh, Hazel.
- 10:40And she was kind of, I like to realize she's a very sweet lady, and I would talk to her a lot.
- 10:47And then one day I was sitting next to her.
- 10:49One day you walked in and you were just in that building, and you walked in and you walked up to me, and you were smiling and beaming, and we talked for a few minutes, and then you left.
- 11:02And she turned to me, sure that God loves you and she's going to marry you.
- 11:07And I'm like, what?
- 11:10Thank you Hazel. That's correct.
- 11:11I mean, I did.
- 11:13I loved you from the second I saw you.
- 11:15I mean, I used to just torture you.
- 11:18I used some well, I, I shouldn't tell this story, but I will.
- 11:22I think the statute of limitations for anything is is okay.
- 11:26I think that.
- 11:28What that I'd like you and you're not in luck.
- 11:30You in your office. But you drive me home.
- 11:32You don't even talk about it.
- 11:33Well, it's too late. I would just flash, you know?
- 11:37You were.
- 11:38You were like, put your shirt down, girl.
- 11:40Oh, I just, I was trying to, You know what the truth is, like, I just used what I could, So why why do you think we've been able to stay married for 35 years?
- 11:54But what's, like, the secret?
- 12:00Oh, no.
- 12:00Mainly because we just love each other.
- 12:02Oh, but a lot of people love each other, and they just can't make it work.
- 12:06I mean, what do you what do you think some of the reasons we've been able to stay together have been, I don't know.
- 12:16We trust each other, and we're very compatible for the most part.
- 12:21Yeah, for the most part, there's.
- 12:26Yeah.
- 12:26We trust each other.
- 12:29I never lie to you.
- 12:31You lied to me once.
- 12:32A long, long, long, long time ago.
- 12:34And we weren't even married yet.
- 12:36And I caught you in a lie.
- 12:38Would I lie about.
- 12:40Oh, don't you remember?
- 12:42I do, we we had a, a date, double date with another couple.
- 12:48And you didn't show up.
- 12:50You never came home from work.
- 12:52We were supposed to go out.
- 12:53Oh, I went to a, like, a party instead.
- 12:55Yeah. You went somewhere.
- 12:57Like going to a party after work.
- 13:00And you lied about it.
- 13:02And then I caught you.
- 13:02And then I told you.
- 13:04I said, look, if you're going to be with me, you can't lie ever.
- 13:08And I was, as far as I know, that was a lie.
- 13:11As far as you know, that was it.
- 13:14Yeah.
- 13:15You know what I think?
- 13:16I think we give each other a lot of leeway because, We do.
- 13:21I do.
- 13:22I remember that, and.
- 13:27You know, I mean, we just we get along very well, you know, when they give me space and I know when to give you space, and you're very easy to live with for the most part, except for you and your kitchen rules.
- 13:37You're pretty.
- 13:39Except for you drooling on my kitchen towel.
- 13:41I. Have a lot of kitchen.
- 13:43Rules.
- 13:43You know, it's for sanitation reasons.
- 13:47For the most part, you're pretty easy to live with.
- 13:51You're very, relaxed person.
- 13:55You don't stress me out.
- 13:56I mean, you have your moments, but for the most part, you very easy to be around and live with it.
- 14:02And we don't really fight very much.
- 14:04I mean, we we argue, but we don't.
- 14:07Over the years, we haven't really had a lot of big fights.
- 14:12You know, anything like that?
- 14:15I remember when we first got married, the very first fight we got into you do you want to get divorced?
- 14:21And I'm like, what?
- 14:23Because I came from a family where my parents just yelled and fought with each other all the time.
- 14:29And so did mine.
- 14:31And they never talked about getting a divorce.
- 14:34And so that was kind of I mean, I come from a Catholic family and, you know, even, you know, divorce just wasn't the thing.
- 14:44And, you were in your family.
- 14:46It's a big thing.
- 14:48You would love to get divorced in my family.
- 14:51Your mother was married four times.
- 14:54No, she was only married three times and one died.
- 14:57So really, she, you know, she she really.
- 15:00She only got divorced once, and.
- 15:02But anyway, our very first fight, you're like, you want to get divorced?
- 15:05I'm like, don't ever ask me that again.
- 15:08It's the stupidest freaking question you've ever asked me.
- 15:12Well.
- 15:13You know what never brought it up?
- 15:14You've never said that.
- 15:16So I was also going to to talk about the first time we got in a big fight, because I guess that probably was thrown about at my house.
- 15:25Like my, my mom and my stepdad would fight and my mother would be like, I'm going to leave you.
- 15:30And like, she would, they would just go for the jugular.
- 15:33I mean, you knew them.
- 15:34You you knew how they they fought.
- 15:35They fought wickedly.
- 15:37And I think I only not only asked if you wanted to get divorced, but I probably said something mean.
- 15:43And I remember you saying, like, time out.
- 15:45Stop.
- 15:46You were like, we.
- 15:47If we're going to be together when we fight, you can't say things that you can't take back.
- 15:53And I was like, whoa, this guy is like.
- 15:57A. Sage.
- 15:59Because that's true.
- 15:59I think that's actually one of the reasons we've been able to work through things.
- 16:05You're very, you, you know, you can be a hothead.
- 16:10You're mostly very calm.
- 16:12You're calm, your calm until you're not.
- 16:14Which, you know, most people are like that.
- 16:16But the thing is, if I try to tell you something that upsets me or why I don't like a certain situation, you usually go off.
- 16:26You have to think about it.
- 16:26You have to be by yourself.
- 16:29You have to percolate on it, percolate on it, and then and then you will come back and and you really take things in.
- 16:37And I think that that's been kind of a key.
- 16:41Well, I remember when we would have, like, when the kids were little.
