Life and Times of Sandi French - part 12 / Tailor Gwynne - part 6

 I originally thought I'd move Sandi (French) and her husband Bernie Butler to an empty world and have them build a college or at least a science center as their legacy, but the world I moved them to had some issues I didn't want to put up with, and the whole reason for building a science center (the science thingy with the "level of doom") got lost between moves. I decided to just drop the couple into one of my other saves and let them enjoy their retirement. Because Sandi loves the heat and has the sailor trait, I thought she and Bernie might be happy in  Roaring Heights.

They moved into this house near Tailor Gwynne. It reminds me of a popcorn container you get at the movies. 

It looks cool, but it was really dark inside. Those rows of little windows just didn't do the job, so I flanked them with taller window and it made a world of difference. They brought their dog Sadie along, whom they raised from a pup. 

They seemed quite happy with their new house. (You can see the windows I used at the left of this picture.)

Bernie suggested since they just had hotdog this night they moved in, that perhaps they should go out to dinner the following night and get to know the town a bit. 

"That's an excellent idea, Bernie."

The Red Pagoda (owned by Tailor Gwynne) was right down the street, so they thought they would check that place out first. 

Bernie especially, is a bit of a celebrity. Dylan Shear is tickled pink to have a celebrity sighting. (In time, she becomes less fond of Bernie, but we'll get to that later.)

Bernie spotted his own celebrity - Judy Astare. She was kind enough to pose for a picture, drink in hand. 

Sandi met Contessa Capp, but they didn't really hit it off. They become better friends later on, but Contessa never makes it into Sandi's inner circle of friends. 

While the girls had their spat, Bernie decided to make himself scarce and enjoy some pineapple bubbles.

The next day, Sandi and Bernie went to investigate the gym downtown. (It looks like thieving is very lucrative here, judging by the burglar's car - or maybe he just stole it.)

Both Sandi and Bernie enjoy keeping fit, but Bernie is especially fond of it. 

Juana Astare didn't have much faith that a man as old as Bernie could break these boards. 

"Oh, I can't look! You are gonna bust up your hand!"

He showed her a thing or two!

"That was amazing, sir! I should never have doubted you!"

Juana wasn't the only one who was impressed by Bernie's martial arts skills. I think he even made the paper. 

"Read all about it! Old geezer breaks boards!"

Meanwhile, Sandi met Tailor Gwynne! I was picturing them as becoming fast friends. 

Somewhere along the line, Sandi must have said something to make Tailor cranky. (Tailor gets cranky very easily.) Oh well. We'll try again later. 

Sandi also met Nancy Dandy at the gym. They became friends. 

In addition to visiting the gym, Sandi and Bernie enjoy going out on the town in the evenings. 

"Read all about it! Bernie and Sandi Butler were spotted eating Dim Sum at the Luminescent Lounge last night."

They really made an impress that night. Bernie was thrilled to get free drinks because people recognized him. I think Sandi just puts up with it and doesn't really care all that much about fame. Bernie was the one who got all the opportunities to do things to increase his fame, like ordering drinks as a certain bar or working out for four hours to keep himself looking his best. 

"Aren't you Sandi Butler, the famous scientist?" Shirley Templeton asks.

"As a matter of fact, I am." Sandi admitted. "I'm curious, what do you think is the best invention of all time?" Sandi asks. 

"I don't know. Maybe the space suit, since it helps us survive and explore places we couldn't otherwise. What do you think is the best invention of all time?"

"I think it's the smoke alarm. It has saved countless lives and millions in property damage. Either that or the toothbrush. Where would we be with toothbrushes?" 

It was at the movie theater that Sandi first met Dylan Shear. Dylan became Sandi's best friend over time. 

The next day, Sandi invited Dylan over to the house to get to know her better. 

I wonder if Dylan has plantar fasciitis or some other foot issue. Otherwise I'd think she'd wear different shoes with that dress. Dylan's household profile mentions she often wears men's suits which is scandalous in this town. She also has a female partner, and they engineered a baby together. I mentioned the young man who is her son and his new bride who moved in with Dylan and her partner in an earlier Tailor Gwynne episode. 

Sandi likes to run a few tests on all her potential friends to see what makes them tick.

Apparently Dylan passed the test, and Sandi told her that she planned to throw a party in the near future and wondered if Dylan would be interested in attending. 

Sandi tried the duck reflex test on poor Andromache Thebe when she met her at the park. Andromache failed the test, and the duck hit her in the face, . . . 

. . . but at least she had a good sense of humor, so she was okay in Sandi's book. 

Sandi and Bernie also spent a good amount of time at the beach. 

One evening, they were enjoying a nice marshmallow roast on the beach when this strange lady came by and started sticking her hands in the fire. Her name was Myra Buck, and it turns out she's the Butler's next-door neighbor. 

