Daddy

The photo is my all time favorite baby pic of me and my dad happened to be part of it. Lucky me!

Today would have been Dad's 82nd birthday. When Kris & Nikki were toddlers and we went to celebrate Dad's birthday in Chinatown, they were always in costume since it was the day before Halloween. When I think about it now..I wonder what my father thought about that. I think he just took it in stride like everything else. :-)

6 Years of Vacation - Over!

My first day at a new job. Odd to be happening at this age but then that is life. Full of surprises!

I am required to wear uniformed colors: black & khaki in some variation. As anyone who knows me, I am NOT a khaki kind of gal. I can't seem to pull it off without looking somewhat "butchy" - (How does Kathy do it? She always looks cool and pulled together in her khakis.) But for those who can't even imagine it...this is the best I could do...for now...:-)



I love Michael's. It is my kind of store. Part of my brain knew that there was lots to learn. They have thousands of items but for some reason I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. To feast my eyes on all the creative supplies that only fuel my artistic center. I hoped they would gently edge me in. Perhaps stocking a few departments so I get to know where everything is. This particular location is huge. Their scrapbooking department is at least 6 aisles! I am happy that it is in a strip mall so I can drive there and park.

When I was old enough to count correctly and deemed responsible by my mother, she taught me the register at the family's store. A very basic cash register where you punched the amount of the item and "rung" it up. I remember so clearly my mother teaching me to count backwards in giving out change. To always leave the bills out on top of the cash tray so the customer couldn't say they gave me some other denomination. And to always say "Thank You" after each transaction. This has been a pet peeve of mine: Cashiers who don't do any of these things any more. Registers are programmed now to show how much change to give out. How many times has something gone wrong and the "change" is not shown and the cashier is frozen! There's never a calculator around which I always found amusing that they even needed a calculator to figure things out. But not saying "Thank You" is a real sin.

On my first day, as I knew would happened...I was placed at the registers. Total "baptism by fire". I had about 10 minutes of training before I went "solo". Chris, the manager who showed me the basics, is so kind, patient and very encouraging which made my first day, crazy as it were, better than I expected. At the very least, he made me want to return instead of quitting. Except for a half hour break, I was standing at the registers for 6 hours and always busy.

My schedule has been sporadic. So far, only a couple of days each week which works for me! This might change and I can only go along for the ride and see where it takes me. In the meantime, I am wearing khaki's and not cringing!

Walking for Lulu P.S.

I just had to have this added here. A photo taken by Marianne of me and my beautiful & wonderful girl!

Walking for Lulu 2011

Hard to believe that a whole year has gone by and this year, the Memory Walk is renamed "Walk to End Alzheimer". Last year, we walked in support of Marianne's mother, "Lulu"...Louise who suffered from Alzheimer. This year, it was walking to honor Lulu who passed away in April.

Nikki once again joined me and after our VIP breakfast, we went in search of Marianne and our team "Walking for Lulu". The layout was slightly different this year but we finally found everyone. Marianne had hoodies made up with an embroidered "Walking for Lulu" emblem designed by her cousin, Lorraine. She also had baseball caps and key chains made up.


Nikki ready to walk

Marianne won a prize for top individual fund raiser (over $15,000) and received a digital camcorder. We're all pretty proud of her but then she has always been an over achiever...one of the things I love about her.


Marianne accepting her prize

Once again, she and John, her husband, hosted a luncheon afterwards and outdid themselves. This year: a mountain of different sandwiches on various breads, pasta salads, grilled eggplant, zucchini, asparagus, roasted potatoes, sushi, hot chicken wings, grilled chicken breasts, couscous salad, fruit and cheese platter and an antipasto platter.

I didn't take as many photos as I did last year because I actually forgot! Nikki and I enjoyed getting to know her cousins, Iggy and Valerie and of course, enjoyed the food and a slew of desserts, many of which Marianne made. Unfortunately I couldn't partake but it was fun to look at. And to teased Marianne (as only someone who has known her forever could) that she couldn't possibly have created the wonderful sweets! (Chocolate lollipops in memory bow shape, rice krispie treats on a stick,etc)

After almost 40 years of friendship...when I look at Marianne, I still see a 16 year old girl who took me for my first Whopper and that will probably never change. We will always be 16!! :-)


My friend and me in our hoodies

Peace

Last night I had to say my final goodbye to a friend.