- 16:45It's like every family and there's arguments about the kids and angry kids.
- 16:50It's like normal family stuff.
- 16:52And I would lose my temper and I would go sit in the other room just to be by myself.
- 16:59And one day you came in there.
- 17:00I was stewing over something about the kids, and you came in there and you're like, what are you going to do?
- 17:05Just sit in here and sulk?
- 17:07And I'm like, would you rather me being here, being quiet and sulking?
- 17:11Or would you rather me be out there yelling at everybody?
- 17:14Yeah.
- 17:14And so yeah, I would try to disengage myself.
- 17:17I thought I never yelled at my kids, but, you know, when I got angry, I would try to disengage and just cool off and come back.
- 17:27I think because I do have a temper.
- 17:29Everybody has a temper. I mean, of.
- 17:30My dad's temper, it's hard to set off, but boy, when you do.
- 17:36It's not that bad.
- 17:37I mean, to be honest, it's I don't know, I mean, I don't think you have.
- 17:42I mean, you have a temper, but you're not like, a mean person.
- 17:46You just get agitated.
- 17:51But I think that, you know, for the most part, you're also easy to live with.
- 17:55And I think we bicker a lot. Some.
- 17:58But I feel like, I mean, I feel like there's nothing too small for us to to argue about.
- 18:03We we argue about a lot of things, but we try to do it with humor.
- 18:06And I think that that's kind of like.
- 18:08You know, we've learned to like, just let it roll off your shoulders.
- 18:12Right.
- 18:12And we I think that we, we bicker with humor and that's sort of like the, the steam release.
- 18:18And so things don't build up with us.
- 18:21Like we just let it. Out.
- 18:23A little bit every day because we, I don't know, I feel like we argue about a lot of stupid things.
- 18:29But what are what are some of the qualities that you admire about me?
- 18:34And then I'll tell you what I admire about you.
- 18:37About you.
- 18:39You're beautiful.
- 18:40Obviously.
- 18:41Oh, you're kind and compassionate.
- 18:45Much more than I am to be honest.
- 18:48So I kind of, like, lean on you for that part of life, I guess.
- 18:54You're intelligent.
- 18:57You're very social.
- 18:59I'm not the most social person, so it's nice to have.
- 19:03And a lot of ways, we're opposite from each other, which I think helps, you know, in a relationship.
- 19:11You're very funny.
- 19:12You have a great sense of humor.
- 19:14I don't know, we understand your sense of humor, but it is.
- 19:19You're, You're an excellent mother to my kids.
- 19:27I mean, you're a great mother to my kids.
- 19:30And remember, before you're so young, when we had Jane first, my mother was like this very worried about you raising a child.
- 19:40Yes. I suppose. I.
- 19:43Was very mature.
- 19:44Seven kids. So she was.
- 19:46Yes. Veteran.
- 19:48Yeah, you just, you know, you're you're excellent mother.
- 19:51Kids love you very much more than they love me.
- 19:53I'm sure that's not true.
- 19:57No. Your mother was concerned.
- 19:59What?
- 20:00Yes, she was very concerned. But, you know, she died, and Jane was just a baby, so she didn't get to raise kids.
- 20:06And then I regret that.
- 20:07Even though I know she's watching.
- 20:09Yes, she's definitely with us.
- 20:11Yeah, sure.
- 20:12She's very proud of how you think you've raised your children.
- 20:15They've all turned out to be very excellent individuals.
- 20:18As in humans.
- 20:22And, you know, you know, the things I like about you or, you know, you're you like the good thing.
- 20:29One thing I really admire about you or like about you as you like the good things in life, when you like comfort and you like luxury, but you're not materialistic and you don't, you know you don't.
- 20:41You're not the kind of person who has to go out and buy everything.
- 20:44They see everything that somebody else has.
- 20:47And just so you can have it, you know, you're not materialistic, but you do like the better things in life and that I'm very much the same way.
- 20:55And you're you like self-growth. You, you know, you you're always looking to improve yourself and, like, starting your podcast and, you know, you don't you never you never relax.
- 21:13And you're always looking to grow and be a better person.
- 21:16And so I admire that about about your life.
- 21:19Thank you. Honey, I just don't even know where to start about.
- 21:24I mean, you're just steady.
- 21:27You're kind. You're very kind.
- 21:29I love I remember when I first met you, just hearing how you talk to other people.
- 21:34Because, again, I don't have the greatest example of of, you know, how to talk to people and, and you're just so steady and kind, and you always make good decisions.
- 21:48I never have to worry about good decisions.
- 21:51What?
- 21:53I don't always make good decisions.
- 21:55But I know for the most part of this process, I approach the decision process a little bit more systematically and just put it well. Yes.
- 22:09I mean, you know, like if we're going to buy a couch with arms, like we'll have to look at every couch that ever was made.
- 22:17And then we usually go back and buy the first couch we both liked, which I would have been happy with in the first place.
- 22:21So yes, but that's you. True.
- 22:24You do like to explore your options.
- 22:27But, like I said before, I think that, you know, you're willing to take things in and to change.
- 22:33You also have a growth mindset because like I said, in your intro, you didn't even go to law school till you were 48 years old.
- 22:43And, and you excelled at it.
- 22:46You were brilliant.
- 22:47You have a brilliant mind.
- 22:49You're very, very smart.
- 22:51You're always reading.
- 22:53You can tell anybody about any battle in history that ever was your always reading some kind of boring ass book?
- 23:02But you're highly intelligent.
- 23:05I love talking to you.
- 23:07I love how you.
- 23:10Like I said, you make good decisions.
- 23:12You always consider me and the kids.
- 23:15I never have to worry.
- 23:16Like you're going to just do some dumb ass thing.
- 23:19I, I just did.
