I woke up Monday morning a little later than I normally do. I am pushing myself daily because I desire myself to be the best than I can be. So, I am tired and sleep better. Everyone in my home was up and  gone and you could hear a pin drop. I looked at the beautiful day outside and got into the shower. My mind was very peaceful and I quietly prayed as I got ready.

I was all set to go and I grabbed my cane. I was so happy to be driving and be able to go where I want to, when I want to. I was not disappointed. It was a beautiful day outside as I rolled along the road to visit my dad. The sky was perfectly blue, the Windows were open and the air was crisp and fresh.

Driving makes a handicapped person feel normal like everyone else.

A song came on the radio from the 70’s I was on cloud nine as I listened and felt so grateful to be in that moment. I felt younger and had wonderful memories of simpler times.  I was going to spend my time with my dad and then along came the emotion. This emotional thought came to mind and a sadness filled my heart. I thought I wish I could have done this when my mom was sick and was failing 2 years ago. If you remember I could not go out a whole lot because of my medical condition I spoke to  my mom a couple of times a day by phone during that time and I did get over there physically to sit with her when I could. She never complained  and we all prayed together as a family when we were there at our family home.She was not afraid. She was too busy praying for me and emotionally supporting her whole family. She was showing us the way of the cross with such tender love.

THIS IS THE SONG THAT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONG. IT WAS A GREAT MEMORY.

The big BUTT is that I wanted to be there physically with her, all the time.

The heart wants what the heart wants. No matter how much time I had with my mom it would never have been enough.

MY MOM WOULD SAY,

LOVE IS SELFISH, WE NEVER WANT TO LET OUR LOVED ONES GO.

AND

YOU LOVE BIG,  YOU LOSE BIG!

SHE WAS RIGHT ON BOTH COUNTS.

She began to say this after the loss of her mom and dad.

I WILL SAY THIS HER PASSING IS SOMEHTING I ACCEPT BECAUSE JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR HER TOO. SHE IS ENJOYING HER ETERNITY AWAITING AND WATCHING OVER HER FAMILY . AMEN

My mom a few years back attended one of her neighbors funerals and heard this song sung. She was so moved by it. I found it for her and she loved it. It is not sad it was a very moving and comforting gift to her. She believed the message of that song. My mom left to be with the Lord on a sunny afternoon. She was at peace and her faith in God allowed her that peace.

This is the beautiful song that I spoke of. For my mom.

Libera, Going Home.

God Bless You,

Danny

Beautiful memories are always flooding back from my memory. Long forgotten about but they are being made new once again. I know that we all have them and they can be a real gift to us.

I thank God for my beautiful memories

For my nana F.

Swing on a star Bing Crosby

I think/know that we need to validate those that we love daily. My grandmother’s goodness was felt by my family when we were babies and throughout our lives. My grandmother was 100 percent Italian And was a wonderful cook. She used to make homemade tortellini amongst other things. What I wouldn’t give for a bowl of that again.

My grandmother use to watch us when we were out of school sick. With 5 kids my mom always had one of us home sick and would have to miss work so her mom would fill in.

The memories will forever be stuck in my mind of my grandmother. I would get dropped off at her and my papa’ s home and she got an assessment of my ailment always with a little twist of your not too sick are you. 🙂 LOL

I could have screamed ,she knew I was pretty okay. But, I professed illess so I was now her patient. She was a tough nurse too. LOL

She would march me into the living room and onto the couch I would lay down and that’s where I stayed no tv either. 😦   Anytime I thought about getting up, she arrived or I would hear my grandfather come in from his yard work and say how’s Danny? She would say good I think he just needed a day off.LOL My grandfather would come in and say hey Dan how are you feeling ? Your grandmother has our lunch ready c’mon let’s go eat.

My grandmother also had two beautiful candy dishes on top of her dining room buffet that called to me while I was horizontal on her sofa.

So, in the kitchen I would go and my grandfather was sitting there waiting for nana to sit down. We said Grace and thanked God for our food and we had a bowl of soup and a sandwich. I remember tomato soup. It was not my favorite but you ate what you were given. Her sandwiches were always good. She made awesome egg salad and Italian Tonno tuna packed in oil.

An interesting little note. I never really cared or craved tomato soup. When I was very sick about 3 years ago one food that I was craving was tomato soup and crackers. So, I often wonder why? Was it a comfort food because of my childhood memory? I don’t know but I am glad for the reminder of my grandparents. Their memory is healing to me too.

She had a pantry and after lunch she would say go in and you can get a cookie, pick out what you want 🙂 I did not grab 10 either !  A couple would do. Plus she was watching! 🙂

These are memories that never can be taken from me because they were good people who loved their family and their God they loved me. During my sickest days even with cancer I have not felt disappear. I felt them with me still, they are here with me in a very special way. If value is based on love alone then I am the richest guy in the world.

Like I say look at who is in your life now and say I love you in anyway that you can. Amen.

My grandparents loved music my grandfather loved Irish Music and sang it too. MY Grand parents were not old foggies. They were current and understood their times.They were current because they needed to understand what their grandchildren were facing in their culture. My Nana and Papa F were full of life and love. They new what they stood for and watched out for us all. God was the leader of their band. My grandfather lived what he preached and practiced it too. Nana had Powerful faith and was devoted to Jesus Christ and our Blessed Mother. She also loved the infant of Prague.

My grandmother’s birthday is St. Patrick’s Day.

My grandfather like I said was very Irish and married his Italian sweetheart who birthday was March 17th, so he called her Rosie when he would tease her. They both loved this song too:)

For Nana and Papa and all the grandparents everywhere !:)

My grandfather was very funny,he was a little fresh and my grandmother was very proper. It was funny to see him goat her and she reacted every time. She doth protest but really loved it and always laughed. That’s what you call the magic. They adored each other.

The funny thing is that I have seen my parents do the same thing and yes I too tease my beautiful wife. It’s usually just done with my family around.Everyone will roar with laughter including my wife. And if I feel very comfortable, I do it with friends around too. Back a few months ago my wife and I had company in and my wife whipped up dinner. It was so funny being the joker that I can be when my wife was in the kitchen I would snap my fingers and have her bringing me stuff. One of the girls thought it was terrible and asked if I treated her that way all the time .Lol. She went into the kitchen to talk to my wife and I heard my wife laugh out loud and tell her he’s just teasing me, he is a brat. We still laugh at that event to this day. My wife is my #1 most important friend on this Earth. She has been my personal everything for over 30 years. I drive her crazy and she loves it. That’s our magic.

God bless you all.

God bless all of my grandparents , my mom and my son Brad who are with the Lord watching over us. Amen.

Danny