It's Never Too Early . . .

When Adele was a baby and I used to carry her and walk her to get her to sleep. I used to sing to her, "Daddy's Little Girl". How I used to think that song was so sappy, but now that I had a baby girl . . . it was the most sentimental song ever. It was soothing to her and to me too. There is a line from that song: "You're the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree" , and throughout her childhood, Adele was just that.

She always got so excited with the approaching holidays. She would begin preparations weeks ahead. I remember she created a Christmas song book, tiny enough to hold in her hand... filled with the lyrics and little illustrations throughout it....holly adornments, bells, candy canes. And I remember the Christmas eve when she couldn't fall asleep (was it only one Christmas eve?!!!) so I laid on top of the covers next to her, and of course, I was fast asleep way ahead of her! And on Christmas mornings she would tear through her wrapped presents at the speed of light! If you paused to sneeze, forget it! You missed it!

Before she entered her teen years, she was commissioned to create a manger scene out of Sculpey (polymer clay in a multitude of colors), and she designed each piece on paper first, adjusting the pose and the clothing and colors of Sculpey to be just so. She did such a good job, we had her make a second set just for us!

The year she was in the cast of "A Wonderful Life" at NYSTI, one of the roles she played was an angel. To commemorate that, she baked dozens of little cakes in angel shaped pans to give to the cast members and crew.

As each of our children reached that "dreaded" age, when each began to question the existence of Santa Clause, I was fortunate to own a marvelous book, "Don't Forget the Star!" by George D. Durrant. I read this book, chapter by chapter to our children. This book follows Mr. Durrant's life and chronicles his personal experiences and perceptions of Christmas starting as a boy and progressing into manhood and then fatherhood. [In the book description on Amazon.com: "... George D. Durrant shares a beautiful message about Christmas through the various stage of life, from childhood to parenthood. The author shares wonderful anecdotes that everyone will enjoy, beginning with the youthful excitement of awaiting Santa Claus. Then come the growing pains of our teenage years when we don't always get the gifts we want. Those feelings give way to the special holiday experiences that come during a mission and courtship, and then the cherished yuletide moments we share when we have children of our own. Each experience is told with a touch of the author's delightfully wry humor, penetrating the heart as the true meaning of Christmas is revealed."] This book gave us all a new perspective and kept the magic of Christmas alive.
Adele is currently serving a mission in the Midwest. I knew that I wanted to mail out Christmas gifts to her early enough so that I wouldn't be a nervous wreck wondering if she would get them in time. She has a motto: "It's never too early!" In that spirit, I did almost all of my Christmas shopping early, leisurely browsing and taking time to relax on my excursions and enjoy the holiday music and the decorations.

I spent much of yesterday morning wrapping her gifts and thinking of her and all the joy she has been and continues to be. I was imagining her on Christmas morning....opening her gifts...and maybe at a slower pace now. I ended up mailing two packages this morning. One contained all the gifts for her to open on Christmas morning. The other box was an "Open me early" box. In it were things to enjoy in the days leading up to Christmas: a small artificial green tree, a string of multi-color lights, several boxes of ornaments (Disney Princesses, Care Bears, and assorted sweet treats), candy canes, tinsel, and yes.....the STAR!



Photo from Christmas 2005, Orlando

The Day After . . .

Thanksgiving dinner....macaroni pie....yum!

I'm thankful for my family, those that I got to eat dinner with and those that I got to talk with on the phone, and those that I didn't get to connect with at all yesterday. I love you all!

I'm thankful for good friends. For the good discussions, good laughs, and good hugs.

I'm thankful for good food. (burp!)



I'm thankful for smiles!

Happy Thanksgiving 2006!

Three sure signs that Thanksgiving has arrived:

• Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (and in the family tradition, I had to call Mia and Gina to tell them to watch the Mummer's Parade in Philadelphia on a different TV channel.)


• The hanging of the pinecone wreathe that Louie's Aunt Rose and Aunt Grace made for us for our first Christmas in our new home, so many years ago


• Christmas M&Ms! (I got the dark chocolate ones! Notice that the dish is NOT full.)

