Where did the time go?

Happy Friday!

2012-02-03T02:55:00.000-05:00

It's February! Unbelievable, the sugaring season will be here soon. Or it will be over soon. It's all up to the weather and the trees. Yesterday the temperature was close to 60, and the buds on a rhododendron were swelling. I glanced up at a local maple and its buds appeared to still be closed up tight. Maybe we will tap the trees next week. The long range forecast is looking good for sap production. Not too warm, not too cold. Like baby bear's porridge. There is a lot of truths in children's stories.

I guess we can learn everything we need in life in kindergarten, (and religious ed.).

Ground Hog Day!

2012-02-02T19:47:00.003-05:00

Happy Ground Hog Day backyard raider and family. Amazing how cute these wide bodies are when they are not eating my peas and beans.

Disclaimer: No ground hogs were hurt or maimed during or after the taking of this picture.

There, And Back Again

2012-02-02T03:05:00.002-05:00

Life's opportunities, road trips and meet ups.

Thank you Tammy from Happenings on the Hill for a great evening. I so enjoyed your company and conversation. And pray your road trip home was a quick and easy 3 hours. You are a great mom.

I'm OUT!

2012-02-01T04:04:00.001-05:00

Last December, while walking down Main St. USA, I received an email, (I know... very bad to be checking email on vacation...).

The writer asked, "Do you live close to Lowell?"

I looked at my husband, and asked, "Do we live close to Lowell?"

His response, "Relative to what?" Granted at that very moment in time, being 1200 give or take 50 miles away from both home and Lowell, Lowell could have been a neighboring town. What's an hour drive among friends?

Exactly. When a dear friend emails saying she will be in the state, for that matter, the eastern part of the state, and would I like to get together for a cup of coffee, tea, dinner, the answer is always, "Oh yeah, we're close."

So today is that day. This evening I'll hook up my trusty Garmin and away we will go seeking a good friend for some good company, and hopefully some good Greek food.

First Commandment

2012-01-31T07:29:00.003-05:00

"I am your God, and you will not have false gods before Me." to paraphrase

Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of teaching the first commandment to fourth graders. I was the substitute. And it was tricky not to insinuate that someone else's spiritual path was incorrect, as within other religions there can be found multiple gods. And that works for them. Bringing them closer to their enlightenment. Afterall being closer to the divine is what we all desire.

The other foot I tried not to step on was stating that if you put swimming, soccer, hockey, football, basketball, skiing practice, games, and/or championships ahead of church, they too can be elevated to more important than God status. Tricky as overscheduled youth don't set their family calendar. Why make them guilty of things that they have no or little control over.

Instead our discussion focused on keeping God present in our daily life. I pointed and suggested that this girl and that boy inorder to remain focused on God MUST be a nun or a priest. I thought their eyes would pop out of their heads. Effect obtained, and we settled back into realizing that by acting as Jesus wants us to, and following the Golden Rule all the days of our lives, we are putting God first, regardless of location or activity.

Truly I learn so much from teaching.

Tree of Life

2012-01-30T04:53:00.002-05:00

What I like about the tree of life, is that, from a distance it looks like any other giant tree. But up close, it is oh so interesting and like no other. Like people, don't you think?

First Light

2012-01-29T08:31:00.005-05:00

I love when the glass comes to life for the first time. Still plenty of soldering and applying the overlaid flowers and bicycle parts. But well on it's way to completion and delivery this April, or before.

February is coming.

2012-01-29T05:33:00.002-05:00

January is just about over. There is a tension in the air. Many older folk fear the weather will change from the balmy sugaring weather to bracing winter frozen tundra cold. It could happen.

Though the long range forecast is showing more of the same. Above freezing by day; below by night. But I won't even think about tapping the trees until February 14th. Giving winter these next couple of weeks to flex its muscles. And then we will see what the season has in store for us maple sugar makers. We will see if the balmy weather has adversely effected sap production and sugar content. We are so lucky to learn lessons in a backyard sugaring shack.

Good Morning Saturday!

2012-01-28T00:19:00.000-05:00

We are not night owls by any wing beat stretch of the imagination. But for a dear friend's 40th birthday we made the exception. Great night. Great celebration.

Allow me some Mother's pride

2012-01-27T08:05:00.002-05:00

GO WPI!

And when you're smiling...

2012-01-27T02:30:00.005-05:00

When you're smilin'....keep on smilin'
The whole world smiles with you

And when you're laughin'....keep on laughin'
The sun comes shinin' through

But when you're cryin'.... you bring on the rain
So stop your frownin'....be happy again
Cause when you're smilin'....keep on smilin'
The whole world smiles with you

Singing this song, we did a lot of smiling at work yesterday. Can it truly be a job, if we have that much fun everyday? Lucky is me.