- 23:22Well, and also, I think you're hot.
- 23:23If I didn't mention that.
- 23:25I mean, those dimples, those eyes, your hands, your hands were one of the things had.
- 23:30Yeah. Your hands are gorgeous.
- 23:32When I first met you, I couldn't.
- 23:34You'd, like, count the orders at night.
- 23:35You'd, like, lick your finger and then, you know, count the the pages. And.
- 23:40Yeah, I was like, I like those hands.
- 23:42I want them on me. That was another thing.
- 23:45But you're very adaptable.
- 23:47You will go with the flow.
- 23:50You've learned to do that.
- 23:51That that's not your first nature, but you've definitely learned to do that.
- 23:54I think we've kind of changed places in life.
- 23:57You always make me out.
- 23:59So the older we get, the more I'm like you, the more you're.
- 24:01Yes, the more yes.
- 24:03We are changing places, for sure.
- 24:05It's very odd, I don't know, but I feel like you do all the hard things in life that allows me.
- 24:11When I said that you're the roots to my tree.
- 24:13You really are.
- 24:14Because you do all the things you, you know, do the taxes and pay the bills and you understand money.
- 24:20I really admire that about you because I could I could make money, but I don't think I I'd probably be living in a tent, I don't know, but, instead, I live in this beautiful house, and I have a beautiful life because you've you've not let me fritter our money away at target.
- 24:38Instead, you know, you will buy big things like, a car or a vacation.
- 24:45You know, you don't fritter away your money.
- 24:48And I used to used to annoy the shit out of me, but, honestly, it's, It's one thing I really admire about you, and I'm glad that you taught me about that, because it's allowed us to have a nice life. I, I mean, everything beautiful I have in my life is because of you.
- 25:05The kids.
- 25:06Even the job that I had, you recommended me for that job.
- 25:09I had a same job for 25 years.
- 25:11I mean, I was the one who was able to keep it.
- 25:13But you were only.
- 25:15You recommended me for that job.
- 25:15I mean, I wouldn't have even job.
- 25:18And you kept a job for 20 years.
- 25:19Yeah, but I'm. I'm. Thank you.
- 25:21But I'm just saying everything that I have in my life that is beautiful is is because of you.
- 25:26When I was a kid, I could have never imagined having a life this beautiful.
- 25:30But you're just.
- 25:34I don't know, I just think that you are so such a family man.
- 25:39Like, even when the kids were little, you didn't want them around any weirdos, but you wanted them in all the sports.
- 25:44So you coached every team.
- 25:46You even led the brownies like you co-led the brownies.
- 25:50You wouldn't let these kids out of your sight.
- 25:52You just eat every table thing, soccer thing, swim team and everything they were in.
- 25:59You were the coach or you were the coordinator, or you did something and you really showed.
- 26:06Me a lot.
- 26:07Yeah, you did, even, like, you showed me how to be a good parent.
- 26:12Like I had it in me.
- 26:13But there was a lot I didn't know, and I didn't really, God, I don't even know.
- 26:19Like, I remember you said the kids have to have a swingset.
- 26:23They have to have bikes.
- 26:24Kids have to have these things and know like they do.
- 26:27I mean, I just I mean, obviously not every kid has to have a swing set, but, you know, I don't know, you just really showed me how to be a good parent, how to be patient.
- 26:37Patience is not my strong suit.
- 26:39Your your patient person.
- 26:41Especially when the kids were little, you would come home from work and you would just play and play and play and play.
- 26:47You played every game with them.
- 26:48You're just such a good dad and just such a good partner.
- 26:54You've done just so many amazing things.
- 26:57So I don't know, I just, I just love you.
- 26:59You're just.
- 27:00When we have fun together, what are what are some of the things that we, how do we navigate our differences?
- 27:07Like, what are the things that we're really different in and how do we navigate our differences?
- 27:14Whatever our differences.
- 27:15Like travel, our travel styles, we get in a fight every time we go on vacation.
- 27:21Know you like to stay in nice hotels.
- 27:24And now as I've gotten older, I kind of come.
- 27:29I used to, be I used to like to go camping.
- 27:33Or do I take long road trips and just be out, you know, and seeing, seeing the world, and.
- 27:42Yeah, you're more into, like, I don't want to go to the beach and sit by the pool and relax.
- 27:47And, you know, so we had different ideas or what?
- 27:50Not that I didn't like to do those things, too, but, we just had different ideas of what an ideal vacation was, you know, over the years.
- 28:00That's kind of we've kind of merged and, you know, we we kind of like to do the same kind of things now on vacation.
- 28:07But not always.
- 28:09Like I still would like to go to more parks and stay in cabins and hike and things like that.
- 28:16But that's just not your cup of tea.
- 28:18Well, I don't mind it, but you're so like, I feel like you're extreme.
- 28:24Like I just be happy to go for, like, a hike for an hour or two, but like, you want to go for, like, a four hour hike up the mountain each way.
- 28:32And granted, I will say that you always do drag me out of my comfort zone.
- 28:35I am very grateful for that because I wouldn't have seen all that.
- 28:40I remember specifically.
- 28:42We went to Yosemite a few years ago and you didn't want to go hike, and I said, okay, I'm doing.
- 28:48No, I did, I just didn't want to go on like a six hour hike.
- 28:52Okay.
- 28:53Anyway, you didn't want to go on this particular hike and you were complaining the whole time.
- 28:59And I finally got you up this mountain where they have this beautiful waterfalls and stuff, and then you're out there like, oh, taking pictures and just, like, the best time of your life.
- 29:09It was beautiful. Okay.
- 29:13That's what I said.
- 29:14I just said, but, I mean, you're so much more extreme.
- 29:18I'm a little less extreme than you are.