Where were you when . . .

The other morning I was reading a story in the local newspaper about the upcoming anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. I found tears welling up in my eyes as I read of various people's reactions upon hearing the news on that Friday afternoon. Over the years, many have uttered, "I remember where I was when I heard that JFK was shot." Everything stopped.

In When Harry Met Sally, Billy Crystal recounted how when he was dating a much younger female, when he asked her where she was when Kennedy was shot, she replied, astonished, "Ted Kennedy was shot?!?!?!" He then realized that he was dating way too young.

Then I thought about the people I work with now. The oldest is 33 and the youngest is 21. None of them was even alive yet! I couldn't ask that familiar question. At dinner tonight, I was relaying this fact to two friends with me. Then I realized they were both in their late 30s. Had that much time passed?

I was a sophomore in high school, in study hall in the auditorium. The PA system came on and the announcement was made, "President Kennedy was shot in Dallas." Everyone just looked up, stunned. A few minutes later the voice on the PA came on again, telling us that President Kennedy had died from the gunshot wounds. It seemed as if everyone in that study hall gave one big loud combined gasp. It was near the end of the school day. In the hallways there were kids crying. I remember going to my locker and passing my English classroom. I saw my English teacher with her head in her hands, sobbing.

For the next 4 days, we were glued to the TV set. JFK's body being brought back to Washington DC. Jackie, in her outfit and stockings, all blood stained. The look of shock and disbelief on her face. The procession of people filing past the coffin in the Capitol rotunda. Lee Harvey Oswald being shot and killed on live TV. Incredulous and unbelievable!

For many of us, it seemed like America was shattered. How could this happen here? This was no banana republic! To a young 15 year old, it seemed like the world had changed from one of innocence and naivete to a new world of unrest, cynicism, fear and anger. This was one of those "defining moments" of life. There was much turmoil to follow in the next few years. Viet Nam, campus unrest, more assassinations, hippies, Woodstock, and Nixon. We were hungry for joy again. That's one reason, I think, that the Beatles arrival in February 1964 was so welcome. In some way, they were like a life saver or maybe just a distraction, from the grief. We moved onward. Was the world a better place? I think a lot died on that day.


"There was a sound of laughter; in a moment, it was no more. And so she took a ring from her finger and placed it in his hands.

There was a wit in a man neither young nor old, but a wit full of an old man's wisdom and of a child's wisdom, and then, in a moment it was no more. And so she took a ring from her finger and placed it in his hands.

There was a man marked with the scars of his love of country, a body active with the surge of a life far, far from spent and, in a moment, it was no more. And so she too a ring from her finger and placed it in his hands.

There was a father with a little boy, a little girl and a joy of each in the other. In a moment it was no more, and so she took a ring from her finger and placed it in his hands.

There Was a husband who asked much and gave much, and out of the giving and the asking wove with a woman what could not be broken in life, and in a moment it was no more. And so she took a ring from her finger and placed it in his hands, and kissed him and closed the lid of a coffin.

A piece of each of us died at that moment. Yet, in death he gave of himself to us. He gave us of a good heart from which the laughter came. He gave us of a profound wit, from which a great leadership emerged. He gave us of a kindness and a strength fused into a human courage to seek peace without fear.

He gave us of his love that we, too, in turn, might give. He gave that we might give of ourselves, that we might give to one another until there would be no room, no room at all, for the bigotry, the hatred, prejudice and the arrogance which converged in that moment of horror to strike him down.

In leaving us--these gifts, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States, leaves with us. Will we take them, Mr. President? Will we have, now, the sense and the responsibility and the courage to take them?"

---Eulogy in the rotunda by Senator Mansfield

Christmas Whimsey

I've always loved Dr. Seuss stories, especially the ones about Bartholomew (Bartholomew and the Oobleck, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins). And since then, the whimsical worlds he created have enthralled me.

It seems that for some reason, that whimsical spirit has crept into my Christmas outlook this year. Not sure why. But I'm having fun with it. I'm having a difficult time controlling myself when I see something in a store that evokes that spirit. And that is the subject of this brief pictorial post.