What no midnight post?

2012-01-26T07:49:00.004-05:00

Sorry to disappoint, but it's true. No middle of the night post for today. I had a procedure on my foot, and walking, never mind the stairs I must descend and ascend to and from my computer, is a bit problematic.

I'm taking these days very easy and extremely slowly. The bright side: I'm now an even match for the walking speed of my clients. :-)

Enjoy your day. Enjoy your life.

Don't Worry. Be Happy

2012-01-25T05:26:00.001-05:00

So...

2012-01-24T05:06:00.003-05:00

What are you going to do when you're 96 years old?

Our time is marching onward. Get a move on.

The Quiet

2012-01-23T04:58:00.001-05:00

Seek out quiet.

This has been a funny winter of early spring. So when the snow fell it was as if a worn grey flannel blanket had been lifted. Making the world fresh and new.

Snowshoeing

2012-01-22T10:22:00.000-05:00

We walk the halls looking at door art

2012-01-22T05:22:00.001-05:00

We find inspiration. We get exercise.

The Perfect Regift

2012-01-21T02:21:00.001-05:00

I received a set of paperwhite bulbs this past Christmas. Truth be told I love plants but my life is so busy that I don't have (make) the time to appreciate them. So after burying the bulbs in their soil I thought I would bring these to my clients' home. That way all three of us would get to enjoy them. Which we are.

Be A Friend

2012-01-20T04:57:00.000-05:00

50 First...

2012-01-19T03:17:00.000-05:00

Did you ever hear of the movie 50 First Dates? I love it. It's about a man who falls in love with a woman whose short term memory is erased during the night, ie when she is sleeping. Each morning, when she awakes, she automatically thinks it's the morning of the day she was involved in a serious car accident.

My joy (job) is like that. But for me it's 50 First Moments. For we have the same conversation over the course of the morning. And it's fine. It's light. It's fun. It doesn't get better.

And I wonder why... Because if my children asked me 50 times in a the course of two hours if they could watch TV, or eat ice cream for breakfast, and my answer was always the same, "No," I fear I would lose my patience.

I am learning so much from the people I interact with daily. And perhaps it all has to do with repetition.

Why Are We Called?

2012-01-18T03:57:00.001-05:00

Really. Why Not? Truly, why not reach out and help someone? Can you give me one good reason? Because, frankly, I can't think of one.

One World. One God. One calling to love.

Who Are You Called To Be?

2012-01-17T03:39:00.000-05:00

Jesus, perhaps? You might be the only Jesus the next person you encounter sees.

What Are You Called To Be?

2012-01-16T01:53:00.001-05:00

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Martin Luther King Jr

Be Passionate!

2012-01-15T04:30:00.001-05:00

Have goals, hobbies, careers fueled by passion. Strive to be better yet, better tomorrow than today. Constantly looking for ways to improve. It will put ideas in your head, spring in your step, life in your life.

Piece By Piece

2012-01-14T03:37:00.002-05:00

Sometimes the toughest part about completing a project is starting it. With any project, big or small, it's best if you tackle it piece by piece in a clear stepwise fashion. Moving forward to completion.

Expectation?

2012-01-13T03:35:00.001-05:00

If you asked, "Would you put the clothes that are in the washing machine into the dryer?" Would you expect that the dryer would get turned on and the clothes dried?

Teenagers are so literal. I didn't specifically ask. It didn't happen.

Now that has to put a smile on your face. Happy Friday!

Only rain here yesterday.

Don't Get Mad... Get Glad

2012-01-12T03:42:00.003-05:00

Rarely does holding a grudge hurt anyone but yourself.

And looking at this image reminds me of the saying, "Don't hold your face like that, or it will freeze that way."

Maybe snow today... We will see.

Dreamweaver.... I believe you will get me through the night.

2012-01-11T04:49:00.003-05:00

I have a funny story. If you're a regular reader, you know I'm loving my day job. No question. But, my last truly gainful (whatever that means) employment was as a Quality Assurance Engineer. (big words) So, when a friend posted a QA opportunity right here in our hometown, I sat at this computer, staring at my resume. Should I send it; shouldn't I? In the end. I hit the send key.

Not that I'm looking. Not that I want to leave my current job. But just to see. Testing the QA testing waters so to speak. Maybe my old coworker would want a part-timer? Nights, weekends during crunch times.

This weekend, while discussing my problem with another longtime computer friend, he suggested I work for him. Some web design stuff, from home, in the evenings. Just enough tickling of the keyboard to keep the old brain cell turning over.

