What We've Learned from 35 Years of Marriage: Lauren and Her Husband Share the Secrets

In this special anniversary episode of Age Like a Badass Mother, Lauren sits down with her husband, Andrew Bernick, to celebrate 35 years of marriage. This heartfelt and humorous conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at their life together, from how they met to raising kids, navigating the ups and downs of a long-term relationship, and what keeps them connected after all these years.

They open up about:

• The importance of trust, communication, and laughter in their relationship
• Their very different (and hilarious) travel styles
• Parenting highs and lows—and what it's like now that the kids are grown
• How they’re approaching aging, staying curious, and embracing this new chapter of life together

Whether you're in a relationship, navigating long-term love, or just want to eavesdrop on an honest conversation between two people who still like each other after three and a half decades, this one’s for you.

If you enjoy the show, we’d love it if you’d leave a review—it really helps others find us!

Follow us and reach out at:
Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com
Facebook: @WellElephant
Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

#LongTermLove, #MarriageGoals, #RelationshipWisdom, #LoveThatLasts, #PartnershipGoals, #35YearsStrong, #MarriageAdvice, #CoupleGoals, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #AndrewBernick, #GenX, #Podcast,

Transcript

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

you know, 11: 51:58

00 midnight every day. And he would read, but he just didn't, you know, that was his life and have other people as well. So I just think you have to stay involved. I think it's important that you keep interacting with people. I'm not the most social person. You know, I kind of lean on you for that. 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. 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. And you meet a lot of people. So yeah, through your kids. In fact, some of our best friends we've met through our kids. Yeah, absolutely. Good, good friends in Lakeway. And we met them because I was coaching, T-ball was on the T-ball team, charitable team. And so we anyway, you meet a lot of people when you're raising kids because there's community. And when your kids are older or they move away, you don't have that as much. And you and I don't. We don't go to church or synagogue too often. A lot of people. Often we never go, what are you. Talking about? We never go to the kids. Are you? Well, yeah. So. But we still met a lot of friends. We have a lot of new friends. I don't even know. But. But, yeah, we. Moved from Lakeway into Austin. Central Austin and. 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. 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? Yeah. Because you worked at a newspaper. Yeah. I mean, I was for many years I was working in real estate, working real estate. But I went to law school. I was practicing law for a decade. I didn't really enjoy it. So now I'm just trying to work less. He owns a property management company. That's your main work now. Try not to work all the time. But I, you know, I think new challenges as you get older. And I once read that people who have multiple careers live longer lives. And so I think that's important because it just gives you something new to look forward to and focus on, you know? Yeah, like law school was four years hard. Probably the hardest four years I've ever had, but probably for the most enjoyable years. You've loved it. You've loved law school. I think that was really, I met a lot of cool people and, just, you know, it was a challenge. You were one of the oldest people to write. And I was. Now there is one person that was older than you, but you. Were like, two older. 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. And, I was like, I was one of definitely, one of the older people. Yeah, I loved it. You loved it. You did great. And like I said, you graduated cum laude. And I just wish I enjoyed practicing law. Well, Live and learn. It's okay. Okay. I don't. Think so. Gay. If I needed to do it, I would be out there doing it, but. Yeah. Well, I'm glad you got of people. Is not my. No. That's too. Strong. You're not like that. 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. And I do, I do, I do a lot of legal work. 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. You give them good advice. You're amazing. Well, Andy, cheers to you. Cheers to making my life beautiful for 35 years. Well, more than that, I've known you since I was 15. I'm about to be 57, so it's been a long ass time. But, cheers to you and I just love you so much. And thank you. I know this was true. I. 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. Your agent, like a badass mother. All right. Love you. Bye bye. Love you. Thanks for listening, friend. From my heart to yours. Be well. Until we meet again.