I've always loved the "old fashion" feeling I get from these lights. Maybe it just reminds me of my earliest memories of childhood Christmas mornings. When I saw these lights in Lowe's, without thinking....just scooped them up. Not sure if it comes across in the picture, but these "bulbs" are 5" from point to bottom of "socket".

And how about this tree? Don't you love it? Couldn't pass that up either!

Snowman smiles to you!

T.O.B.A.L.

I'm getting excited about Christmas! When Mia and Gina visited me in late October, I received their annual "wish list" of things they would like for Christmas. One gift they like to receive is holiday flannel PJs. Both Gina and Mia told me in emails that they had found some they liked at the Victoria's Secret web site. Soon an email from Victoria's Secret arrived in my mailbox, with the choices they had made, including patterns (Cupcakes, Starry Night) and sizes and lengths. They even had matching slippers.

Type, type, plastic card, shipping address.....confirmation of order!

When I got home from work today, I checked my email accounts. There in my inbox was an email from Victoria's Secret. The subject of this mail "Free Slippers with Pajama Purchase, Plus Free Shipping..."

So, this Santa is even more jolly now! Ho! Ho! Ho! So what about those $25 slippers that are now FREE? And the $15.95 shipping charge I have to pay? And so what if those same pajamas are on sale for $10 cheaper each?

Mia gave me a call tonight . . . "Daddy! I got an email from Victoria's Secret . . . the pajamas are on sale, plus the slippers are free and the shipping is free!" I told her I got the same email, but I was so efficient this year, that I had already made the order two days ago. I told her that I would contact them to see if anything could be done. Within minutes of getting off the phone, I got a new email from Victoria's Secret . . . "Shipment Confirmation".

Heeeee Haw!

A Blogger's Block . . . or, Where's that #@^!~&% Photo?

I'm trying! Really! I am!

The other day when I read a friend's post Farewell to the Ferret! and then read another friend's post Tale of a Ferret about his pets, I was inspired to write about our first pet, Carmello, an Abyssinian guinea pig who looked like he was having a perpetual bad hair day. And, I had just the photo that I wanted to include. I went thru all of those boxes and containers of family photos sitting here in my office. I wanted to find that one picture of Carmello in that multi-colored sweater that Gina's friend had knitted for him. Or the picture of his first birthday party with that party hat on. (I hope the ASPCA doesn't read this blog!) But, alas, I couldn't find either...so my idea was going to go unpublished. But, now due to another friend starting a blog (dare I post the link here?), I was inspired to begin anew.

Gina had always wanted a pet...more specifically, a puppy. Every Christmas she hoped Santa would leave a puppy under the tree for her. Every Easter she would hope to find a puppy in her Easter basket (in addition to the toast, cake and jelly beans...another story...but I digress.) I remember going to a pet store on one of her birthdays, in the middle of snow flurries, browsing the guinea pig and mice and other rodent section and leaving empty handed. *Sigh*

In a moment of weakness one night we broke down and purchased a guinea pig.....Carmella. She was soooo cute! Didn't do much, but that was ok. The cage, food, litter, water bottle, vitamins, igloo home, yadda, yadda, yadda. She didn't do much besides eat and sleep, and eat. Like her master (or is that mistress?) at the time, she would not eat any fresh veggies. And, as happens, her nails grew. Off to the pet store with Carmella.....none of us were brave enough to attempt to cut those nails. And a funny thing happened! We went into the store with Carmella and came out with Carmello. How could we have missed it? Maybe all that hair?

Carmello continued to not do much. Even when he was taken out of his cage, he was content to just sit on your lap. When he wanted one of those yogurt treats, he would chew on the cage.... his signal to us to feed him a goodie! One night we were sitting in the family room watching The Fifth Element. It was that scene on that luxury liner floating in space, when Diva Maiwenn Le Besco was singing....it was melodic and the pitch kept rising. All of a sudden, Carmello was letting out the loudest squeals we ever heard come out of him! At first we thought maybe that diva's voice was too much for his sensitive little ears! But when we went to his cage we saw why he was making such a fuss....in his attempt to get our attention and get a treat, while he was chewing on the cage...his nose got stuck between the wires! Of course we freed the poor thing...but we did have a good laugh!