A few days later, when Bernie was off doing things to make himself more famous, Sandi went next door to get to know Myra a little better. They grouped up and went to the gym, where Sandi trained Myra on the treadmill. 

Then she took Myra out on her boat. 

In fact, Sandi spent quit a bit of time at the beach with her gal-pals. One day Tailor and Nancy went boating with her. 

They also enjoyed some time on the beach. 

It looks like Tailor may have found herself a boyfriend!

Sandi and Tailor did turn out to be friends despite their awkward first impressions.  First they ran into each other at the art gallery gift shop and discovered they had some things in common. 

Then this friendship was probably cemented when Tailor invited Sandi to a party, and upon arriving Clark Houvier harassed poor Sandi with his cane. 

One thing Tailor will not tolerate is a rude guest. Especially one who's rude to her other guests. 

"I'm sorry about Clark's behavior. He won't be harassing you anymore, Sandi." 

Speaking of parties, Sandi did throw that house party she was telling Dylan about. She invited mostly her gal-pals. Bernie was out at the gym or something. She decided she would serve up a nice cobbler. I guess the rest of the guests got wind of this and assumed she was throwing a cobbler party, so they brought different kinds of cobbler too. 

Tailor helped Sandi clear the plates. Dylan arrived late and was hesitant to come inside, so Sandi went out and greeted her, invited her in, and brought her some cobbler. 

"This looks really good! You'll have to give me the recipe." 

This young man is Jerrod West-Marks. Sandi doesn't know him. Aside from Shirley Templeton, he is the only one at the party who is under 60 years of age - and he's the only male. He apparently likes crashing the parties of little old ladies and eating their cobbler. This is his THIRD piece! I'm glad there was enough to go around. 

Contessa Capp arrived late too. She apparently had to work late. She also didn't get the memo to bring cobbler and brought nutrition cubes instead. Maybe they were leftovers from a research and development experiment she was involved in at work. 

At this point, most of the guest had eaten at least two servings of cobbler apiece, but Dylan thought she'd give the cubes a try. 

"Isn't it illegal to bring experimental food off the military base?" she asked. 

"I mean, what if someone had a bad reaction?"

"If you got sued, you could lose your home."

About this time, Bernie came home in a romantic mood. 

Dylan was clearly annoyed with Bernie. Dylan knows Sandi is a straight, married woman, but maybe she's harboring some romantic feelings for Sandi? She clearly did not take this public display of affection well, and from that point on, any time Bernie tried to make polite conversation with Dylan, Dylan would not have it. 

You have a romantic partner, Dylan. What's the fuss about? 

Now she's making fun of him. Luckily Bernie doesn't care. 

Over time, Sandi started developing anxiety over going to the movies. It all started when she decided to take herself out to the movie "A House With No Doors." The movie was good, and she even made a new friend - Gabe Ruth - outside the theater. 

However, just as she was about to leave for home, a man named Francisco Battista came out of the theater and died. 

This experience gave poor Sandi nightmares. She dreamed that she and Bernie went to the movies and it was Bernie who up and died in front of the theater. 

(There was some kind of glitch/game corruption that took place right at this point. This event never completed and when I reset everything using Master Controller, they ended up back home with Bernie still alive but unselectable. But this save was beyond repair, so I had to go back to an earlier save, so I made this a dream sequence.)

Suddenly, Sandi was awakened by a horrible noise and discovered Bernie, alive and well, cutting gems in the other room. 

"I'm sorry hon; did I wake you?" he asked.

"It's just as well," she said. "I was having a horrible dream."

Bernie was still alive, and all was right with the world. 

For the most part, Bernie and Sandi were living a cushy retirement, doing the things they always wanted to do but never seemed to have time for, but they weren't immune to the ugly side of life. Luckily Bernie, who always was mindful to keep himself fit, never forgot his police training, so when sneaky Shelby Gregg tried to steal their television, he didn't stand a chance. 

Bernie was having the time of his life! Taking down a burglar made him feel young again. So satisfying!

Then came the fateful day that Bernie insisted on taking Sandi out to the movies. "Weeping with Irony" was playing in the theater and he knew that they both wanted to see it. Sandi tried to talk him out of it explaining that she had a horrible dream awhile back where he had died at the movie theater. 

"Honey, that was just a dream," he said. "Everything will be fine, you'll see." 

So they went to the movie and had a good time. As they came out, Bernie teased, "See, I'm still here. I am a bit peckish, however. How about we go next door and grab a late dinner before I waste away." 

As they were taking their food out to the balcony to eat and enjoy the view, it happened. 

Bernie's number was up. 

Bernie's funeral was held at the house. 

As is tradition, the mourners brought food: Clifford Moore brought fish and chips, . . . 

Myra brought mushroom omelets,  . . . 

and Michael Dandy, (Nancy's husband) brought pancakes. 

Clifford Moore was afraid the fish would go cold, so he grabbed a plate right away.