Really? Web design... I used to manage the church's site, and developed sites 18 years ago when the web was new, and up and coming. When all the coding was done through tags and not via design programs, like Dreamweaver.

Next question: Do you know Dreamweaver?
Next answer: No.

Get it.
And I did. At first my head was spinning. Learning without a printed manual, (old school) is challenging. I seriously wondered if I had bitten off more than I could chew... Scared, I resolved to go down failing, refusing to quit. Telling myself, "Give it a go... You can't help but learn."

So, two nights into my new gig and I'm loving online how-to videos and widgets. WOW! The coding power right at my fingertips. Who knew. Want to know the weather in Seattle? The latitude and longitude of Plymouth, MA? :-)

Consequences?

2012-01-10T00:57:00.001-05:00

Do you like having warm winters? No snow? No ice? No cold?

Do you like maple syrup? On waffles? On pancakes? On french toast?

Well, without winter's cold there cannot be a sugaring season... The temperatures we are seeing now in January, and those maintained throughout December are the temperatures at which we start setting up the sugaring operation in late February. And that is usually after a nice snowy and cold December - January - early February.

The long range forecast shows no cold between now and January 17th. No cold and no snow.

No cold - no snow - no sap - no syrup - no kidding

What are you looking forward to today?

2012-01-09T00:45:00.001-05:00

For me, it's work. Actually yesterday, I started looking forward to going to work today. Crazy, I know. But everyday is filled with such great stuff. I love seeing my clients smile. I love watching them mend clothes, fix chairs, use the microwave correctly, and play the keyboard. I love talking about the times of old and linking people with places and faces. I love seeing that flicker of energy during our walks, and watching their faces light up when they laugh.

I don't have a JOB, I have a JOY. :-)

Quiet lesson in undecorating

2012-01-08T05:06:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we put away the Christmas decorations. A task I usually don't look forward to. For everyone wants to decorate, but no one wants to reverse the process. This year I enjoyed brief visits with each ornament before they were lovingly wrapped and put in a box. Grandpa's shell, Nana's quilt square, Maria's pig, Minnie's ears... But the big lesson settled when we took care of our nativity scene. For more than 15 years I have been setting these figures up, and taking them down, with one, two, or three of my girls. And in all that time I never noticed the multiple breaks that had been repaired on this shepherd boy. The arms, head, and both feet shattered -- but then painstakingly glued back together.

At first I wondered how did I miss seeing the break lines all these years? Then I wondered, how could such destruction happen? Only to realize the lesson or learning isn't in the brokeness. The lesson is found in the loving repair of a small shepherd boy who comes faithfully year after year to worship the new born King.

The Baker of The House

2012-01-07T13:20:00.001-05:00

:-)

Winter Hike?

2012-01-07T10:41:00.000-05:00

52 degrees... Lovely day for a walk in the woods.

The Epiphany

2012-01-06T07:50:00.001-05:00

Backstage Magic

2012-01-06T01:00:00.004-05:00

In October of 2010 we did a behind the scenes tour of all four of the Walt Disney World parks. I love finding out how things work, and the tour gave a glimpse of the Disney Magic. But the big take home message is, with regard to welcoming guests into the parks: The last person you wave to deserves the same smile and enthusiasm which was extended to the first person. Yes 2, 3, 4, or 8 hours later -- that same smile and glee. Your best all the time.

Today I start with a new client after my usual lovely morning shift. It's easy to be bright and up for 2.5 hours each weekday morning. Now, with that backstage message in mind, my second shift deserves the same as my first.

I can't walk into their home and say, "Boy am I beat. Hope you don't mind if I sit this shift out with my feet up." They have been waiting for me to arrive to help them, not the other way around.

They deserve the same magic. And they shall have it.

jeff noel: Do you remember that tour?

Tea Bag Tag: Delight the world with compassion, kindness, and grace.

More words to ponder

2012-01-05T04:01:00.000-05:00

It's an unheard of winter, as we have no snow and I have encountered a second cold which is triggering my asthma. I tried to tell myself, only one cold per winter, but... That's not to be.

Upside: Reading great insights on my tea bag tags.

Messages

2012-01-04T07:02:00.001-05:00

Inspiration is everywhere. Like the goodness around us all, you just have to be open observe and partake.

Life's Path

2012-01-03T06:33:00.000-05:00

It's not always straight and narrow, cut and dry.

Ever feel like you're just a number?

2012-01-02T12:25:00.002-05:00

Small towns.
Small farms.
It's a small world.

You've got a friend in me.