- 29:20And then I.
- 29:21Dream I'm in the middle.
- 29:22People that are extreme like to go trekking and, you know, camping in the backcountry and hiking for 3 or 4 days.
- 29:31I just want to go hike for like 4 or 5 hours.
- 29:34That's not that's a lot.
- 29:36I feel like I just want to go like two, three hours.
- 29:39I remember we were.
- 29:42Oh, God, you're just one.
- 29:43Like, you get somewhere and you don't want to leave.
- 29:45We have closed down every amusement park.
- 29:48I mean, is this true or false? The kids.
- 29:48I should get this.
- 29:50The kids on this call, they will back me up.
- 29:53We. If true. Yeah.
- 29:56Every place we've ever been like an amusement park.
- 29:59It doesn't matter.
- 29:59They're like the park is closing.
- 30:02Please leave.
- 30:03Andy Bernick likes to get his money's worth out of that park experience.
- 30:07It's not that I want to get my money's worth.
- 30:09It's just that you came all this way, and you want to experience.
- 30:14Yes. You like to experience it more than most people.
- 30:17And then, you know, I remember we went to Pompeii again.
- 30:21Another thing like, incredible, incredible.
- 30:23We're in Italy, we go to Pompeii.
- 30:26And I knew it was going to be a problem because you read every book on Pompeii.
- 30:29I knew we were going to be there like ten hours.
- 30:31So I booked a three hour tour, three.
- 30:35Yeah.
- 30:35We're tour, I remember this, and yes, it was because we kept singing three hour tours like from Gilligan's Island.
- 30:43And so I booked the three hour tour.
- 30:45We see all the highlights from Pompeii.
- 30:48Everybody's like, great.
- 30:49When the tour is over, everybody leaves.
- 30:51They all go towards the exit except you.
- 30:53I was thinking, okay, we're going to get out of here and then you're like, wait a minute, wait a minute.
- 30:57You pull out your Rick Steves book and you're like, we didn't see this.
- 31:01We didn't see this.
- 31:02And you just start. You're like, just a couple more things.
- 31:05And then after, like, another couple hours, I was like, come on, Andy.
- 31:08And you just we just got this huge fight.
- 31:11You're like, just go wait in the gift shop and began this big fight.
- 31:14And then when we were leaving and waiting for the train to go back, to Rome or wherever, I don't even know where we're staying.
- 31:21We, we were like, having a drink.
- 31:23Of course they have, like, a bar and a coffee while you're waiting at the train station and I just said, maybe your next wife's going to, like, traveling with you better.
- 31:31And then we both started laughing, and then we were fine.
- 31:33But that's that's, I guess, how we.
- 31:36That's an example of how we handle things, I guess.
- 31:39Guess so.
- 31:43Yeah.
- 31:43I mean, what else? What are.
- 31:45So I think some things we like to do, we like to go see live music.
- 31:49That's that's one reason I ask everybody, like, what's your favorite, concert?
- 31:53Because we probably go to what, like three concerts a month, or we go see live music all the time in Austin concerts.
- 32:00Especially living in Austin.
- 32:02Yeah, we just went last night, saw Trish Murphy.
- 32:06Yeah.
- 32:08We, What's your favorite concert you've ever been to?
- 32:12Oh, you know what?
- 32:12I know you're going to ask me that, and I just don't really have an answer.
- 32:16And I think if you ask me on different days, it probably gives you a different answer.
- 32:20But, I mean, what.
- 32:22Are some of the highlights, some of your favorite?
- 32:25Well, I mean, like in my early teens, I would say I went to a Rolling Stones concert newsstand and that was incredible.
- 32:33Was that at the Astrodome?
- 32:34I know it was at the old Sammy's Auditorium, which is kind of a small venue, but I remember we snuck in.
- 32:41Yeah, you're always sneaking in.
- 32:45We snuck into the concert, and I was 14 years old, snuck in under the floor, and I was, like, ten feet from Mick Jagger.
- 32:54And in those days, they had the small.
- 32:56The Rolling Stones have a small stage they didn't have, like a 100 yard wide stage that you play on now.
- 33:01It was just a regular stage with all the guys, you know, grouped together.
- 33:06And I was in center stage on the wall and that was incredible.
- 33:10I remember that.
- 33:12I can I just interrupt you and say that you're superpower is sneaking your way up to the front and even like the kids would agree with, that you've shown the kids how to you've snuck the kids up to the front, like so many times, and.
- 33:25Especially you're up there so you have to sneak.
- 33:28You just walk up there, but.
- 33:29Well, especially at like ACL or something when there's, you know, like the ACL festival.
- 33:35Yeah, you're really good at that.
- 33:35The kids really admire you.
- 33:37But it's like, think back to my street urchin days.
- 33:40Oh yes.
- 33:42I guess that's what happens when you're number six out of seven.
- 33:44You don't have a lot of supervision.
- 33:46And that's true.
- 33:47So what else? Supervision.
- 33:50What other concerts?
- 33:52I remember seeing Van Halen for the first time.
- 33:55That blew me away.
- 33:56And what was that diver down?
- 33:58What album was that? Or was. There first?
- 34:00Very first album.
- 34:02Is that Van. Halen?
- 34:03You were still in middle.
- 34:03You'd be in middle school, still.
- 34:08And that was a great show.
- 34:10And then, I mean, I've been to a lot of good concerts.
- 34:14Fleetwood Mac in the 70s stands out.
- 34:18Genesis.
- 34:19Oh no. UK.
- 34:21But they put up a great concert.
- 34:23More recently, you know, like Paul McCartney at ACL.
- 34:28That was a fabulous show.
- 34:30Yeah, that was a great show.
- 34:32And we go to a lot of shows, smaller venues like ACL, Moody.