 Time was spent in the living room sharing stories about Bernie. 

Maybe Tailor was making fun of the way Bernie danced. I think the dog Sadie thought that was in bad taste. 

"Thank you all for coming and celebrating Bernie's life with me."

"Thank you Dylan. You have always been such a good friend."

Sandi seems a little miffed that Contessa Capp didn't bring any food - not even leftover nutrition cubes from work. The freeloader! The woman needs to learn how to cook. 

In true Tailor fashion, she has to have some kind of altercation with someone. This time it's with Sharpo Marks. 

"Why oh why, Tailor, must you start a fight at my husband's funeral?" Sandi cried. Shirley Templeton tried to calm her down. 

It turns out, that was the last beef Tailor Gwynne Phan had with anyone. 

Tailor had lived a full life and was ready to see what lies beyond this life. 

Her ashes sit in the place of honor in the Phan family crypt. Sitting next to her is her husband Feisal. 

At this point, Shirley started getting snotty about the lack of clean dishes. Dylan looks annoyed at her. 

"Just remember, I'm always available if you need to talk." Dylan assured Sandi. 

"Maybe we can get together for lunch in a few days," Sandi suggests.

The funeral is over, and it's time to take Bernie to his final resting spot. 

No sooner than Sandi prepares to leave for home, she gets a phone call from Gabe Ruth, asking her if she'll go to the theater with him. 

"No, I don't want to go to the theater, Gabe. It gives me anxiety."

"Besides, I just buried my husband. I'm not ready to move on. Thanks for thinking of me though." 

In truth, Sandi never "moves on" from Bernie, though Gabe does call her frequently. Instead, Sandi spends her days in the company of her gal-pals, . . . 

and finding a cause to contribute to the community. She took Sadie to the pet shop for a bath,  . . . 

and learned that they are short-staffed and can't afford to hire any more employees, so she volunteers by feeding the critters and cleaning their cages.

One day while at the library, . . . 

she became curious about the blocked off staircase. She wandered up the stairs to see what if anything was being done with the upper floors of the building. 

A few floors up, she found a homeless encampment, and realized not everyone in town was as fortunate as her. 

It looked like someone had a pet, as there was a pet bowl and some pet toys in one corner. She resolved to come up here and fill the pet bowl on the days she was volunteering at the pet shop. 

She also wanted to leave a legacy for Bernie, and since he was so interested in fitness, she purchased the Beachside Gym, which was in need of some upgrades, having only two weight machines and four treadmills in the whole building. She renamed it Bernie Butler Memorial Gym, added additional weight machines, a dance studio, and a martial arts studio, along with other upgrades such as new lockers and benches in the changing rooms.

Being without Bernie took some adjustment. Bernie usually looked after the bills, and Sandi had forgotten about that. The repo woman took her dishwasher. 

One evening, she came home from the pet shop with Sadie, . . . 

and died in the driveway next to her beloved boat. 

She had lived a full life and had accomplished much, as her big ol' gravestone indicates. 

She was ready to join her Bernie in the great beyond. Sadie, on the other hand had some concerns.

With Mom gone, who was going to feed her? Grim, always the animal lover, made sure she had enough food to carry her through until the social workers came for her. 

OBITUARY

Sandi (French) Butler passed away at her home last night at the ripe old age of 112. 

Sandi was raised by her single mother Molly French and her mother's friend Fiona McIrish. She showed interest in science at an early age, preferring the sorting peg box over the xylophone as a toddler. As she grew she became fast friends with the Bunch kids and enjoyed using their chemistry set until her mother bought her one to use at home. 

As a young adult, Sandi attended Sim State University and earned a degree in Science and Medicine. It was there she met the love of her life Bernie Butler. The two were wed shortly after graduation. They moved to Barnacle Bay, where Bernie had secured a job with the police force and worked his way up the forensic branch. Meanwhile Sandi was hard at work in the science facility and worked her way to the top of her profession. The couple had one biological child, Austin Butler, though Sandi also created Bernie Jr., a clone of Bernie in her later years. The Butlers also provided a home for Sandi's teenage half-brother Thor after mother Molly's passing. 

Shortly after their son Austin married, Sandi and Bernie decided to retire in Roaring Heights, where they made several friends and enjoyed the beach and nightlife. Sandi is preceded in death by her mother Molly and her "surrogate mother" Fiona of Sunset Valley, and her husband Bernie Butler. She is survived by her stepbrother Thor French of Barnacle Bay, son Austin and his wife Kathy LaMer of Pleasantville, and granddaughter Michaela Butler, also of Pleasantville, and Bernie Jr. who now resides in Sunlit Tides. 

Sandi will be laid to rest next to her husband Bernie in Resting Meadows Cemetery in Roaring Heights. 

That's it for Sandi, Bernie, and Tailor, but not for this save file. I'm planning on playing from the homeless perspective and make use of that area above the library.