The Christmas Gift

My BFF, Jean, and I sat on my back porch this past summer.

We made our "Bucket List".

Today, I am able to cross another "to do" off the list.

Find Jason & Kyle

When I got Jean to join Facebook a few months ago, I thought we would have fun but I never imagined the good that could come from it. Christmas night, I found out; Jean made contact with the sons who she was seperated from 10 years ago! Faith has seen her through these past 10 years; she has never given up the hope that they would reunite someday.

A mother's love for her children will always overcome the heartaches, hopelessness, and despartion felt when those children are taken from her arms.


Jean, I am so happy for you and I hope with all of my heart, that this is not the last of the answers to your prayers.

Jason & Kyle, I hope that you can know how happy you have made your mother, simply by answering her prayers.

Just when I thought I knew everything about my mother....

Last night I saw something that really touched me. I wasn't really surprised; just kind of taken back a little.

I drove my mother to meet a group of her friends whom she sees about once a year. The trip necessitated driving North on I95, so it was a nice long drive (if you consider hearing gasps every few miles, and having your arm clenched and scratched by long, perfectly manicured fingernails, nice) with some good conversation.

We reached our destination in about 1-3/4 hours; a little over an hour longer than it should have taken. The holiday traffic was crazy and I changed my route several times so that we wouldn't be late.

She had a good time catching up with her friends and we had a "so-so" dinner at a restaurant that we had high expectations of. I think that may have been because we used to live right near the restaurant many years ago when it was one of the best in the area. The dinner was actually a huge disappointment. Perhaps that is why we took more than half of it home with us; something I rarely do.

On the way home, we have to go through the edge of the city to get to the bridge to cross the river. When we reached the underside of the bridge, we were stopped by a red light at a spot where it is not uncommon to see people hanging around. I must admit that I have gone past this spot so many times that I must have become oblivious to it. This night, there was a homeless man standing in the middle of the street with a sign that read, "Homeless, Hungry, Disabled Vet. Can you help? God Bless."

From the passenger seat I heard another gasp; this time it was not due to my driving but from the sight of that man in the street. My mother started to reach for her handbag, hesitated, reached again.... Then I reached in the back seat to find our carefully secured doggy bags (actually, they were nice styro containers, holding in the heat). When I came up with the box, the man was already standing at my window, as if he knew what I was doing. When I looked at him, my heart sank. I opened the window and he took the box from me and said "Thank you very much and God Bless You."

When the light turned green, I pulled away and as I looked back in my rear-view mirror, I saw the man in the car behind me, also offering something. I turned the bend and headed over the bridge, and out of sight.
We go to the city for the theater, dinner, shopping, fun times. We are so busy that we never look around us. Maybe seeing the city at night, in a different light, makes us more aware of things. Things I didn't realize. My mother had never seen a homeless person!

The crossing was silent. When I reached the other side of the river, I looked over at her face. She was crying. I think it really shook her, actually seeing, first hand, someone so down, so alone, so desperate. My mother was a young child during the Great Depression, still, she was touched.

Seeing my mother so vulnerable is what touched me.

They're dropping like flies!

Here I sit, on Thanksgiving Day, blogging my heart out. You are probbly thinking I A) Have nowhere to go, or B) Am going to someone's house for dinner. WRONG! I had place(S) to be! I am NOT going to someone's house.

Yes, I am cooking on Thanksgiving and have time to sit, wine glass in hand (half empty- or is that half full?- bottle sitting nearby) aimlessly surfing the web. We turned down 2 invitations in order to have dinner at our house, and we did include the "inviters", who became the first flies to drop. That's ok, we still have my parents (whom I only last week found out that they were not going to the sibling's, as usual; what's up with that?) and my other "spawn with family".

My daughter always attends the "Command Performance" at her mother-in-law's; wouldn't dare suggest otherwise. That's ok with me because I get them for the entire Christmas celebration, beginning on Christmas Eve and ending somewhere after Christmas dinner. This is something which I came to accept early on. I learned how to pick my battles with the in-laws!
Another last minute game call-The Kid's mom has to babysit her younger brothers while her mother works, and she refuses to bring them here. Can't say I argued too hard on that one.
So, we are down to 5. That's fine with me-I still cook for 100. I have never, even after 36+ years of marriage, been able to figure out how to cook for 2. BUT, wouldn't you think that everyone could be a little bit early to watch some football or something? My mother has a long history of lateness. I remember once, when I was first married, having Thanksgiving at my Grandmother's with the whole family. Of course Big Daddy and I were there way ahead of time so that we could visit and have fun with my cousins before dinner. I know it was a 4 hour drive, but if I could do it, couldn't my mom? No. They arrived about an hour after dinner was set. I still can't figure out why she was annoyed that we had eaten without them; we did save them some. She complained that they left the dark meat (she likes white), the potatoes were cold, and there weren't any rolls left. Oh my!