Carmello eventually got sick...I think he was about 5 years old (?). I remember going to his cage one January morning and he was in his purple igloo...where he had retreated to for the past few days. He was gone. Man, I cried like a baby!!!

But...time marches on. We grow older and soften up.

Watch this space for a future blog post...


to be continued . . .

A Wonderful Life

I was out with some friends the other night, and I spotted someone who looked very familiar. It took me a while, but then I figured it out. He played the role of George Bailey in the New York State Theatre Institute's (NYSTI)production of A Wonderful Life a few years back. It's a musical version of Frank Capra's film It's a Wonderful Life, and was first presented by NYSTI in 1998.

My daughter Adele spent her senior year in high school as an intern with NYSTI in 1999-2000. She had the best time as a member of the ensemble of the 1999 production of A Wonderful Life. It's a wonderful production with great musical numbers, period costumes and a slanted stage floor!

So, I guess this is a plug: GO SEE IT!

It's great holiday entertainment and NYSTI's productions are always top notch.

You won't be disappointed!




These photos of Adele are from 1999 when she was in the production.

When am I?

Time has a way of flying by at super light speed and time has a way of standing still, and time sometimes seems to be circular, or kind of like a Mobius strip.......although many things have happened over a space of a measured period, we sometimes find ourselves in the past or in the future.

A good friend invited me to go with him to a concert at the Palace Theater. It was Duran Duran. On his blog ( Y-Oh-Y ) he states that DD is his favorite group of all time. I've always liked Duran Duran's sound, but I think I was too busy with a young family to get into too much of the music or cultural scene back then, other than what was on the radio (we didn't get MTV back then....in fact, we didn't have cable!) Duran Duran opened with Hungry Like the Wolf. To my surprise, I found my eyes tearing up. It was 1983. Yet, here I was in the Palace Theater. It could have been 1983. In my mind a 4 year old and a 1 year old were there . . . and I was home in my studio, working at my drawing table. Maybe I was. Maybe in my mind I was visualizing myself at a Duran Duran concert....psychedelic light show and all....

Halloween afterthoughts: stale candy, hard donuts and bags o' blood

Can you guess 'what' I'm supposed to be? Won me 20 bucks! Go figure!

I had 2 Trick or Treaters on Halloween. Luckily I had all those eyeball gumballs, finger fries, crunchy/oozy giant bugs, gummi spiders, centipedes, bags o' blood, bags o' barf and marshmallow eye balls, plus half a giant bag (ok, so I ate half of it) of Almond Joys, Hershey chocolate bars, Reese's PB cups, Take 5s, and KitKats.
Luckily, the people who come into work love the free candy...

It was nice to have Mia and Gina here to share part of Halloween. They even went back to Florida with Aunt Mary's recipe for the cookies she always had when we visited all those Halloweens. She would have little bags all made up for the kids, filled with miniature candy bars, and we would sit and visit and she would serve us her cookies and drinks.

What fun Halloween has always been! From growing up and trick or treating with the neighbors: one of the 'H' kids would inevitably loose half their candy from dragging their bag and having a hole rip thru the bottom, allowing candies to leak out; someone would trip over a wire stretched between two front lawns; trying to understand 'E' as he was trying to tell us something about bubble gum.

To having kids of my own and traipsing thru the neighborhood, many houses decorated for the eerie night....coming home with bags full of loot. The agency where I worked used to have really nice Halloween days, where our kids would come in and visit a haunted house, and go trick or treating on all the floors and come home with a bag full of candy...and all this before even visiting our own neighborhood! Who cares if it's freezing and raining out?!

Even though there was that first Halloween in our house, when 3 co-workers came to spook us out, and they totally did! And that Halloween when 3/4s of our house was soaped, to the last Halloween when some kid spray painted the wheel cover on the back of my Jeep. . . I still love Halloween! It's the most fun time of the year!

Now . . . on to Thanksgiving and Christmas!