Its been a while since i last posted.  that was on the occasion of the death of my Father and his sister three weeks later.  In the interim I have been to Sacramento for a Canon Law meeting.  that was immediately preceded by a visit to Paula's aunt who works at Wente Wineries. After Sacramento i was in Belgium for to continue the pursuit of myJCL.
However, this past weekend was the attendance at the celebration of the ordination of a friend, Greg Thompson, to the Order of Deacons.  Attending ordinations always brings back memories of one's own.  Mine was 27 1/2 years ago.  The music was different, so was the place but the ancient tradition remains and always serves to call you back to the center.
While i could not see much (because I was seated behind a pillar) I sensed the presence of God's spirit in the laying on of hands, the intonation of the Litany of Saints with its humbling posture of postration, and the handing of the Book of the Gospels.  The words that accompany this are profound and challenging.  "Receive the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose herald you now are, believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach"
To those  I have ministered to and heralded Jesus to i thank you for the privilege. To those  to whom i have failed to herald Christ, I am sorry for my fault.
To Greg- Ad Multos Annos,   (to many years)
To All- Pax Vobiscum  (peace be with you_

October 4, 2013 A Generation Gone

The last  input I made was after the death of my father.  It's been a while.  But this week his youngest sister succumbed to two cancers. Her death brings an end to a generation of Laurita's.

There were three offspring of Donato and  Maria.  They set foot on the US shore with my father in arm as a 3 month old (I learned  that he was the youngest Italian immigrant to pass through Ellis Island).
They were sponsored by my grandmother's  ex- brother in law.  Maria was married before and had already been to the US and had a son.  Her first husband and son died in the Great Influenza Epidemic of 1918.  She returned to Italy and there met my grandfather in the village of Pietragalla.
Once back with her  new husband and newborn son they settled in Corona, New York. An Italian immigrant community in Queens, NY.
There the begot Mary and Antoinette.  My aunt mary died from breast cancer many years ago while I was still in high school. Antoinette was the youngest.  My first memory of her was visiting her while she worked as a seamstress at a dress making sweat shop on Corona Avenue.  She was a vibrant  lady.  As i posted before she was the Aunt who took me to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas show of 1958.   I thought she was a "woman of the world" because she  knew her way around Manhattan.  There is a picture of her and my mother sitting at a table at the famed Copacabana, cigarettes in hand, dressed up and partaking of something alcoholic. She taught me to do both the lindy hop and the cha cha.  ( this was back when  couples actually danced)
Annette married " later" to Joe Paesano, a brick mason. For the majority of their life they lived in a two bedroom apartment in Whitestone NY.  Their first children were twin boys, JOSEPH and STEPHAN. Followed by two girls LISA and RENEE.
When ever I was home on leave we would visit. Coffee was made, cake was eaten.
She was always present at the family gathering.  She made sure that "she made a  plate for Uncle Joe".
She danced at my wedding(s).
She was an avid poker player long before poker was televised, while Uncle Joe "played the ponies".
But she always had her prayer cards.
As the Laurita progenitors are laid to west, the wave of one's own mortality looms larger and larger.
The Church says in its funeral prayers "life had not ended, rather life has changed" because the  Perpetual Light of Christ is always before us.
Requiesat in pace Donato and Maria;  Joseph, Mary and Antoinette!

September 6-13, 2013 Word images of my father!

Blue cotton work clothes
Black garrison belt around his waist.
Hands stained with oil and grease.

Always at work
McGrottey Chevrolet in the day
Backyard garage into the night.

Saturday morning up early
Donuts, bagels in a sack
Daily news read from front to back.

Friends that use him
Past that haunts
Present unappreciated.

Host to cousins, uncles and aunts
Feasts provided year in and year out
Hospitable to all at the door.

September 5, 2013 High Holy Days

Today marks the first of the two days of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, soon it will be Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.  These are the High Holy Days.
In my youth, school started the day after Labor Day, soon the High Holy Days would commence.  Our Jewish schoolmates and teachers would get off from school.  Since they made up almost half of the school population we would have "bring a board  game to school days" just to occupy our time.  As a result I always thought that the beginning of the school year was a fun time.
We lived in a more "religiously tolerant" time.  Those were the days of religious respect, not religious opposition.  Any way happy New Year!

September 1, 2013 Passing Pets

This was a bad week.  My son's dog succumbed to, as a yet unknown, toxin.  My aching heart has been remembering other pets.  My first dogs were the Old English Sheepdogs Ginseng and Rosehips.
Ginseng, I lost in a divorce.  Rosehips accompanied me to Belgium.  We were staying with a friend who lived on a country road.  While working Rosehips got out of the house and was run over by a tractor.  I buried her on a farm in Belgium.
After the boys were born we got Corie, a Chocolate Lab, who came with us from Pennsylvania to Alabama. Corie was with us for 14 years until she came down with a sarcoma.  We kept her comfortable for six months but finally we had to give her up.
Now we  lost Caesar, my son John's Bernese Mountain Dog.
Dogs are great friends but when they leave us with our hearts broken and tears in our eyes.
To Rosehips, Corie and Caesar you are always in my memory.

 

August 24, 2013 Cocktail after thoughts

Went to a dinner the other night that paired  hand crafted cocktails with the five course meal.
Both cocktails and food were great but it got me remembering about cocktails.
Growing up it seemed like prominent  cocktails were either a Tom Collins or a Highball.  I remember when ever my parents were expecting guests we would go to the beverage store and get Tom Collins mix and soda water. In college years there was either  the ubiquitous rum and coke or Seven and Seven.  The army years were filled with Jack Daniels and Ginger ale. There was brief episode with Harvey Wallbangers but that did not end well.  Then there was the Campari and soda phase, in homage to my Italian roots since it was an acquired taste not shared by many.  Most recently ( years ago actually) I found the classic Manhattan which has become my staple as long as there are three cherries to give honor to the Most Holy Trinity.

August 21, 2013 brotherly memories

Today is my brother Tom's 60th Birthday.  I actually remember when he was brought home from the hospital.  I was 5 years old and remember my Mom placing him on the kitchen table.  The table  was red formica topped  with a chrome border.   Tom is a self made man whom i admire for his integrity.
He is generous with his time, his talent and his treasures.