Truly

2012-01-01T08:32:00.001-05:00

The best place to end and start the new year. But truly, prayer is the best way to start, finish, and progress through each moment of each day.

Make It So

2011-12-31T13:31:00.000-05:00

Resolutions

2011-12-31T05:35:00.000-05:00

December 31, 2011 the day we promise ourselves for the next 366 days we are going to be healthier, thinner, happier, nicer, smarter, richer, prettier, drug free, or even holier.

I stopped making New Years resolutions a decade or more ago. I realized way back whenever that I can't keep a promise to myself for a whole year. And the fall from grace for failing is so far with such huge intentions. It's devastating.

Instead I make resolutions daily. Today I will strive to be healthier. Today I will be nicer, pray more, take that walk, hold my tongue, help a stranger, be there for that difficult family member. Today. For the next 24 hours I will forgive and never remember. Today I will be nicer, and more forgiving to me.

How do I do? What's my track record? Some days are better than others. Some days sometimes are strung into a week, maybe a month or more. Then again some days are a struggle, where each hour or even each moment painfully passes. But no worries, for with the early dawning of the new day I start over, with hope on the horizon. Crossing those familiar bridges when I come to them.

Happy New Year! Grace and blessings to you all.

Our Girl

2011-12-30T05:13:00.005-05:00

It's no secret that I love my job, but this week I received confirmation that my job loves me. For when I walked into my clients' apartment, from the bedroom I heard, "Our girl is here." To which the reply came, "Well tell her to come in."

Lately, ten times out of ten my shift starts with a bedside chat. Mostly in English; more and more in Italian dialect. And this week, the good morning routine has gone from greeting, to Italian to music. I can't play the piano, but I can read music, so from the 8 inches of stacked sheet music I find a song from which I can pick out the melody line on the keyboard. Yesterday, I few measures in, the query came from the bed, "Is that Bill Bailey you're trying to play?"

"Yes, can you tell -- really?" was my reply.

"Yes," to which the singing ensued.

We sang and laughed all morning. Which begs the question, "Who gets the most out of my going to work?"

It's Not Always Easy As Well

2011-12-29T05:43:00.001-05:00

Some days, some weeks, and then again some months, you have to keep a sharp eye out for goodness. Always remembering, it's in there.

Never strive to be popular. Strive to be kind.

Ever play this game?

2011-12-28T05:37:00.001-05:00

It's Unblock Me. The object is to move the blocks about so the red block can exit off on the right.

It's also a parallel for life as the first moves are never focused on getting the red block to the door. No, the first shifts are always focused on clearing the path. Even if it means moving the red block backwards.

Use your time wisely.

2011-12-27T04:28:00.001-05:00

Though life is rooted with many opportunities to start over, renew efforts, begin again, time is always passing. Make your moments count.

Boxing Day Hike

2011-12-26T18:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Birth

2011-12-25T07:46:00.001-05:00

Joy To The World

The Gathering

2011-12-24T10:15:00.001-05:00

Watch and Wait

Will we cross that bridge when we come to it?

2011-12-24T01:55:00.002-05:00

Mary and Joseph are our role models for trusting in God, first in the Father, then in their Son.

Take His hand and cross life's bridges together.

Merry Christmas

Life Is A Highway

2011-12-23T02:58:00.001-05:00

We are all on a journey. Bearing gifts we travel a far. Our daily trip ticket helping us reach our goals and our life's rewards.

Leave Your Mark

2011-12-22T01:04:00.002-05:00

During last Saturday's hike through the Boy Scout Reservation we discovered this dedication. A testimony to love and leadership. As we hustle and bustle these last few days until Christmas let us not forget to leave our own marks. That our actions and words be rooted in love.

Watch Wait Prepare

2011-12-21T01:01:00.001-05:00

Pray. With all the lead up to Christmas remember the shepherds who worked 24/7 still found time for prayer.

What's love got to do with it?

2011-12-19T23:59:00.004-05:00

Talk about the melding of two musical minds: Tina Turner and Bing Crosby. And why not mix in a bit of Rosemary Clooney, for good measure.

While listening to the commentary track on the White Christmas DVD Rosemary Clooney suggests that Bing Crosby was a little standoffish with fans. She notes he always seemed to take the quieter tack. Though at one point she shared, seeing and overhearing him backstage whispering towards his audience, "I love you, I love you, I love you," before heading out for his performance. Interesting.

My clients often ask me, "If I like my job." My quick reply is always the same, "I love my job." But more to the point I love my clients. And through that love I feel like the Grinch when his heart grows 3 sizes. I happily go to work with a smile, some quick wit, and as much Italian as I can remember.