I would never start without her but, she had better get here soon because I don't do this often and I want it to be good. Not only that, I am really hungry and I refuse to eat anything now and miss the pleasure of gorging myself intentionally later.

Besides, she has the pies!

I've been busy!

Well, I had some major technical difficulties last week but I am back and in full swing!

Today was really busy and the day flew by.

I had some towels to monogram for a Bridal Shower,

Taggies for a Baby Shower,

Custom blanket for the same shower,

Christmas

bib

And this is just too cute NOT to show.

I had a bride ask for something for her Flower Girls; This is what I came up with:

While You Wait

I don't know about you but, I hate waiting. I am impatient and I must have instant gratification. I had lots of that today.

I had to take my embroidery machine in to fix a self induced problem. The repair man told me to give him at least a few hours. No problem; I was in my old neighborhood (an hour away from home) so I planned to meet a friend (Just An Old Fashioned Gal) for lunch and maybe do a little shopping.

While I was shopping in Home Goods, I found a basket full of items, each one was right there waiting for me. I found a beautiful tablecloth and then found exactly 2 packages of 4 each, napkins, in the clearance aisle! Then I walked over to the toy aisle and found the perfect toy for The Kid--a balance board with a picture of his favorite thing, a duck!

After that, I turned around and there was my friend (she said she was tired of waiting for me)!

No waiting continued at the checkout line (no line). While I was paying, my phone rang and it was repairman letting me know that he had finished and my baby was ready!

We were pretty hungry so we jumped in our cars (yup, you guessed it; right in the first space) and went to a restaurant just down the street. Table for 2? Right this way! 12:30 and no waiting? Our food came out before we even had a chance to catch up.

This is what happens when you try to take a picture of yourself!

So in all, my day was great. After I left my friend at the restaurant, I was driving toward home when I saw the funniest thing. Well, it may not be funny to everyone but, it struck me so funny, I had to take a picture with my phone. I hope you can see it. Ok, it's too far away to see but here is what it says:

(Whoever)'s Art; Tattoos while you wait!

Since I hate waiting, I won't be going there anytime soon!

Oh, Yeah!!!!!!!! World Series, Baby!

No words needed!

Family Tree?

Many years ago, I was really into Geneology, tracing my mother's family back to 1700's Switzerland. I learned a lot, such as the difference between second cousins (the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you, but not the same grandparents), and cousins twice removed (there is a two-generation difference). It is all very confusing but eventually, you get the hang of it.

There is one family relationship that can't be explained, however.

My daughter-in-law's first child gave birth so that would be my "Great-grand", right? So far, so good.

Now, here is where it gets tricky. My mother adopted the little girl, so that would make her my "little sister"?!?

Yeah, my mom took on the responsibility under protest by my dad! He said, "absolutely not!" when they discussed it. He thought that it was too much trouble, and would take up a lot of time and effort, and they would lose their freedom. But once her saw her, he fell in love. So they became proud parents. They dote. They fuss. They spoil. They adore her! (All ad nauseam, I might add.)

However, my parents like to travel and sometimes it is not possible or appropriate for my great-grand/sister to accompany them. When that happens, they slyly ask if she can stay with us. Of course I say, "Yes"; she is no trouble at all. She practically takes care of herself and she loves the cats (We have 3). Plus we have a big fenced in back yard to play in and I can sew little clothes for her.

When they arrive, so does her little bag containing her washcloth, towel, toothbrush, hairbrush and hair accessories, and special toys. Her pillow also comes along, as well as a thermal bag filled with individual daily servings of pre-cooked oatmeal (I gag thinking about cooking the stuff).

She sleeps with Big Daddy and me; she loves to snuggle. My mom is a little annoyed about this because now she won't stay in her own room at home. Oh well!

She's so cute with curly black hair and black eyes. One can't help staring at her; everywhere my parents go, people remark how cute she is--even with the rather dominant underbite. Oh, would you like to see a picture of her?

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I think she is the best thing that ever happened to them; she gives them another reason to get up every morning, and is going to keep them young.

The Fork War: The Final Chapter

Last week I did an embroidery job for an old friend (remember the Fork War?). She needed a gift for a 90th birthday. I suggested a monogrammed pillowcase. Turns out, the birthday girl also loves to cook, so in addition to the pillowcase, I made an oven mitt.


