The Best Grandmother in the World

This is my grandmother, Concetta Casertano, AKA Nanny Connie. She was absolutely the worlds best grandmother. She had 6 grandchildren and she treated each of us equally and like GOLD. She did not have a lot of money - but she had riches worth of love to give us. She had 8 great-grandchildren, that is my son Joseph you see her with. And again - she loved them like they were each the only one she had.

Sadly we lost her just a little over 2 years ago - and although she lived 90+ years and I saw her daily as I was blessed enough to have her live with us - I am still sad over my loss.

Today is an exceptionally hard day - usually when I think of her I can smile and laugh - today I miss her too much to smile. How did this come on today you might ask - I will tell you - my mother took out Nanny Connie's pin cushion from my Nanny Connie Memory Box - she was sewing something and needed a needle. It was sitting on the counter of my kitchen and at first I saw it and smiled. Today driving to work I thought of the pin cushion and all it represents - my grandmother was a seamstress, not until her death did I need to pay for alterations. She made us dresses when we were little. She made all of her great grandchildren knit sweaters with matching hats when they were born. She made me, my sister and my brother knit blankets that we still cherish - we were adults when she made them - my sister Colleen's is probably full/queen size and each square is a different color all sewn together with Nanny's love.

The 2 pictures are from the last vacation she took with us. We were at Myrtle Beach in June 2006 - she passed in July 2006 - leaving behind many broken hearts but even more glorious memories and life lessons.

I may feel sad today - but I do know that I am a rare person who was blessed to have her grandmother for 37 1/2 years and whose children got to live with their great grandmother who was in perfect health until the Lord called her home. We had 4 generations under our roof for just about 4 years - the house sometimes feels a little empty without her - but her love still fills the rooms.

Songs = Memories

We all have songs that know matter when or how many times we hear them remind us a special person in our lives. I heard one of those songs on my way into work today which is what prompted this post. Here is a list of some of mine........

Daniel (Elton John) - my dads name and the song I heard this morning. Every time I hear it I look up at the clouds towards Heaven and think of him.

From This Moment (Shania Twain) - my niece Kayla. Back in 1998 we met her family in Disney World and she sung the song for me - I asked her when she got home to call my house and sing it in my answering machine (she was only 4 so I was really asking Regina) and she did. I played it daily until the machine gave out - it was such a sweet way to keep her close to me. I still, here in 2008, can not hear the song without crying.

Follow The Leader (Soca Boys) - my daughter Danielle. This was her Hip Hop song for her recital this year - and this was her break out year. Such a fun and upbeat song but I cried everytime - tears of a proud mother!!!

Temperature (Sean Paul) - my son Joseph. He loved this song and everytime it played he would stand in front of our television and watch himself dance.

In Da Club (50 Cent) - Andre. This is mine and his song to dance together - no matter what is going on.

Ignition Remix (R Kelly) - Daryl. I love the way she "bounces" her shoulders when she hears it.

Mo Money/Mo Problems (Biggie) - Danny DoCabo. We were out for New Years Eve and dancing all night - we were ready to go and this song came on and he was like - ONE MORE SONG - I can still see his expression in my mind.

Hey Ya (Outkast) - my niece Christina. We were at Kim & Kevin's Wedding and I had such a good time watching her dance to this song.

Strokin (Clarence Carter) - my sister-in-law Maria. She knows why.......

Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield) - my niece Amber. When it was at its most popular she would sing this song word for word her face almost turning purple so she wouldn't miss a beat.

Push It (Salt & Pepa) - my sister Colleen and her BF Joanne. This played at my brother's graduation party and they had a whole dance routine!!!

Yeah (Usher) - Kim. She knows why.......

I Believe in You and Me (4 Tops) - Steve & Regina. When they dance to this song the love between them is so OBVIOUS and heartwarming. And Regina sings too him....

Through the Years (Kenny Rogers) - Uncle Matt. (I am crying again) He danced to this song with my Mother-in-law when she got re-married 16 years after his brother died. The words have so much meaning for their family and what this incredible man did for his Sister-in-law and niece and nephews "Through the Years".

I got you Babe (Sony & Cher) - my parents. The words matched their love.....

Any REM or Midnight Oil - my brother Danny.

The following people have a few songs that always make me think of them:

Suzanne - Brown eyed girl (Morrison), Who's Crying Now (Journey), Crazy Train (Ozzy), Better Man (Pearl Jam), I'll be there for you (theme song from friends).