Really, whatever your situation, whatever your goal, it is all about serving the customers in our lives. For really only when we love can we truly put our best foot, our best intentions, forward.

What's love got to do with it? Everything.

What...

2011-12-19T04:20:00.002-05:00

What makes us special is the signature of God on our lives.

Max Lucado

My Favorite

2011-12-18T02:36:00.000-05:00

Our nativity is made up of a hodge podge of pieces loving provided by both sets of my grandparents. They are all wonderful. From the lofty angels to the littlest of sheep. But my favorite piece is from my great grandmother's creche; a little shepherd boy.

Each Christmas season, it brings my family close to home, close in our hearts, when the nativity is set up.

Perceptions

2011-12-17T02:15:00.000-05:00

The college one is not home for the holidays 24 hours when I overheard her say, "They moved the key so I was locked out of the house for one and a half hours."

What would you think if you heard that? Terrible parents. Leaving their poor daughter out in the cold. Rotten.

Really. This situation is a life lesson, and not the obvious life lesson on communicating where the key is, or isn't. It's a lesson on each situation has two sides. Yes the key has been removed. But also yes, the college one has a house key, but did not have it with her.

The glass is neither half full or half empty. It's just a glass containing a certain volume of water.

Waiting

2011-12-16T01:48:00.002-05:00

I just love how my little one set up our nativity this year. Only Mary, Joseph and the angels are in the stable awaiting the birth. While the shepherds, their flocks, and the wiseman are scattered all over the house unaware that soon their lives will be changed forever.

Reason for the Season

2011-12-15T04:53:00.003-05:00

Just in case, while you're fighting traffic and shopping lines, you could use a little reminder.

Last Class

2011-12-14T03:06:00.003-05:00

Schedule squeezed. Commitments mounting. Stained glass classes must go. I will finish this project at home, and then we will see which of the many other back burner ideas bubble up to the surface. When one door closes, another opens...

My teacher paid me a lovely compliment today, and even showed my work to a guest at the studio. Made the last class special... just a few words... amazing the positive power of language.

Girl Scout Cookies

2011-12-13T00:49:00.001-05:00

Dear Readers,

Our troop is selling Girl Scout cookies with the goal of using the proceeds to fund their trip to Washington, DC for the 100th birthday celebration of Scouting this June. If you would like to purchase a box or two, (They sell for $4/box.), please leave a comment and I will get back with you via email.

The flavors are: Caramel Delights, Shortbreads, Thanks-a-lot, Thin Mints, Cinnamon Spice - (not it's real name), Peanut Butter Patties, Lemonades, and Peanut Butter Sandwiches.

As always, thank you for supporting Girl Scouts.

The leadership and girls of Troop 72148

Learning and Teaching - Teaching and Learning

2011-12-12T03:53:00.001-05:00

Parents and children, children and parents -- the teaching and the learning goes back and forth both ways. Parents attempt to teach their children to have manners, be respectful, eat your green vegetables - the boring stuff of life. Children remind parents to have fun and sometimes teach them the latest and greatest 5th grade math.

But there is something darker that children, my children, have taught me, sadly. My lovelies have taught me to yell. Sad but true. Many a time I start a request with my indoor voice, not to gain cooperation or compliance. So to get the attention required, I raise my voice. Not all the time, but enough of the time that I learned if I really want quick action I must yell.

Happily when I pointed this out to my lovelies, they are helping me unlearn this behavior by listening to my softer requests the first time.

Now, take this learning out into nature. Specifically the Vince Lombardi rest stop on the New Jersey turnpike. There we witnessed some incredible learning when a flock of 10 gulls flew into a man carrying a breakfast sandwich from the rest stop's fast food restaurant. The man, nearly knocked to the ground, dropped his food, and instantaneously the flock devoured it.

Shocked -- We witnessed the entire event. Unbelievable learning...

How far would you go?

2011-12-11T14:25:00.007-05:00

Our neighborhood church was closed six years ago during to consolidation of the Boston Archdiocesan parishes. And during that time there were rumors we would have to travel all the way across town to attend Mass. In the end we travel just a few more miles down the road; not bad. So this past Saturday when we drove off at 9 AM to make Mass at 7:30 AM Sunday, I wondered, just how far would someone, anyone, travel to attend Mass? Last weekend we drove just about 1300 miles with Mass as our initial destination.

A pivotal moment at World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain, was the Stations of the Cross. Especially the station of the Last Supper, for at the table, instead of the Apostles being arranged horizontally (with some quite distant from Our Lord), they sat vertically with Jesus at the head of the table. And what struck me was when the crowd pressed up to see this station it appeared as if we were all seated at the table of the Lord. All invited. All welcome.