During that same week, "Kevmeema"'s mother passed away after a lengthy illness. It was a really tough year for her. Even though I have never met her in person, I know that she is a really tough, strong woman; one that I admire.



A couple of days after I sent the package with the pillowcase and oven mitt, I received an email telling me that the package arrived as they were leaving the house to attend the funeral, and she didn't open it until the next day. Her email went on to compliment my "talent" and then she asked me what she owed me.



What price do you put on friendship? I felt that I owed her more than she owed me. She was always there when I needed someone to confide in. She helped me brainstorm when I started my business. She made brochures for me. She gave me ideas, incentives, encouragement to try, when I had less confidence in myself than she had in me-someone she hardly "knew". Once, she even helped me accept a new chapter in my life when The Kid was born and I became a grandmother!



I asked that she make a donation to her Mom's favorite cause...The Jersey Shore Animal Center, in Brick, NJ, where they had requested memorial donations in her mom's name. I expected negotiations to begin but I guess she realized how futile that would be. She agreed and I was happy; it was a done deal!



Two days later, a package arrived at my house. Since I was expecting a shipment of handkerchiefs from a supplier. I put the package in my sewing studio without looking at it. Several days passed before I noticed that it wasn't from the supplier, but from Kevmeema!



Somehow I just knew what was inside, even before I opened the package. I knew that she would think of something so special; that's the kind of lady she is. So, I carefully ripped the paper off and yanked the top off the box and threw it on the floor. Inside was the nicest gift I have ever received. A gift from

the best friend I never met.

The forks have come full circle and so has a wonderful Internet friendship--one that must certainly evolve soon.

But one thing, E, it is YOU who is a special lady!

Tag! I'm "it"!

I've been tagged! Not by just anyone, either! I was tagged by Just an Old fashioned Gal.

I know Marialena, personally and I can vouch for her being an old fashioned gal. She is also someone I call friend. We may not be "hang-out-together-do-lunch" type girlfriends, but she is definitely someone that I am proud to know. We have had more than a few encounters but this is one of my favorites:

This HAS to give you some idea what a hoot she can be! I love her!

Now, on to the tagging thing (which I can also credit her for teaching me).

Here are the rules:
1-Link to your tagger and list the rules
2-List 5 random facts about yourself
3-Tag 5 people
4-If you're tagged, play along and pass it on!

Here's the link to that fabulous life that I warned you would come up now and again:

1-I was an only child for 16 years but I am not the typical spoiled brat (I never lie, either)

2-I have been happily married for 36 years to my High School Sweatheart (and they said it wouldn't last. The secret? He travels....a lot!)

3-I've been to more countries than United States; not terribly proud of that (even though I had some really great times) but I am working on changing that next Spring

4-I went back to college at 47 and graduated summa cum laude; not like that woulda happened when I was 20!

5-I have very few friends my own age; most are more than 10 years younger than me. Who wants to hang out with old people anyway?

Ok, now this is the fun part....I am tagging:
Superbef
Taking Chances
Mrs T Rod

This is as far as I go. I am still so new to the blogging world that I don't really know anyone else well enough to intrude upon them. Jeez! I hope those that I did impose upon, don't mind!

The Hostage Situation

I guess it isn't very nice to refer to one's family as "Hostage Takers", is it?

Years ago, my grandmother came to visit after the birth of my second child. She arrived with a car trunk full of suitcases and stayed for weeks. My uncle said she took us hostage in our own home. To this day, Big Daddy refers to that visit as "The Hostage Situation".

Well, this past weekend, my aunt (my mother's sister) and uncle came to visit my parents for a few days. My mom invited us to come for Sunday brunch, before they left to go home. Big Daddy said we were going to negotiate the "Hostage Situation".

I was thrilled to see them all together; it doesn't happen often. Not that they don't want to, it just doesn't happen due to distance, different schedules, etc., maybe even a little pig-headedness (ie. "But, I called her last"). I think that if they made a little more of an effort, it could be done. Afterall, my mom goes in her direction on road trips to the Finger Lakes, and my aunt comes to Atlantic City occasionally (and AC is not far from my mom; certainly not in relation to the 3 hour drive it takes her to get there!) Neither of them stays put for long-funny because they called my grandmother "One-foot-out-the-door-Mabel"!

It is sad that we sometimes have to make such an effort to get together. I think it should be a natural occurance...Oh, like Earthquakes??

My aunt, My mom, & me at my mom's house

NOTE: I loved having my grandmother stay with us! Even if it meant gaining half a ton eating her incredible cooking!

