Monday, August 5, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
to the greatest woman i've ever known...
Family, Love and Faith
The house is very quiet, it's a different kind of feeling nowadays. A walk up the stairs is met with an empty chair in the corner.
A woman born into a broken home, sent her loved ones off to wars and survived The Great Depression, and all the while coming out on top of it all. A mother of 8, and a widow for the last 40 years, and still; coming out on top. There are almost 100 people that have been touched by this woman's legacy and that's just family. Almost 30 grandkids and almost 50 great grandkids, what a family. She lives through us all, generations now and forever will carry her with us through every single trial and tribulation and draw strength from her. Although she looks down on us now, she is flowing through our veins, always in our hearts and forever on our minds. This is the greatest woman I've ever know, and the greatest friendship I will ever have.
To be able to see a loved one take their last breath is a powerfully sad and happy experience. To know that people die with no one next to them or without being able to say goodbye, is something I would not like to imagine. Appreciate the life you have, even if you think its pretty crappy. Appreciate the people in it, family or not. Don't ever go to bed mad at your loved one, and don't argue over dumb stuff. Tell them you love them, tell them you appreciate them and cherish every moment you are able to share. One day you won't have the opportunity.
We try to prove that and we try to prove this, but faith is all about believing in something that can't be proven. There doesn't have to be a science behind it, its about what you feel in your heart and what your soul desires to seek. Gram was the epitome of a faith bearing woman, and I may never meet another woman that shared such a great relationship with her creator. As years passed when she was unable to attend mass, you could find her in that chair, Rosary and prayer books in hand; every morning. Father would visit once a month to pray with her and they grew very close to each other. They were a blessing to each other. She waited for him to come and give her a holy death, and send her home to her husband and dance with the angels. She held on until he retuned home after being gone for a couple days, as soon as he arrived and within a minute of prayer...she took her last breath.
The house is very quiet, it's a different kind of feeling nowadays. A walk up the stairs is met with an empty chair in the corner.
A woman born into a broken home, sent her loved ones off to wars and survived The Great Depression, and all the while coming out on top of it all. A mother of 8, and a widow for the last 40 years, and still; coming out on top. There are almost 100 people that have been touched by this woman's legacy and that's just family. Almost 30 grandkids and almost 50 great grandkids, what a family. She lives through us all, generations now and forever will carry her with us through every single trial and tribulation and draw strength from her. Although she looks down on us now, she is flowing through our veins, always in our hearts and forever on our minds. This is the greatest woman I've ever know, and the greatest friendship I will ever have.
To be able to see a loved one take their last breath is a powerfully sad and happy experience. To know that people die with no one next to them or without being able to say goodbye, is something I would not like to imagine. Appreciate the life you have, even if you think its pretty crappy. Appreciate the people in it, family or not. Don't ever go to bed mad at your loved one, and don't argue over dumb stuff. Tell them you love them, tell them you appreciate them and cherish every moment you are able to share. One day you won't have the opportunity.
We try to prove that and we try to prove this, but faith is all about believing in something that can't be proven. There doesn't have to be a science behind it, its about what you feel in your heart and what your soul desires to seek. Gram was the epitome of a faith bearing woman, and I may never meet another woman that shared such a great relationship with her creator. As years passed when she was unable to attend mass, you could find her in that chair, Rosary and prayer books in hand; every morning. Father would visit once a month to pray with her and they grew very close to each other. They were a blessing to each other. She waited for him to come and give her a holy death, and send her home to her husband and dance with the angels. She held on until he retuned home after being gone for a couple days, as soon as he arrived and within a minute of prayer...she took her last breath.
I really miss her, I miss her hugs, kisses and silly faces. I miss State St. I miss her crazy looks and her green sweat suit. I miss losing to her in Rummikub. I miss watching game shows and crappy Hallmark movies with her. I miss having her call my mom because I didn't want to spend the night at her house. I miss walking the streets and taking the bus to the mall and picking up coins off the ground as we passed them. I miss her cooking, I miss her smile. I miss talking loud so she could hear, I miss her head nods when she couldn't hear what I said, but didn't want me to know. I miss looking over and seeing her sleeping in her chair. I miss her face. I miss her love and I miss her guidance. I really just miss...her…
I LOVE YOU GRAM…
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
honor your past and respect the present...
These are jackets my Grandfather and Father wore during their time serving this country. The top one belonged to my Grandpa who served in World War II under General George S. Patton. The one below was my father's, which he wore while he served in the ever so controversial Vietnam War. Which many believed that we lost. No matter the outcomes in ANY war, there are many men and women who are out there each day fighting for a cause THEY FEEL is worth fighting. So next time you want to talk bad about the war, how bout you talk bad about it with a gun in your hand.
a young man's love for the blue and gold...
The Golden Dome, Rockne, Holtz, The Grotto, Leahy, 4 Horsemen, Gipper, Parseghian, Rudy and Touchdown Jesus. The Blue and Gold. Ever since I can remember, I've been a fan of Notre Dame. You see, I've been born into this love affair, never really had a choice. Some people may call it obsessive, I call it passionate. You call it weird, I call it normal. This place, this University; is special. Even though I never attended (not that bright of a kid) I've been blessed to experience Notre Dame, not from a TV, but in person. My Uncle, a priest at Holy Cross. My sister and two cousins who all attended the University, all these reasons i'm drawn to the Blue and Gold. I can still remember my first trip to ND, they played Navy that weekend; it rained game day. This was the day I met Lou Holtz, and I got to hold Bobby Taylor's helmet for a brief moment as he signed my football. I was so star-struck, I didn't even realize the cap to my maker was off and I was writing all over my brand new ND polo I bought from the bookstore just hours earlier. But I didn't care, I was in heaven. We were able to get into the stadium and walk around. The head grounds-keeper let me onto the field and we walked around the freshly cut green grass, I can still smell it. He told his workers that someday I was gonna play for the Irish, well that was the joke of the century. I've been to over 10 games in my lifetime, and countless other trips to visit my big sis. This place truly is amazing in many ways.
As we all know, Notre Dame is ranked #1 in the country and about to play #2 Alabama in the BCS National Championship. It's been 24 years since ND has won a national championship, I was 4. This year has been fun to watch and even better to follow, and for those of you who know me well, I couldn't be happier. They say we are underdogs, that there's NO WAY we can beat Alabama! Well last time I checked we are 12-0 and they have one loss. The game still has to be played so don't declare the winner just yet. You either hate the or love them, but college football is exciting when Notre Dame is relevant.
GO IRISH!
As we all know, Notre Dame is ranked #1 in the country and about to play #2 Alabama in the BCS National Championship. It's been 24 years since ND has won a national championship, I was 4. This year has been fun to watch and even better to follow, and for those of you who know me well, I couldn't be happier. They say we are underdogs, that there's NO WAY we can beat Alabama! Well last time I checked we are 12-0 and they have one loss. The game still has to be played so don't declare the winner just yet. You either hate the or love them, but college football is exciting when Notre Dame is relevant.
GO IRISH!
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