- 34:38And sometimes the shows really surprised you like Love and Rockets?
- 34:41I wasn't. There.
- 34:41Love and rockets were so good.
- 34:44That was a great concert.
- 34:46I love Love and Rockets.
- 34:46That was a great show.
- 34:48Expecting to have a great time and not so great, you know.
- 34:52So yeah, yeah.
- 34:55Speaking of Genesis, this is one when I knew you liked me because, you went with your girlfriend to the Genesis concert.
- 35:02This was back at the what was a venue called the Summit, which is now Joel Osteen Church in Houston.
- 35:09But it used to be a lot of weed was smoked in that Joel Osteen church.
- 35:13And there's all this.
- 35:16But, Now you're vaping in Joel. But.
- 35:22So, yeah, used to be a concert venue was the summit and you went with your girlfriend.
- 35:27And so this guy asked me to go, and I didn't really like this guy, but I wanted to go because I was like, maybe I'll run into you at the concert, you know?
- 35:35And sure enough, you were sitting rows just by coincidence, like maybe five, six rows in front of me and you had your binoculars.
- 35:45And so, of course, I was putting on a show with this guy.
- 35:47I was probably like making out with him or whatever.
- 35:48And I remember I saw you, you turned around with your binoculars, looking at me like six rows back. Vaguely.
- 35:55Remember that.
- 35:56But I'm sure you weren't five rows behind you. Oh, yeah.
- 36:00Okay, maybe like ten.
- 36:02But anyway, I was like, I think he likes me, but, I think, one of my favorite concerts was, I don't even remember the name of this venue.
- 36:12This was in the early 90s, I think Jane was a baby, so maybe like 93, 94.
- 36:17And it was, Jane's Addiction.
- 36:21But flea was playing with Jane's Addiction.
- 36:23Do you remember that concert?
- 36:25Yeah.
- 36:25Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
- 36:27At the AT&T arena.
- 36:29It was like the Verizon Center or like it was like a little tiny.
- 36:34Yeah, it's not there.
- 36:35It's not there anymore.
- 36:35But it was like a little tiny venue in Houston.
- 36:38And we were like up above the stage.
- 36:40And it was like flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing with, Jane's Addiction.
- 36:45It was like Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro, and I was like, oh my God, this is the best concert.
- 36:50That's one of my stand out concerts.
- 36:50Just because it was.
- 36:53We were so close.
- 36:54We were like, right on top of them.
- 36:54I don't know why.
- 36:56Like we were above them looking down, but that was great.
- 36:59We've seen the cure like 20 times.
- 37:02But yeah, I love all the concerts that we go see at the little ACL Moody Theater.
- 37:08It holds, what, like a thousand people?
- 37:11It old, 1750 people.
- 37:15That's my man.
- 37:16Full of full of knowledge.
- 37:18Well, it says it right there on the staircase that you pass every time.
- 37:21Oh, really?
- 37:22I never noticed.
- 37:27We just saw Violent Femmes there.
- 37:29That was a great show, wasn't it?
- 37:31So you've passed us a million times.
- 37:34What person has had the most ACL tapings?
- 37:40I don't know, Willie Nelson. Yes.
- 37:42Okay. Very pro.
- 37:44Thank you. Honey.
- 37:45I mean, he does have a big statue out.
- 37:47In front that's in front.
- 37:51Yeah, we've also seen Willie Nelson.
- 37:53Yeah, we've seen some good music.
- 37:54And that is one thing that we love to do together.
- 37:56We love music.
- 37:57What are some of your best memories from the past 35 years?
- 38:01Oh my God, there's so many.
- 38:05You know, I don't know, we've had different phases, but, I mean, when the girls were young, taking them to death.
- 38:15And I remember those days. Yes.
- 38:17And sometimes that.
- 38:18Was when we only had two kids. Yeah.
- 38:20Yeah, we were just.
- 38:22We live in Houston, in Austin, our drive.
- 38:24So we would just pick up them before they started school.
- 38:27So we had a lot of flexibility.
- 38:29We would just get up and go to Destin a lot and stay in, Destin is a beautiful place and I remember that.
- 38:38That's very. Fun.
- 38:39Yeah, that was nice.
- 38:42Earlier, when the girls were young, living at that country village, and your mom lived down the street and, Nikki and Danny lived down the street and the Nichols.
- 38:56And that was a good time.
- 38:57And all the school days at the country village pool.
- 39:00You were the king of the country village pool, throwing all the kids up in the air and being King Triton.
- 39:06The girls were. Ariel.
- 39:06Yeah, that was fun.
- 39:09I have a lot of good memories about Country Village.
- 39:13That.
- 39:13Was our neighborhood.
- 39:14It was called I mean, I yeah, I know you feel the same way, but being a father and having kids was.
- 39:20That's when to me, that's when my life really started.
- 39:25And, not that I didn't have fun and good memories prior to that, but that's when I felt like my life was really starting.
- 39:32And so those early days, and then in 2001, we moved to Lakeway near Austin, and that was probably the best decision.
- 39:46That we ever made just getting out of Houston and, to a different environment.
- 39:53That was what I felt was safer and just, you know, more relaxed than the craziness of Houston back then.
- 40:02Lakeway was a fairly small town and everything was real confined.
- 40:07And so, you know, the kids couldn't really go anywhere.
- 40:09They were in the Navy.
- 40:10It was it was more of a small town, and we lived near the lake.
- 40:14And we have we got the boat and all those days boating with the kids.
- 40:19And then far, far was just a baby at the time.
- 40:24And he basically grew up, you know, in Lakeway.
- 40:29And I just remember, I have a lot of fond memories of the girls, and, for taking for hiking and camping and hanging out with the Thompsons and the brat and and the other nickels.