This past weekend, a bit disheveled and tired from the drive, as we knelt in prayer of thanksgiving for our safe journey, I again faced this same awesome image of the Last Supper.

Madrid, Spain, to Orlando, Florida -- the table is set. No reservation required.

2011-12-09T20:34:00.000-05:00

Serious?

2011-12-09T13:16:00.001-05:00

Is this for real? We're traveling and the weather has been iffy; accidents and near misses galore.

But was this accident real? Nope, this was staged. But for friendships and relationships, we really need to be real in the real sense of the word.

To grow up or not to grow up?

2011-12-09T06:33:00.000-05:00

Could that be the question? Can we be all grown up and responsible and still smile at an electrifying parade?

Nurture your kid at heart.

Be Thankful

2011-12-08T06:05:00.000-05:00

In any language

Lesson from the work front

2011-12-07T19:54:00.001-05:00

Find or better yet create joy at work. And step two: Bring it to others.

We are all artists of our future.

2011-12-07T12:56:00.001-05:00

Imagine, you the artist. Nothing and no one can stop you from creating the masterpiece titled: My Life.

Imagine

2011-12-06T20:24:00.002-05:00

Imagine if there were just one light attempting to illuminate the castle. An impossibility, but look at the effect when thousands of lights work together. Working together accomplishes so much more than working alone in the dark.

Yes, give it a go.

2011-12-06T14:25:00.000-05:00

2011-12-05T12:43:00.000-05:00

In the land of the mouse

2011-12-05T07:53:00.002-05:00

I have been forced to slow down. Awoke this morning with that pesky floating piece of cartilage un-nicely tucked in my knee joint.

A blessing? Delightfully yes, for I am forced to slowly and leisurely enjoy all around me.

Enjoy your day. Whatever it brings.
Enjoy your life.

Here are our hats.

2011-12-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

But we aren't in a hurry.

Photo Show?

2011-12-04T09:22:00.000-05:00

Night! Camera! Roadtrip!

Definition of a Dear Friend

2011-12-03T18:46:00.001-05:00

A dear friend is the person or persons you call, before the police, when faced with an emergency.

No emergency here, just posting a definition.

Music

2011-12-03T00:19:00.002-05:00

I find it interesting when life mirrors a song, or vice versa. Today, all day and going on all night the Rascal Flatts lyrics: Life is a highway / I'm going to ride it all night long / have been playing through my head. Life is certainly a journey. Full of incidents and accidents.

Safe travels.

But Patty, don't you exercise and watch what you eat?

2011-12-02T15:18:00.001-05:00

Don't you dream of being thinner? Why not take the colder easier, faster route?

Answer: Yes I would love to be the weight I was in my 20s or 30s, but there are no shortcuts. Being healthy and living a healthy lifestyle is so much more important than fitting into size 4 jeans.

Vanity or Something Else?

2011-12-01T16:23:00.001-05:00

In a doctor's office there was an informational display on a procedure which reduces fatty tissue in problem areas (love handles, stomach, thighs) by freezing. It doesn't replace dieting, exercise, and is not for weight lose. I inquired... Fatty tissue is more susceptible than surrounding tissues to damage via freezing. So a noninvasive freezing treatment kills the cells which are naturally eliminated by the body over 4 months.

I can't imagine insurance companies pay for these treatments. Would it be vanity that would fire the urge to undergo this procedure? Or am I missing the point? Just wondering...

Learning or relearning everyday

2011-12-01T03:56:00.004-05:00

While waiting for the start of my parent teacher conference I (re)learned that New Zealand is not North of Australia and Fiji is not tucked up under Asia. All this time I was living with false impressions of the truth.

I love (re)learning something everyday. Life is one big school room; no desks or chairs required. Yesterday I learned how to say Stand Up in Italian. Proudly this morning I remembered it.

What will I learn today? There is a tingle of excitement as I ponder that question. What about you?

Italian? That's Easy... Catholic?

2011-11-30T02:15:00.008-05:00

I'm Italian. I can make homemade ravioli and polenta with the best of them. Easy. It is my heritage. But what about being Catholic? Good question.

At times in my life I have traversed what I can only call a religious desert. It's not that God wasn't present in my life, but I have struggled with being Catholic, or maybe it's really a struggle with the importance of attending our church. Not feeling as if I am ministered to, I have had to put on the parental face as we head out the door to Mass. While inside, seriously wondering if a change was required in our family's spiritual path.

Though really how could I contemplate not being Catholic? I've been Catholic as long as I've been Italian; since before birth.

