Pardon my absence.  Recently I've been having a little bit of writer's block or something similar.  To be truthful, it's not "writer's" block; but more like BLOCK in general.  It's hard for me to move forward, be productive.  Maybe I'm in some kind of hibernation mode like a big momma bear.

Lately I've been thinking about "things I miss":
TV show Frasier (which reminds me that I also miss my previous mastery of the spoken word--seems my brain can't come up with the same words it used to.......I REALLY miss that);

Telephones that you could hold to your head with your shoulder and do something else with your hands while not being afraid you'd disconnect the call with your cheek;

the busy-ness of clacking typewriters;

the smell of roasting turkey (where did that go???);

feeling like just a human rather than a potential criminal doing anything related to the government (mailed a package lately at the Post Office?  TSA??  enter a government building recently??);

the joy that worry free carefree snow days bring  and so on.  We've all got 'em.  As wonderful as our world is today sometimes little things get lost on the road to improvement.

1988

Things that make me smile:

sun glistening off clean snow;

normal dinnertime with everyone around the table;

dry leaves skittering across the yard;

sleeping kitties and any other number of "normal" everyday occurrences (see above).  Some days it's hard to remember what there is to smile at so I sometimes check out this website of awesome things.  It has a daily listing of average everyday things that make people happy.  It's a great reminder on days when it's easy to forget the awesome-ness all around us. 

Ready or Not for 2011

2011 has arrived, ready or not (much like most of life's other events).  We spent the evening with Linda,  Scott and Drew.  Dick Clark was hanging in there until the ball dropped, so I figured that was the least I could do as well. 

On New Year's Day Linda took us for a little scenic tour of Sayville.  It was a lovely little ride leaving me looking forward to further forays into the history and beauty of the area.  On our way home, we stopped to visit with Aunt Rose, Uncle Lou and Diana.  They looked great and we had a nice little visit.  I'm very glad we stopped!

Long Island Maritime Museum grounds.  Jan 1 2011

And what New Year post would be complete without a shout out to Kathleen:  Happy Birthday!

1993

Anniversaries

This is the blog's 3rd anniversary!  It's been easier than anticipated to keep this current and entertaining (at least for me if not for you!).  Anniversaries and New Year's celebrations are examples of times for reflection.  I don't know about you, but whenever I find myself looking back over the past year, I shake my head at the events flying past my mind's eye as if in cinemascope.  And then I shake my head again wondering what the next 12 months will bring. 

Best wishes to you all in 2011--especially Lindsay and Jesse as well as Brian and Monet.  Another wedding from days past especially for our engaged couples:

I hope everyone had a great Christmas weekend.  We missed you all very much ("Three French Hens" --James, Kathy and I), but it was nice to have our own unhurried Christmas right here.  I don't know how long it has been since we've been here for Christmas Day!  We were fortunate enough to have Amy here as well as my sisters Kathy and Paula.  Our table didn't look quite like this one, but close enough!

The weather prevented us from traveling as we planned.  It occurred to me that feeling kind of far away and separated by forces beyond my control must be similar to the feelings families separated by immigration must feel.  Nothing close to the real thing, I'm certain, but just enough to remind me that families have been separated by circumstance throughout history and yet are able to maintain a certain closeness and familiarity by virtue of sharing DNA.  Much easier for us to maintain communication than for our ancestors but that doesn't diminish the desire for face-to-face time!

Hope to see you soon.  Happy Anniversary to Robert and Bobbie.  Happy Birthday in heaven to Aunt Josie this week. 

Deja Vu all over again

What a difference 25 years can make--or maybe not so much.  As I was thinking about this blog post, it occurred to me that Christmas 1985 and Christmas 2010 are very similar for your family.  James and I had just been married and Jake and Lindsay are celebrating their first married Christmas together this year.  Jake was newly born in December of 1985 and Miles and Dylan were born since the last Christmas.  You had recently lost  loved ones Barbara and Uncle Johnny.  Kathleen was visiting in 1985 so she could hold Jake (above).  Nick and she will be travelling north once again to be part of the family celebration. 

We will hope that children will enjoy their gifts as much and that everyone stays safe and healthy.  We are sorry we cannot join you on the holiday this year, but have no fear--we'll be there just a day or two later.

For James and I, this past year has been full of major changes.  Those changes have brought good things to our lives and 2011 will bring big changes to the Dalpiaz clan as well with two weddings on the horizon!

Kathleen, NIck and James have done amazing work helping my sister these last few days.  I hardly know how to thank you appropriately.  The Gift of Family is, indeed, a family gift.

Maria Dalpiaz 1921-2010

Some days I just wander on the internet to see what I can see.  Today I found notice of the death of your grand Aunt Maria Dalpiaz, wife of Rudolfo.  According to Prince Edward Island Deaths, she died peacefully at her daughter Lolita's in Cornwall Prince Edward Island. 

Lolita and her husband James Monthony live in Cornwall and Sonia lives with her husband Peter Stec in Markham Ontario.  It notes she is the last surviving member of her family. 

Here's your grandmother with Mary and Rudolfo.

It's pretty amazing that this is the second such family obituary I have found recently just by kind of wandering through the internet in search of family history tidbits.  The other was for the Irish side and caught me quite by surprise.  Again, I wonder in the magic of the world we live in today.  Seems logical considering the season!

Polenta Primer

I admit I don't know polenta from potash, but there was a bit of recent email conversation about it between siblings.  I've stolen the essence of this conversation for this post.

From Robert: Bobbie and I had a visit with Aunt Rose and Uncle Lou last night. Louis happened to be in town and we had a great time telling old stories. Aunt Rose mentioned that Grandpa had three polenta pots made for each of his children when he was over in Europe. I saw Aunt Rose's. It is heavy copper with a heavy copper handle. I don't remember ever seeing such a pot at Dad's house. Does anyone remember seeing this pot? Does anyone have the pot? I'm just curious. 

By the way, we got some great old recipes from Aunt Rose, including polenta. We will gladly share at Christmas.

 

Of course, this got me looking for copper polenta pot images.  Does Aunt Rose's look something like this?  Somehow I'm guessing NOT.

Then from Jean: I do remember Grandpa bringing a pot when he made polenta at our house on occasion...I don't know if he ever left one. I started a draft of a children's story a while ago about Grandpa...my own 

recollection of him, but I never got much past a draft, but polenta is in there. I am attaching it, rough as it is, since I know I will not get back to that or any other writing any time soon...

Good luck on the pot hunt..well, you know what I mean.

 

 I'm not including Jean's story here as I don't have the author's permission (but nice job!)

 

Kathleen's response: 

What a great story. It is exactly how I remember it. In fact, you remember the pot better than me. I'm sorry you never went any further with it. I liked polenta. Just like Thomas's remembrance of the car racing, it is so good to read someone else's. We should capture these stories for the next generation when we can. Do I sound too sappy?

 

No, Kathleen.  You do not sound too sappy.

 

This web page gave me a great feel for what you remember:  Polenta Traditions and Memories  Enjoy!

 

Happy Birthday shout out to Jake!  And, as Roberto says   A presto (see you soon)