- 40:46We had the nickels and Houston and the another nickels family in Lakeway.
- 40:50Yeah.
- 40:50And those are just a lot of great fun times.
- 40:53Yeah.
- 40:54Yes, we did have a lot of good times with the boats and specific things.
- 40:58Just overall it was just, you know, and the coaching, all the teams that you already mentioned, I, you know, at the time it was void everywhere on you because every day we had something we had to do.
- 41:12Every. Day somewhere.
- 41:14Take this kid there, do this, do that.
- 41:17And you and you never think it's going to end.
- 41:19And then it does end.
- 41:20And you look back on it and you realize how you know how much fun it was.
- 41:25But I would always coach the girls T-ball teams and softball teams and soccer teams, even though I never played a day of soccer in my life.
- 41:37Yeah, that was pretty crazy.
- 41:39Yeah, in the swim I wasn't a coach, but I would help coordinate all the swim meets when Papa was on the swim teams and, you know, just, Mountain bike teams and.
- 41:53Fa. All the things.
- 41:55Yeah.
- 41:55FA always had a little project for you.
- 41:57You were. Fortunate.
- 41:57Something for me to do.
- 42:00They always had some project, like they would, fa would think of like, okay, today we're going to build a treehouse and you would just execute it.
- 42:08You'd be like, okay, like whatever.
- 42:10Then today we're going to go catch turtles.
- 42:12We had like 45 turtles in our house, which, you know, that was we still have Judy the Tortoise.
- 42:19Yeah. Yeah.
- 42:20Yeah.
- 42:20It's you know, it's like the cats keep catch things and we eventually release most of the things.
- 42:26Yeah.
- 42:27Like lizards.
- 42:29Everything. Everything.
- 42:32Water turtles.
- 42:33We'd have tanks in our back patio with water turtles and all kinds of creatures.
- 42:40What about, I remember we went on vacation.
- 42:42I think we went to Puerto Rico, and, you know, by this time, like, I knew I just would bring a container.
- 42:48They called it a good dinner.
- 42:50Ma, you got a good Taner.
- 42:51We stopped at.
- 42:52I remember we stopped at a, pet store and got a little cage.
- 42:57Oh, a cage so they could bring back a lizard.
- 43:00I don't remember, Koki.
- 43:02We'd always have a little cage so far.
- 43:04Could catch lizards or whatever.
- 43:05Container with holes in it. Or a cage.
- 43:05Yeah. I mean.
- 43:08I remember taking him to, We were at Disneyland.
- 43:13Animal Kingdom. I guess it was. Yes.
- 43:15And he didn't want to ride any rides.
- 43:17All he wanted to do was catch all the lizards that were running around.
- 43:20So the time we left, when I paid $100 to take him into the into the animal kingdom so we could catch about a dozen.
- 43:31Oh, yeah.
- 43:31And I remember bringing one of those lizards back in the the container with holes punched in it through the X-ray thing at the airport.
- 43:40And you. Yes. No.
- 43:43I remember you can get like a $5,000 fine for. Yes.
- 43:48I was like, oh, shit.
- 43:50But we got through like, yes.
- 43:52If you take any animal, whatever live animals, it's a $5,000 fine.
- 43:57Maybe it's like 50,000.
- 43:58It was a lot.
- 43:58And I was like, oh shit.
- 43:59But we made it through.
- 44:02Kidnaped the lizard from Puerto Rico and brought it back.
- 44:05And it lived in Houston. So. Yes.
- 44:08So what are you looking forward to for the future?
- 44:14Well, hang on, I want to talk to you.
- 44:16Oh, memories. So.
- 44:17Okay. We're still doing memories. Okay.
- 44:19Here. I'm drinking.
- 44:20You can.
- 44:20Doing our, vacations.
- 44:23We have some great vacations.
- 44:25Yes. See the one where we drove across country with three kids?
- 44:30Yes. Far was little.
- 44:32Far turn three on that vacation.
- 44:34And the girls are all six and seven years older, so they were so far was three.
- 44:39So the girls were, what, nine and ten?
- 44:41Right.
- 44:42And we went to New Mexico, California or Vegas, Utah, California, Arizona.
- 44:53Yeah.
- 44:54That was yeah, that was probably one of my favorite.
- 44:56That was pretty fun.
- 44:57We went to the Grand Canyon, we got in a fight there and.
- 45:04I remember Flint fire was turning three.
- 45:06They didn't want to turn three because their friend was five, I think.
- 45:10And remember that I don't want to be three and we.
- 45:14Didn't want to turn three because we kept telling him, when you're three, you're going to have to do this or you're going to, oh.
- 45:19Well, you're going to try you're going to try broccoli when you're three.
- 45:22And I would say, I'll try that when I'm three.
- 45:25Yeah. Yeah.
- 45:26When he was turning three, like, I want to be free.
- 45:28I don't want to be three.
- 45:30Yeah. That was a fun trip.
- 45:32We had a good time. Yeah.
- 45:34That was the trip. Okay. Remember this?
- 45:36I was like, oh my God.
- 45:38I'm having, like, a psychic moment.
- 45:40I swear we're going to run into my friend Milton from high school when we get to the Grand Canyon.
- 45:44I'm just going on record saying this because I have this such a strong feeling.
- 45:48And then do you remember we got in the hotel and I turned on the TV and Milton was doing an infomercial.
- 45:53I was like, damn, I am a psychic.
- 45:55You remember that?
- 45:57But you're only seeing people that I was like.
- 46:00I know I do.
- 46:01I always run into people or I know, like I'm going to run into somebody.
- 46:05So what else?
- 46:06People after 40 years and I probably, I probably see people I used to know all the time, I just don't recall, but.
- 46:12You know, recognize them.