It was my dear friend and her questions that showed me my answer. And I wonder if this was how Peter felt when Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him. For it's not uncommon, as I have been writing, for my friend to ask me several times in the course of a morning, "Are you Catholic?"

To which I reply, "Yes, I am." But by answering that question, with a smile, interest and love, several times in the course of one conversation, I was handed a gift.

Yes I am Catholic and my mission is to serve those around me. As Mother Theresa instructed, "To recognize Christ in the distress of the poor." How blessed am I, my friend caught a glimpse of Him in me. For now I may see Him in others.

Where do you live?

2011-11-29T02:38:00.001-05:00

Great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and siblings.

Life has high points and low ones. Times that we never want to forget and other times we hold out hope for selective memory loss.

Before my time, the story goes that my grandfather, Vito Bertolino would come out to this town to visit his cousin, Billy Caradonna, who would be his best man when he married my grandmother, Ella Pagano. That was my one glimpse of this town until 30 years ago, when I started my own story line visiting various Italian kitchens for a meal, listening, laughing, and learning.

Mostly this learning revolved about a warning, "Beware of the Red People," (complete with the pointed shaking of a crooked right index finger), the Sicilians... but being Sicilian, I would just smile. The rest of what I learned was a litany of names: Grandoni, Feranti, Ghilani, Falconi, Spinazola, (I am sure there were more.) Really the who's who of Coburnville, the old Italian neighborhood. But from those times my life moved on.

Now, fast forward to the present.

My friend and I are talking... She asks, "Where do you live?"

Nobscot

The snooty people live there.

Maybe, (I leave that comment alone.) Where are you from?

Coburnville.

Oh, do you know the Grandonis?

Maria, yes she lives on an extension near the cemetery.

Yes, she did -- Bridge St. And what about Aldo and Edo?

Yes, I know them. How do you know Maria?

She was a family friend. She was always warning me of the red people.

The Sicilians. My mother lived next door to them. She got along with them. Did you know the Caradonnas?

Yes, I met Billy Caradonna once. He came over for lunch. Did you know him? He was my grandfather's, Vito Bertolino's, cousin.

I knew him and the Bertolinos. I went to school with Susan Caradonna. I was a Ghilani.

I've heard of your family. Do you remember the Feranti family?

(And it goes on.)

--

The common ground builds. We exchange stories. My friend is reminded of her childhood, but mostly it is me hanging on to lifelong facts and stories of a town and it's immigrant Italian families and being amazed at the circular nature of life.

Leg Lamp 2011

2011-11-28T18:25:00.001-05:00

There are no words.

Your Name?

2011-11-28T02:22:00.001-05:00

Before the shining faces above were even a twinkle, before I was born, I was named. Aunt Angie, Miss Angela Pagano, was calling my infant, older sister, not by her given name, but instead Patricia. Months later my arrival, my name: Patricia. Now fast forward 50 plus years to a recent conversation.

My new friend asks, "What's your name?"

Patty.

Patty?

Well Patricia...

Are you Italian? Named Patricia?

Yes, my Aunt Angie, Angela Pagano, liked that name. She named me.

Pagano, that's Italian. My confirmation name is Patricia.

And so it goes. We have a common ground. Stories flow. Bonds are established and built upon. Trust. All over a name. More tomorrow.

Four Questions

2011-11-27T01:36:00.000-05:00

What's your name?
Where do you live?
Are you Italian?
Are you Catholic?

At work it is very common place for me to be repeatedly asked and to repeatedly answer these four questions. All simple, with simple answers that open so many doors to conversation and opportunity. But not just for my clients, but for me. Really, I have the best job.

Learn By Making Mistakes

2011-11-26T00:06:00.002-05:00

Life, living, and learning are like knitting. For all can be complicated, tough to read or understand, and improve with mistakes.

Learn by Living

2011-11-25T12:33:00.001-05:00

Everyday learn something new and live.

Turduken!

2011-11-24T14:48:00.001-05:00

Success

Grandpa

2011-11-24T11:18:00.001-05:00

Turduken Start

2011-11-24T08:04:00.001-05:00

This is the start of our 8th Thanksgiving Turduken.

Learning by Listening

2011-11-24T02:04:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is a time for listening and learning. For years my family would gather at my maternal grandparents' home for Thanksgiving. It was our turkey day as well as our Christmas with them, for as soon as the leftovers were gone, so would they head to sunny Florida for the winter. (I don't have any digital images from that era, but the image above is from more recent past Thanksgiving were many of my family gathered, told stories, sang the traditional "I'm Mrs Turkey" song, laughed, and loved.)