Jane at the beach

When I worked at Home Lines Cruises at the World Trade Center, my immediate boss was Michael Ford who later became my business partner when we started CSI Tour Planners. Mike and I worked together at Home Lines for 6 1/2 years and in all that time, I never knew he had a brother. His sister, Kathy used to call all the time so I knew of her. Only when we opened our business, I met Allie. Allie had 2 children, Pam & Alfie who were college-age at the time and we hired them to work for us, meeting and greeting passengers at the airport. Allie came up to the office to visit quite often and with the kids working for us, I got to know them all well and considered them "family".

Allie & Jane

When Mike was dying in the hospital and I went to see him in ICU, basically for the last time, I had brought Nikki (5 1/2 at the time) and will never forget Pam befriending my shy daughter and keeping her company while I dealt with an extremely sad situation. My wonderful daughter accompanied me last night to also pay her respects.

Pam is the sweetest girl with the sweetest mother, Jane. I have to admit that I didn't know Jane as well as the rest of the family but whatever I knew of her and whenever I saw her at functions or events, she was simply the nicest of people. But I knew the apple didn't fall from the tree and Pam always spoke so lovingly of her mom, I knew her without knowing her.

So having "grown up" with Pam...watching her graduate, going through various boyfriends, getting engaged and married and then becoming a mother herself...of three...it's a lifetime of a relationship. The "Ford" family is very near and dear to my heart. Mike came to me to become a partner in business at the perfect time in my life. Nikki was just about to start school and since we were based in Queens making my time flexible, I was allowed to be active in Nikki's early school years.


Pam & Don's beautiful family

Abby, Cali Rae and Ben

Jane was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 10 years ago and at the time, I remembered hoping that Jane would make it long enough to see Pam married and when she did, then I hoped that she would be around for her grandchildren. She was apparently given 2 years and had 10. She was able to know her 6 grandchildren and they certainly got to know her.




With Alfie

Her son, Alfie gave a wonderful, funny and emotional speech at the end of the night. He thanked everyone for the support his family has received and then went on to praise his mom in the most eloquent and loving way. I can almost see Jane looking down, blushing but being so proud of her children. As she should be - she did a great job in the Mother department. The most difficult job there is. Jane fought a long and hard battle but she accomplished what she wanted - to know her babies' babies. We will miss you. Be at Peace, Jane.


The boys: Charlie, Ben & AJ
The girls: Cate, Cali Rae & Abby


The last moments

(Photos from Pam's collection)

A Perfect Place

I am a bit surprised that I have never mentioned my father's final resting place. It's a monastery in Carmel, NY in the Hudson Valley. It is the most peaceful and serene of settings.

When my grandmother passed away in Vancouver, my parents went to pick up her remains but were not sure how to handle the whole procedure. In the end, someone recommended cremation and they were able to carry her ashes back to NY. A friend of my parents suggested the monastery which at the time, was virtually a new establishment. It houses the largest Buddha in North America and when I first saw it, it was sitting out in the elements. They had to construct the building around it.





The ashes are kept in an area called The Thousand Lotus Memorial Terrace. Since my grandmother was interred there, another section was built which is where my father is.






It's all done by lottery. When we went to make the arrangements for my father, we were to pick out a slip of paper from a large jar. As it were, the spot was excellent. Second section, fifth column in, second from the bottom. As we signed the papers, a white butterfly flitted around us. I have to admit, I didn't see it but Kathy did and ever since, I see white butterflies at the strangest time. Usually upstate around the area where my dad would take his walks. I rarely see them in Queens but the day I got my new car, it happened so quickly I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. But as I drove my beloved Eclipse to the dealer for the final exchange, I came to a red light and a white butterfly landed on my side mirror. It was so odd to see but I knew right then, my dad was giving his "thumbs up".

They hold 2 ceremonies a year for the placement of the ashes and when it was time for my dad's...there were thousands of people since we all had to wait for the new "wing" to be built. There's a ritual. After the blessings, one family member picks up the urn and carries it to it's final resting place. With so many people, again, it was a lottery system as to where you would be in line. My mom reached in and came up with number 1! My dad hated waiting around during events. He didn't have the patience. So this was so amazingly "just". As in "just like my dad". As soon as I placed him in his spot, we could leave. While the 100th person had to stay and wait his/her turn.

Kathy, Tony & I try to go twice a year...around Father's Day and then in October which is his birthday month. We were just there. As soon as we enter the grounds, there's always a feeling of: Calm. Beauty. Enlightenment.