Tom - Follow the Leader (Soca Boys) - the happy ending dance in Jamaica will forever be a classic!!! I Love Rock & Roll (Joan Jett), I'll be there for you (theme song from friends), You shook me all night long (AC/DC).

Joe - My own prison (Creed), December 1963(Frankie Valli), Everybody Dance Now (C&C Music Factory), You're Still The One (Orleans), Time of My Life (from Dirty Dancing) and of course After All.

I will end with the fact that my sister Colleen needs a whole post on this topic - she is very musically connected and so many memories I have that include her have songs tied to them. That will be a whole post on another day.

You Are My Sunshine

This ADORABLE little guy is my Nephew Alex. He was born December 8, 2005 and he has been a Ray of Sunshine EVER SINCE.

He is soooooo sweet, loving and extremely funny and chatty!!! When people meet him they just can't believe how young he is. He talks like he a teenager - he has no "baby words", "slang" or unclear articulation in him. He has a full fledge conversation with you - and then all of a sudden you look up and realize - WOW I am having this big chat with a 2 year old!!!

He came to us for a sleep over last night - and as usual it was the highlight of my week!!! I came home to him standing in a T-Shirt and my son's boxer brief's with the Guitar Hero Guitar around him and him SINGING You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you'll never no dear how much I Love You, Please don't take my Sunshine away!!! Loud and clear and BEAUTIFULLY!!!

I really should be singing that to him - as since birth he has been providing me nothing but SUNSHINE and HAPPINESS.

Saving Gas

One of the benefits of coming to work early (and in the City) is that you can occasionally see something/someone that really either makes you think or makes you laugh.

I had a moment like that this morning. I am sitting in the car at a red light - just about 3 blocks from my parking deck - I look up and coming across the street I see Ole Boy riding a powder blue bike with big white wall tires and a BOOM BOX attached to the handle bars!!! Along with a few other decorations that people would hang from say a rear view mirror in their car.

I chuckled - then said - well he must be saving gas but wants to be able to hear some tunes on the road.....

Summer Fun

Thursday we spent the day at my sister Colleen's pool. Every one of my mother's grandchildren were there - it was a blast. And when I say the day - I mean we were there from about 12:30 - 5:30 and then we went up to her apartment for birthday cake for Miss Alexa Rae. Alexa is our friends Tom & Lisa's daughter. Me, Colleen and Tom grew up together - we have known each other for 28 years!!! So to see all of our kids playing together brings us great joy.

Colleen and Robert you hosted a fun day - we will be back for more........

Perfect Cards

Those who know me well know I love to send cards to my friends and family. I spend lots of time trying to find the perfect words or expressions in the cards to let the special person know how much they mean to me. So with that said - when I receive a special card it touches me in a way I can't explain. I save them in a keepsake box and those that really, really touch me come to my office and hang on my cork board. One card has survived 2 moves and still has a main spot on the board. It is from my very best friend Suzanne - and I received it from her on the one year anniversary of my dads passing. I am sure when she gave me that card on April 8, 1993 she never imagined I would still hold it so dear.

Recently I have received 2 totally fun and totally perfect cards - you know the musical kind!!! On Mother's Day my kids gave me one and when you open it, it plays "Simply The Best" - I cried - as I am doing now - I will never hear that song again without thinking of the card and how the simple gesture meant so much to me.

Yesterday my sister Colleen sent me an AWESOME fun musical card. No occasion - just a hey.... When I opened it, it played - RAPPERS DELIGHT by the Sugarhill Gang!!! And let me tell you it played a good part of the song!!! She knows I will rap that song in a heartbeat - it brings us back to our grandmother's apartment in Queen's and us singing along with our cousin Donna. This card I will have to bring to work just so I can hear the song - and maybe, just maybe I will rap it for my friend Tina.

Such an important message

This is one piece of the Homily from the Father at St. Mark's Church. It is such an important message for all of us. The full Homily was 10 Guidelines From God - this is probably my favorite one:

BE KIND:

Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love all of you. Please try to get along for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

There you have it - some of the best advice ever. Use it as parents with multiple children, people with siblings, for your co-workers, friends etc..... We all are different in our own ways - and special as well - embrace the differences and the things that make us special - for as Father says - it would be so boring if we were all alike.