- 46:14What?
- 46:15One of my favorite memories is that when we lived in Houston, we had, like, a really high ceiling.
- 46:21Like, we.
- 46:22How tall was that? Ceiling was crazy.
- 46:24It's 20ft tall. It was crazy.
- 46:27But I remember you would always make us wait.
- 46:30Well, we're.
- 46:30Me and the kids are Jewish, and you're pretty much, I would say, an honorary Jew.
- 46:35Even though you're raised Catholic, you're probably more Jewish than I am.
- 46:38You. You get very upset if I try to, like, make the Passover Seder short or, you know, you take raising the kids Jewish very seriously.
- 46:47But I love Christmas because I never got a Christmas tree.
- 46:51And so, you would say, well, we'll just wait till Christmas Eve to get a tree because then they're really cheap and you can get a big one.
- 46:57The kids didn't know they were little.
- 46:59I wanted to wait till after Hanukkah was over.
- 47:03Okay, so we could say again, Hanukkah.
- 47:05What a what a good Jew.
- 47:07You had to wait till Hanukkah.
- 47:08Okay, but. Okay, so I said, you're a good Jew.
- 47:11You had to wait till Hanukkah. It was.
- 47:12You could get a Christmas this year.
- 47:16You get a huge mass of trees.
- 47:18And we had massive trees because we had a massive, you know, ceiling.
- 47:23We had the biggest trees.
- 47:25Only once, maybe twice, did we actually get a tree on Christmas Eve.
- 47:29You just kind of like. No, we did.
- 47:32No. When the kids were little.
- 47:33Once they got older, once they got older and.
- 47:36Did this Hanukkah, then we would start.
- 47:38We would turn toward Christmas and go get a tree.
- 47:40Okay, well, now I put an end to that.
- 47:42I like to.
- 47:43Get Hanukkah ended like a day before Christmas, or it was still going on during Christmas.
- 47:50And so we would wait till Christmas.
- 47:54Okay.
- 47:54Well, I, I like to get a tree.
- 47:56I love a Christmas tree.
- 47:56Nobody loves a Christmas tree.
- 47:59Like a little Jewish girl who didn't get one when she was a girl who had a Hanukkah bush.
- 48:04Yes, I love Hanukkah, don't get me wrong.
- 48:07Like a good latka.
- 48:08But there's nothing like a Christmas tree, I love it.
- 48:11Any other good memories?
- 48:14We've had good memories.
- 48:15But, yeah, I don't know all of your viewers.
- 48:19Okay. What?
- 48:20What do you have anything that you're looking forward to for the future with us?
- 48:24I mean, God, I hope we have another 35 years.
- 48:26We are kind of fast.
- 48:28We don't have any kids at home anymore.
- 48:30And so we're still kind of trying to figure out what our next step is. But, yeah, I look forward to just I look forward to not working as much, which I've been trying to do the last couple of years and traveling.
- 48:52And, our daughter Allison lives in Australia, and I love to go off to Australia.
- 48:59So soon as we get back, I'm plotting my next trip to Australia because I just love being down there.
- 49:07Yeah.
- 49:09And when we go, we go for it.
- 49:10I'd like to go.
- 49:12I would like to live there for a while.
- 49:14At some point. Just like a year.
- 49:17You no longer.
- 49:18But, it's not as easy as it sounds, you know, especially when I'm still working.
- 49:25But that'll happen at some point, so, you know.
- 49:27Yeah. Look forward to that.
- 49:30The life is definitely different without kids around for sure.
- 49:32Yeah it is.
- 49:34I know, I know you miss having them around.
- 49:36I mean I do too I know you.
- 49:40Do or I miss my kids a lot every day.
- 49:43And I look forward to having grandchildren at some point, because if we're going to happen, I'm not sure.
- 49:48Well, can't tell people it'll happen.
- 49:55It'll happen.
- 49:56You know, I usually ask, do you have a best piece of advice?
- 50:00It could be about aging.
- 50:01It could just be.
- 50:02It could be financial.
- 50:03You're a good person with finances.
- 50:03You have good.
- 50:06Any kind of good advice for anybody or good advice that you ever received?
- 50:13You know, I'm not really one to dish out advice.
- 50:15Well, people are asking me, but.
- 50:17I'm asking you.
- 50:24We should prep me for this.
- 50:26I, I actually did.
- 50:28I gave you a list of questions because you are the worst guest I.
- 50:32Okay, well, you usually ask your guests advice about age.
- 50:37Okay.
- 50:37Do you have some advice about aging?
- 50:39Well. Yes.
- 50:41And what is that?
- 50:42And I don't know if I'm aging well or not.
- 50:44Yes you are.
- 50:45You're amazing.
- 50:47Can I say how old you are? I my I'm 62.
- 50:51Me yeah. I am what I'm well is to stay active and to keep your mind working.
- 51:00Because I've just support so many people who stop doing not necessarily work.
- 51:06Work.
- 51:07But, like, even if you retire to find something that you're, you're interested in doing, keep your mind active and be honest.
- 51:15You. That's what worries me.
- 51:16Because once I start working, I don't know what I'm going to do.
- 51:21You know, I definitely want to stop working at some point, but I just don't know what I would do all day long.
- 51:27But, you know, reading a lot, I do a lot of mind things, like puzzles and, you.
- 51:36Play chess online?
- 51:37I play chess all the time.
- 51:39Because I just think you keep them.
- 51:41You have to keep your mind moving because I've seen so many people that just sit down.
- 51:46They're older, age, like my dad.
- 51:48I watched my dad sit in front of the TV every night for years and years and years, just doing nothing but watching TV from 7:00 to,
- 51:58you know, 11: 00 midnight every day.
