Sunday, June 28, 2009

Picture's and story to honor T.J. McDonagh

T.J. & Jackie the newly weds


T.J. & Carter


T.J. Carter, Christopher, & Russell


Carter who says T.J. is his hero


Maria & Griffin


Nana,Papa, & Carter


Russell & Barb


Aunt Joan & Carter


Prayers and support for a young man shipping out to Iraq.

My wife's Brother and Sister-in-Law Russell and Joan Luzzi have a Nephew whose name is T.J. McDonagh. Yesterday we went to a cookout and party for T.J. for two reasons. First to celebrate his marriage to his girlfriend Jackie and second to give him a send off as he gets ready to ship out to Iraq.

T.J. and Jackie were married on Thursday and on July 5 he will be going to New Jersey for a couple of weeks of orientation before being shipped off to Iraq. T.J. is a true soldier, he has already served in Afghanistan and is now going to be serving in Iraq.

The cookout was a very nice afternoon, lots of family and friends there to celebrate his wedding and to say their goodbyes before he leaves.

Our Carter just adores T.J., he loves him but he also loves his Monster Truck. LOL Friday night Carter said Mommy is it tomorrow we are going to T.J.'s party and she said yes it is, he said T.J. is a soldier and he is my hero. T.J. you are not only Carter's hero you are all of the people who were there to honor you, our hero also.

This is our prayer for T.J.:

Almighty and everlasting God, grant T.J. and all our soldiers the strength to carry out their duties. Give them courage and endurance each day as they use their skills to overcome obstacles.When they are weak, be their strength, if they are tired, remind them to look to you so that they can mount up with wings like eagles, run and not get tired, walk and not get weary.

Lord, stand beside T.J. and his fellow soldiers and give them the courage, strength, and skill. O grant them peace of heart and mind and Lord please comfort the loved ones that they are leaving behind. Lord hear our prayers, Amen

Always remember these men and women serve and fight so that we may be safe and free.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Thanks to my lovely wife Joan for a great Father's Day weekend

Thanks to Joan for a lot of hard work and planning to make this a wonderful Father's Day weekend for me.

Christopher was here for a week, he spent the week at his Aunt Barb's as Joan had to work. She picked him up Friday afternoon and we went out to eat at Panera Bread, one of Christopher's favorite places to eat. Then him and Joan went to the movies and had a good time. Saturday afternoon we took him to meet his Grandmother Marion on the turnpike as he went home. Saturday evening Joan brought out my gifts, I said you couldn't wait until tomorrow and she said no. She knew I was out of my favorite Polo by Ralph Lauren products so she gave them to me first and then she really gave me a great gift, a twenty inch computer moniter, with the flat screen and we hooked it up, wow what a difference. She knows I spend a lot of time on the computer so it was a wonderful upgrade for me.

Then Sunday, Father's Day I knew Barb, Griffin, and Carter were coming and lo and behold I had no clue that Martha, Jimmy, Anita, & Jessica were coming as it is a struggle for Martha to get ready and make the trip over from Sebring but they did and it really made my Father's Day an extra special treat. Joan worked her tail off to make sure every thing was great, great food, great dessert. We had a great day.

Jimmy, Jessica, and Anita, I am so grateful for all the Love and care you do for Martha. She needs a lot of attention and you guys give it to her. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do for her.

Dad & Daughter


Barb, Martha, & Griffin


Griffin, Carter & Christopher


Carter


Anita & Griffin


Jimmy & Jessica


Martha & Griffin


Great Company, Great Food


Monday, June 15, 2009
















My Father's Day tribute to my Dad

A Father's Day Tribute:

My Father was born in Cass, West Virginia in 1905.He was a very smart man but he did not like school, and he grew restless in the small town of Cass so lo and behold at the age of 15 he ran away and joined the Navy. His parents thought he had just ran away and did not know at first that he had joined the Navy.When they found out his Mother wanted to tell the authorities and have him sent home but his Father said no, that's what he wants to do so leave him in there.

In those days the motto of the Navy was join the Navy and see the world. And that is just what he did. Here was this young boy from the mountains of West Virginia who had never even been out of the state and he was in places like Italy, Greece, Spain, Hawaii, etc. I have always tried to imagine just what that must have like for him.

He loved the Navy, served his 4 years and reenlisted, one time while at sea he got very sick, in those days when you got sick on ship you just had to go to sick bay and wait until the ship docked in some port. Turned out he had tuberculosis, from which he never fully recovered. He got a medical disability discharge and from that time on was on disability. When I was a young boy I remember him going back and forth to the TB sanitarium, when we would go visit him we would have to wear a mask.

So him and my Mom had reversed roles, she worked and he stayed home and took care of the house.

Because the only life he ever knew was the military he was a strict disciplinarian, every thing had to be done just right, if I did my chores and he wasn't satisfied it was do it over until it was right. He made sure that I respected my elders, my teachers, people in authority, etc. You had better say thank you, please, yes sir, no sir, etc. or you paid the consequences. I am sure there were times when I thought he was to tough but in hind sight it helped shape my life.

He passed away when I was 12 or I am sure I could have learned a lot more from him. In so many ways he was ahead of his time in the way he thought, he had ideas about things he talked about that didn't happen until many years later.

As I get older holidays and special occasions mean a lot more to me than they used to and for some reason with Father's Day coming up I have thought a lot more about him this year, probably more than I ever have before.

Not in all cases but probably more than not, those of us whose Father's are no longer with us, I imagine in hind sight most of us realize our Father's were more to us than we realized as we were growing up.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Fun with kids under the age of 7, and kids over the age of 70
















Awhile ago I sent a list of things to do to help you stay young. Two of the things on the list were to spend time with kids under the age of 7 and kids over the age of 70. Joan and I did just that this past weekend. On Saturday we had a great time visiting with Carter and Griffin. As usual I think we had more fun than the kids did.










Griffin is doing good, he is up to about 9 pounds now. He just loves to be held and Papa just loves to hold him. LOL And of course spending time with Carter is always a blast, he is energy plus and just loves to have fun. A great visit for sure.






We have a dear friend Carol Goldstine who is 86 years young and loves to have fun. She lives in a beautiful assisted living place called La Posada in Palm Beach Gardens. She is surrounded by lots of people around her age group who also like to have fun, and have fun they do.






For the third year in a row they put on a great show directed by a lady named Ethel Bennett.She was an actress, model, vocal coach, and starred in shows on Broadway. She is now retired and living in La Posada. The cast is made up of the residents of La Posada. We were lucky enough to see the show last year and again this year, on Sunday we went to see their version of a show they did called Broadway- Our Way.






It was wonderful, they did a song called Whoopie and with their rendition it was hilarious. They did songs from the King and I, Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma, etc. The costumes were beautiful. Sunday night was the third night in a row they put on this very strenuous show and they were still going strong at the end.






So remember it is a great idea to spend time with kids under 7 and kids over 70, both age groups make you feel wonderful.