Still, I remember, every year at this time, how my grandfather would tell us his stories of growing up, trapping and canoeing along the Providence River, driving through a hurricane to reach my then pregnant grandmother. He would tell us about family camping trips to New Hampshire and of trips to Cape Cod. We listened and we learned the bits and pieces of our heritage. But so much was lost. So many questions went unasked, unanswered.

Today I am fortunate to work with some very special people who are sharing their life's history with me. I have learned about delivering coal by horse drawn wagon, about how Apple St, was renamed to Bethany Rd., about the influenza epidemic that left a little boy motherless at the age of 5, and about the Sons of Italy girls' drill team. I'm learning a little Italian here and there, and soaking all this history in.

This Thanksgiving, whether you celebrate for one afternoon, one day, two days, a week, share the family celebration of learning through listening.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Learning by doing - in the kitchen

2011-11-23T02:57:00.003-05:00

I love to cook and to learn. And on plenty of occasions we have combined the two to learn while cooking.

Many years ago I picked up the cookbook, A Century of America's Favorite Foods. On page 26 is a recipe for a War Cake. The recipe sidebar reads, "Some say this eggless, sugarless, butterless cake was created during the Civil War, but it was quite popular during both World War I and II and during the Depression, when the name was changed to Depression Cake. "

1 cup light corn syrup (We didn't have any, so I used a cup of mollasses.)
1 cup water
1 cup raisins
2 tbsp shortening
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Grease and flour a 8 by 4 inch loaf pan
In a sauce pan combine, corn syrup, water, raisins, shortening, spices, and salt. Bring to boil and simmer 3 minutes.
Cool to room temperature.
Stir together flour, baking soda and baking powder.
Stir into liquids; mix to combine.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 45 to 55 minutes.
Let cool 10 minutes then turn out onto wired rack.

I am sure we are not the first cooks to substitute molasses for the light corn syrup in this recipe. After all there was a war going on... This cake is all about creating a dessert when the usual dessert fixings were not available.

And the results: The molasses cake is robust with a great flavor. I doubt we will ever try this recipe with light corn syrup.

Our Dear Friend, Paul

2011-11-20T03:55:00.005-05:00

Paul gave us all a scare last week by collapsing at work and then having another episode in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. It looked like it was touch and go, but he has proven once again, that he is a Super man. Jiminy Cricket... as I am heard to say. We hiked the Boy Scout Reservation, not the high peak, but we were out for about an hour. It certainly felt good to be out. Better yet, out with our good friend Paul and his personal Emergency Med Tech, David.

Cough drop pep talk

2011-11-19T20:08:00.001-05:00

Get through it! Love it!

Do You Believe?

2011-11-19T03:16:00.002-05:00

Nana visited my sister the night she passed from this world to the next, (lucky sister). Mrs. Gill dropped in to see me when she departed. Leaving me with the message of, "Don't worry, Mary is watching." Her prayer card is a reminder for those times when worrying seems to be the only option. I keep grandparents close. One Nana's rocker is my preferred banjo playing chair, the other's door harp is in my bedroom. One grandpa's art hangs in the hall with his hat and fishing creel, the other's Army photo graces the living room. I find a penny and it is from "Grampa". A message - thinking if you, you can do this. So really how can heaven be further than a heartbeat away.

What if we...

2011-11-18T00:03:00.002-05:00

Displayed our potential for growth and improvement just like a Christmas cactus. This time of year the Christmas cacti are littered with buds. And each bud blossoms more stunning than its neighbor. Imagine if we did the same with our own personal development. Imagine the support and praise we would gather and in turn shower on one another. Now why does it take the outward sign of a bud to garner praise for the growth we know is there already? Just wondering...

I complained about a heel blister until I saw...

2011-11-16T02:49:00.001-05:00

a person with no legs.

Twice a year I catch a cold. Twice a year, it kicks up the asthma. Twice a year, it feels like an elephant is squeezing my chest with its trunk. Twice a year, I seek out my inhaler.... I know it is somewhere in the house. Just twice... So really who am I to complain. I am joyous it is just twice a year, and not everyday, all day and all night.

No worries, right? Right.

Nature is the Best Teacher II

2011-11-15T00:09:00.000-05:00

Animals that inhabit the darkest places on earth, like deep ocean trenches, make their own light. The lesson for us: When we are traveling into darkness, remember to allow our inner light shine forth brightly. With a good heart; it's all we will ever need. Shine On.

Enjoy your day. Enjoy your life.

Answer: Practice, practice, practice

2011-11-14T01:44:00.001-05:00

Question: How do you live a contemplative life?

Kindness

2011-11-13T17:55:00.000-05:00