- 52:01you know, 11: And he would read, but he just didn't, you know, that was his life and have other people as well.
- 52:08you know, 11: So I just think you have to stay involved.
- 52:11you know, 11: I think it's important that you keep interacting with people.
- 52:16you know, 11: I'm not the most social person.
- 52:18you know, 11: You know, I kind of lean on you for that.
- 52:21you know, 11: But, you know, I do think it's important that you stay and, you know, interact interaction with other people and just stay involved with life rather than.
- 52:32you know, 11: It's very I've and I've noticed myself as I'm getting older, you teach your world starts to get smaller because when you when you have kids at home, your world is your kids.
- 52:43you know, 11: And you meet a lot of people.
- 52:45you know, 11: So yeah, through your kids.
- 52:47you know, 11: In fact, some of our best friends we've met through our kids.
- 52:50you know, 11: Yeah, absolutely.
- 52:52you know, 11: Good, good friends in Lakeway.
- 52:55you know, 11: And we met them because I was coaching, T-ball was on the T-ball team, charitable team.
- 53:04you know, 11: And so we anyway, you meet a lot of people when you're raising kids because there's community.
- 53:10you know, 11: And when your kids are older or they move away, you don't have that as much.
- 53:13you know, 11: And you and I don't.
- 53:15you know, 11: We don't go to church or synagogue too often.
- 53:17you know, 11: A lot of people.
- 53:18you know, 11: Often we never go, what are you. Talking about?
- 53:21you know, 11: We never go to the kids. Are you?
- 53:23you know, 11: Well, yeah.
- 53:25you know, 11: So. But we still met a lot of friends.
- 53:27you know, 11: We have a lot of new friends.
- 53:29you know, 11: I don't even know.
- 53:30you know, 11: But.
- 53:31you know, 11: But, yeah, we.
- 53:31you know, 11: Moved from Lakeway into Austin.
- 53:34you know, 11: Central Austin and.
- 53:35you know, 11: Like, starting over and and one thing that I, I think that I've done that it's helped me stay young is I, I, I come on my third career right now.
- 53:47you know, 11: And you know, I used to be a publishing and marketing and then I well, that kind of for a company shut down, but, and then I was in. Really?
- 54:00you know, 11: Yeah. Because you worked at a newspaper.
- 54:02you know, 11: Yeah.
- 54:02you know, 11: I mean, I was for many years I was working in real estate, working real estate.
- 54:06you know, 11: But I went to law school.
- 54:07you know, 11: I was practicing law for a decade.
- 54:09you know, 11: I didn't really enjoy it.
- 54:11you know, 11: So now I'm just trying to work less.
- 54:15you know, 11: He owns a property management company.
- 54:17you know, 11: That's your main work now.
- 54:19you know, 11: Try not to work all the time.
- 54:22you know, 11: But I, you know, I think new challenges as you get older.
- 54:27you know, 11: And I once read that people who have multiple careers live longer lives.
- 54:32you know, 11: And so I think that's important because it just gives you something new to look forward to and focus on, you know?
- 54:39you know, 11: Yeah, like law school was four years hard.
- 54:41you know, 11: Probably the hardest four years I've ever had, but probably for the most enjoyable years.
- 54:46you know, 11: You've loved it.
- 54:47you know, 11: You've loved law school.
- 54:49you know, 11: I think that was really, I met a lot of cool people and, just, you know, it was a challenge.
- 54:57you know, 11: You were one of the oldest people to write.
- 55:00you know, 11: And I was.
- 55:02you know, 11: Now there is one person that was older than you, but you. Were like, two older.
- 55:05you know, 11: So when you go to law school, you you get put in a section of about 50 people and you go through law school together more or less.
- 55:13you know, 11: And, I was like, I was one of definitely, one of the older people.
- 55:21you know, 11: Yeah, I loved it.
- 55:22you know, 11: You loved it. You did great.
- 55:23you know, 11: And like I said, you graduated cum laude.
- 55:26you know, 11: And I just wish I enjoyed practicing law.
- 55:29you know, 11: Well, Live and learn.
- 55:33you know, 11: It's okay. Okay.
- 55:35you know, 11: I don't. Think so. Gay.
- 55:37you know, 11: If I needed to do it, I would be out there doing it, but.
- 55:40you know, 11: Yeah.
- 55:41you know, 11: Well, I'm glad you got of people.
- 55:43you know, 11: Is not my. No.
- 55:46you know, 11: That's too. Strong.
- 55:47you know, 11: You're not like that.
- 55:48you know, 11: And also you're just you have a big heart and you just ended up doing so much free law work. It was kind of cool.
- 55:56you know, 11: And I do, I do, I do a lot of legal work.
- 55:59you know, 11: Not a lot, but I, my law degree has helped me tremendously in my current business because a lot of my clients lean on me and, Yeah, improvise.
- 56:12you know, 11: You give them good advice.
- 56:13you know, 11: You're amazing.
- 56:15you know, 11: Well, Andy, cheers to you.
- 56:16you know, 11: Cheers to making my life beautiful for 35 years.
- 56:20you know, 11: Well, more than that, I've known you since I was 15.
- 56:23you know, 11: I'm about to be 57, so it's been a long ass time.
- 56:26you know, 11: But, cheers to you and I just love you so much.
- 56:30you know, 11: And thank you. I know this was true. I.
- 56:34you know, 11: I know this was not your first choice of what you should would be doing today, but thank you for being on the for being on the podcast.
- 56:40you know, 11: Your agent, like a badass mother.
- 56:43you know, 11: All right.
- 56:44you know, 11: Love you. Bye bye. Love you.
- 56:47you know, 11: Thanks for listening, friend.
- 56:49you know, 11: From my heart to yours.
- 56:51you know, 11: Be well. Until we meet again.