THANKS, GRAM!

ANNA

1919-2008

Dear Grandmom,

I doubt highly that you are in heaven right now reading blogs...but just in case the words somehow are carried to your soul, I wanted to write you a letter.

I want to thank you for being my girlfriend for 37 years. Having you watch me while I was a little girl so mom could bring in some extra money, sleep over at your house, go to mass and breakfast at the diner every Sunday... I thank you for spending so much time with me while I was young and how you continued to look after me even as a young adult, your wisdom formed and molded me into someone I am proud of.

I want to thank you for going places with me when nobody else wanted to...for waiting for me to get done work on Fridays so I wouldn't drive to the seashore alone....for treating me to lunch at Friendly's so many times....for the breakfasts at IHOP (you loved that rootie tootie fresh and fruity pancakes and the funnel cakes) You always had powdered sugar on your lips!
I want to thank you for raising my mom to be the woman I most admire today. The fact that you opened up a neighborhood store back in the day when women just stayed home with their little ones, showed an independent spirit....now all the women in our family somehow have their own niche to share with the world.

I want to thank you for Sunday dinners at your house, and Monday soup night pick-ups for all the working family to come and pick up your homemade soup....You constantly thought of how to make your family's life easier.

When Gramps died, I know you died too. You loved him so much and your passion for life diminished. That's what happens to a broken heart....but you never wanted to be a burden to any of us...and you watched as grandchildren married and gave you great-grandchildren. You now had a new reason to live!

I was there with you through it all. You were beyond a mere Grandmom. You were my Girlfriend...I loved putting blush on you in the hospital and barrettes in your hair. I loved how even the Sunday before God called you home you were modeling your look for the "camera".

We did so much together. Being roomates, I could hear you prayers at night. You never ever stopped praying for me. You called me everyday and got sad when you didn't see me for more than 3 days. It helps we lived so close.

Grandmom, you were SUPER GLUE...always holding our Italian crew together...telling us to overlook each other's faults and just be happy in the moment. You always brought back memories of your days growing up and what real sacrifice and commitment and love of family meant. I honor those stories of the old days...maybe that's why I always feel like I don't belong in this generation but in yours...when respect and joy for the smallest things took precedence over matieral gain.

I miss you. You know that. Your death was not the way you wanted. None of us did. You fought and struggled right till the end. When I finally told you to go to sleep, your breathing and restlessness started to fade....We kept vigil over you for 3 days and that final night we watched as the Full Moon came out and your soul finally went home to Jesus.

We sang old Italian songs and reminisced about times shared with you. I have so much more to share with you...will you still be able to hear me?

Can you see me where you are?

We had a very special bond...does it still exist while you are in heaven? Please say it does.

You know I love you, Grandmom. I'll see you in my dreams...I'll pray to you for strength and wisdom and courage...and to do the right thing everyday.

Be my friend forever as I will be yours.
Love,

A Stroll through NEWTOWN, PA

One of the huge advantages of living where I do, is that I am only a few miles from some many historic and quaint areas of Bucks County.

I spent the day strolling through historic NEWTOWN, PA - a mere 11 minutes from my house.

Newtown is considered one of the oldest small town in America with homes dating back to the pre-revolutionary war days.

How would you like to live in an apartment dating back to 1743?

I asked my Godmother, Aunt Anna, to join me as it was her birthday!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Anna!

Our first stop was The Zebra Striped Whale, a local confectionery and ice cream parlor.


Talk about EYE CANDY!!!!


I decided to order a very healthy breakfast...- NOT! I went for the
ELVIS CREPE: Ready? It's a sweet homemade crepe made right there on the spot filled with sweet cream ice cream, caramelized bananas, peanut butter, rolled in whipped cream and sprinkled with Butterfingers on top. Oh Yeah Kashi, step aside!

Someone Pinch Me!

Do Not Disturb. I am having a moment with my crepe!
Can't. Speak. I'm in Heaven!

BEFORE
Where have you been all my life, you sexy crepe?

Still. Eating. Savoring this magic moment.

AFTER
ahhhh, thank ya...thank ya very much, Elvis!
Elvis Crepe has left the plate...and is in my belly.

This is what we saw as we exited the building. Stop Taunting us!!!




Our Next Stop as we digested paradise, was a little shop owned by two sisters called THE NEST

Colorful Autumn Displays

Whole store smelled wonderful with a myriad of candle scents

We spent a really nice 2 hours strolling the streets and window shopping. My favorite window was this one, from Zebra Striped Whale.
Love the colors!

Thanks for stopping bye!
xoxox

My Grandmom is my Girlfriend

Bad news today. My 89 year old spunky grandmom will be admitted once again into the hospital tonite. She is now dehydrated from complications of Diverticulitis.

This will be her 8th or 9th trip to the hospital in the last 6 months. It's hard to let go of someone you love so much and watch them slip away further into bad health. Grandmom is the glue that holds my extended family together.

When I was a kid, I heard stories of how her and my grandfather ran a corner grocery store in the "old Italian neighborhood" of Philadelphia. She got to know the people in the area very well, often letting her heart lead the business instead of her financial sense...a loaf of bread here and a bit of meat there to anyone who may need it.

Grandmom is the first generation born in this country. Her mom, Sebestianna, immigrated at 16 leaving her family behind in Sicily. She came to this country at the request of her older brother's hopes of marrying his friend, Giuseppe. The arranged marriage took place and my Grandmom and her brother were the first of the children to be born into this country.

When I think of Grandmom, I don't think of that soft spoken white-haired bun old lady knitting scarves in a rocking chair.

Instead, I think of a woman who loved to work and be independent...taking walking trips to the grocery store (never drove), making meals for her working grown children to pick up at her house during the week. Monday was Chicken Soup during the winter or Summer Stew in the Summer. She made the standard "Grandmom pound cake" with homemade chocolate frosting for each and every birthday....there were a lot of birthdays too.

She worked in the dietary department at the local hospital, putting trays together for the diabetic patients. She worked at the sandwich counter at K-Mart in the 70's.

She made me jello when I was sick and always provided a place to stay when my parents were away on a trip. In my 20's her and my Gramp moved only a few blocks from my childhood home so taking a walk to Grandmom's on any given night was typical. We would watch Wheel of Fortune together or Entertainment Tonite.

She loved watching the Country Music Awards and could tell you anything you wanted to know about the country singer's families....like they were her own kids.

When my Grandpop Angelo died 16 years ago, so did her heart. "My Angelo" she would often begin her talk to him at night before going to sleep..hoping his spirit would stay with her as she gave him the play by play on the day's events.

She would watch the Eagles football games with the guys often getting just as upset as they were when a play didn't go well.

When I went through my nervous collapses during my 20's my grandmom's quiet house was a place I sought out serenity....She would often rock back and forth on the chair and tell me to "Pull myself together and be strong". Those words I keep in my essence when I feel myself slipping on the worry train.

My grandmom never ever wants to hear anything bad about anybody she knew. IT isjust a no-no. No gossip, no ill-tempers. To her, everyone has their good/bad traits and it just isn't acceptable to bring the bad to the forefront....she only chooses to see the good.

I'll write more about Grandmom later but for anyone reading this today, please keep her and my family in your prayers. She's such a treasure to me.