The Fork War

A few years back, I was really into collecting antique china and silver. It didn't have to match; that's what makes it interesting.

I fell in love with Occupied Japan and couldn't get enough of it. So, I collected, and collected; as much as I could find. Ebay was a great source.
After I had collected enough china, I began looking at silver. Forks, knives, spoons, demitasse, butter knives, ladles, muffineers, napkin rings.... You name it, I had to have it. And it HAD to be silver.

One day, I found some forks. They were beautiful, they were silver, and they were mine! (At least in my mind they were mine!) They were all I needed to complete my set, allowing me to be able have 12 dinner guests. I could feel them in my hands. I could see them on my table!

I put my bid in. I waited. I watched. No competition.
The last day of the auction, still no bids, and I had to leave the house, something I never do on the last day of an auction. I felt confident that I would be eating with my new forks later that week.

When I returned and checked the auction, someone else had bid against me and stole my forks! I was so disappointed! But for some strange reason, I was calm! Later, I would learn why.
At the time, ebay allowed users to use their email addresses as bidder names. I noticed that the thief winning bidder had an AOL address. I don't know what possessed me but, I immediately added the name to my AIM list and IMed her/him (?).

"I had to leave the house today," I said, "or those forks would be mine!"

Holding my breath, I waited for the response. I really expected to be ignored or worse; get a nasty response. Instead, I got the old, "LOL"!

So, I responded with some other witty retort and ended up having a nice, long conversation with a really nice lady who, it turned out, lives a little more than an hour from me! We continued to have conversations for days, then weeks, months....

It has been years now (I can't even remember how many) and we still laugh about the forks. Things happen. Life interferes. Children get married, grandchildren are born, loved ones pass on, houses are sold, spouses get sick. But we continue to be Internet friends. We laugh about the forks. We exchange birthday, anniversary, and Christmas cards. We laugh about the forks. We exchange confidences. We laugh about the forks. Someday we will meet.

"Kevmeema" is one of the best friends that I have never met! Sometimes, it takes being a loser to become a winner!

I survived the NY Subway!

Wow! The kid's first day of school took a lot out of me. I needed a week to recover. Ok, 2 weeks.

On Monday, I took Big Daddy to see a Yankee's game. The Yankees are his favorite team; Mickey Mantle, his idol. So, when he mentioned that he was sad that he had never actually seen them play, I decided to buy us some tickets and journey to the Bronx before the stadium came tumbling down.

He was so excited to be going to see his team play; I was excited to be going into Manhattan for lunch!

Ok, so I amthe typical tourist; shoot me! Oh never mind, by the looks of this picture, somebody already did!

We took the NJTransit from Hamilton, into Penn Station. Then we went up to the street to walk around a bit and have some lunch before descending into the dark hole known (to me, anyway) as the New York Subway.

The trip wasn't as bad as I had imagined, even though I had to stand and hang on for dear life; swinging and swaying like a pole dancer. When we ascended the stairs, the street was alive with tourists and Yankees fans, all taking pictures of the new stadium. There it was in all it's glory.

The new Yankees Stadium

We wandered around under the train tracks, looking at t-shirt shops, hat shops....Big Daddy didn't want one of "those" hats; he wanted one from inside!

So whatever Big Daddy wants, Big Daddy gets...

Um, no, you cannot have a hat like Mickey Rivers'.Outside the stadium, somebody painted on a wall in a parking lot. This shot shows Mickey Mantle (L) and Joe DiMaggio (R)Here's the whole gang:

Inside the stadium, here's another gang:

Yup, this is as close as we got to Monument Park. They only allow so many people through there at each game! How fair is that? :::note sarcasm::: Before the game started, I took a bunch of pictures and I will not even attempt to tell you who these guys are but if you are a baseball fan, Big Daddy said you would know.

FOUL BALL!!

This guy comes in, late, toting a bag and a toddler. Who takes a 3 year old to a ballgame?!Oh, perhaps when the 3 year old is a huge fan? This kid was so excited, he almost lost his PB&J! He was my favorite part of the game.Some of the Yankees fans are crazy! You'd never catch Philadelphia fans doing anything like this!

Hmmph! The Phillies will disagree!

Kindergarten!

Today was The Kid's first day at Kindergarten! He was all set since he had already gone to pre-school last year. He loved it then and he loves it, still!

While waiting for the bus, the neighbor came by with his company vehicle. The kids loved it!
Saying goodbye to Mom.
Here comes the bus!
7 hours later; home from a hard day at the office.