Christmas is Past

Christmas Day a dear lady passed away suddenly. Sally had been ill and was fighting it with such courage but was taken suddenly Christmas Morning.

My sister phrased it perfectly, she said that Sally passed away early Christmas morning. She didn't suffer long, and for that we are grateful. She was our birthday gift to Jesus this year.

Sally will be dearly missed by all her family members. Her family will rally and give strength and support to each other. They are also a close knit family and will find the strength and courage to move forward.

I was able to go to LaSalette last night and attend mass and go into the Chapel and light a candle for her.

May you all be able to find some sense of peace and comfort int he coming days ahead.

Tuesday December 15th

Merry Christmas One and All!

I just got home form my first of three parties that I will be attending this week. As you all remember I am a Christmas person and could keep the music going all year round. So on that note, from one who loves the holidays, I was sent this wonderful thought for the day from my good friend Linda. Here it is:

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." Calvin Coolidge

That sums it all up nicely for me.

Ho Ho Ho

Good Night...

Holiday Parties

Hi Everyone,

'Tis the season of Holiday Parties. Oh what fun can and should be had by one and all.

I want to let everyone know the Quincy Quilt is now at the Kennedy Senior Center in Quincy. They had it in time for their Christmas Party. What an unveiling it was, they had one hundred and fifty folks there for holiday festivities which included a wonderful meal and entertainment. Thanks go out to Carole Costello who I know will keep a close eye on the quilt. When we opened it up there we both smiled and commented on what a beautiful quilt it is. I am pleased it has finally found a home where it will be appreciated.

I have just finished making ten pounds of Mrs. Fay's Christmas Fudge. I have two Christmas Parties this week to attend and will be cutting it all up and giving it away. My goal Monday is to mail the out of state presents so they will not be caught up in the rush of mail being handled this season.

My tree is up and lit. I still have to get motivated and get everything else hung so the house will be fully decorated. We have a pot of chili and a hearty soup simmering on the stove top so my house smells really good right now.

Take time and make sure you enjoy the Christmas Season, it is not all about the hustle and bustle, it is about family friends and loved ones. I took time today to visit Nancy at her house and was glad I did. I plan on making time to visit with other close friends in the next week or two.

I count my blessings every day for all that I have.

Merry Christmas!


ps Larry sez Woof!

Holidays

Hello All,

Life has been so busy, where does the time go? So much to be done these days that fitting it all in is not an easy task. I have my tree up but not decorated. All my Christmas decorations are still in the attic. I have been enjoying my Christmas music in the car though. I find some songs make me smile and others bring tears to my eyes. So many memories, so many family members not here to enjoy them with us. I know they are with us in spirit though, they would be proud of all that we have accomplished.

I am thankful for my family and there love. I pray for those with health issues to have faith and remember we are not alone.

I am looking forward to Christmas Eve when all the Tringali Clan can will be together again. We will take the traditional picture of all the grandkids and great grandkids on the stairs in Susan's house. Larry and Dot will make our traditional yummy eggnog and toast to those who are not with us. They may be gone but will never be forgotten. Santa will be arriving and handing out small presents to all the kids too. It will be fun to watch the next generation carry on this tradition.

I hope for all who I care dearly for to have fun preparing for the holidays.

Merry Christmas to one and all.

Eve of Thangsgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I have lot to be thankful for.

I have my health. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and supports me unconditionally. I have my kids Ian, Cara and Tim, whom I am so very proud of. I am thankful for being brought back together with a childhood friend Terri, her family and adorable grandchild Ben. We have been apart for many years but have quickly closed that gap. I love her and her family and will not let them slip away from us again. To be able to drop in at her house and visit and talk, I feel at home and know I am welcomed. It's a gift that she has.

I am also thankful for my YaYa Sisters - you know who you are. I know that we are there for each other for the good times and bad and every possible emotion in between. We can call each other up and say we just heard a special song that made us laugh or cry or think of each other and have them laugh and understand. Or to just say we just saw the Cardinals again and all is well.

I am thankful for my family and extended family. My parents are looking down on us and must be so happy to see that we are an even closer knit group now more than ever. We are there for each other at all times. I am thankful for now being able to live life more easily, by that I mean to be able to go into clients homes and give them the personal care and companionship that they need.

I'm thankful to be free enough to find yourself awake at four AM and say "Hey are you awake? Let's go do a sunrise shoot". I'm thankful to have a my camera and new lens that will let me get up close and personal and is so much fun. I am thankful for the house I live in, for the food on the table, a warm house and electricity when so many others around us are struggling to make it these days.

Tomorrow, while sitting at the dinner table and before we start to eat. we will follow a Fay Tradition. We'll all hold hands at the table, Larry will say a blessing and we will each say something that we are grateful for. This moment is always very moving for me. It touches my heart very deeply and has been known to make me teary eyed with love and pride for all who are sitting at my table. I consider myself a good person, one who like everyone else is pulled in many directions, but I pride myself in doing the right thing, in following through with my promises as time allows. I have and will always stand behind my word. I take great pride in that. People who question your integrity usually don't have much of it themselves.

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving Folks. I have to start making my pies now.

Sorrow

Morning,

It is interesting how each and every one of us deal with the passing of a loved one.

A loss touches your heart, leaves an almost empty hollowness deep inside you. Death effects each and every one of us so differently. Some plow through it methodically, staying strong for others but yet dealing with our loss privately, but when our guard is down and that someone hugs you at a certain moment your guard goes down and you suddenly cry so deeply it is hard to stop. We all have someone who can see right through us, who we can lean on, who will help hold us together and who will never forget. God Bless them for being there for us.

So today I ask that each and everyone of you you reach out to someone, a relative, a friend or neighbor and let them know you care. We all leave our mark in this world, let it not be that you are remembered for not being able to forgive, but to be able to forget or put aside any problems. A very dear well loved lady had to find the strength to say good bye to her husband yesterday. It cuts right through to my heart, I felt her pain and agony, but I know in my heart it was right to do, but it does not make it any easier. This lady and I mean true lady will be strong as always, she will help others deal with the pain and struggle. I care so deeply for her and I will be the best person I can to be there for her as much as she has been for me.

This gentle man is at peace, he may be gone but he will never be forgotten.

Monday November 9th

Hello All,

It has been a while since I posted last and I have been told by two people to get my act together, so here I am doing just that.

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is so near. I have so much to be thankful for. I have my health, my family has their health, we have a warm house with a roof over our heads and food on the table-life is good. Larry and I have been busy out taking pictures and enjoying life. To have the time to actually just hop in the car and head out on a moments moment is very freeing. I find if we are awake before a sunrise we both look at each other and say lets go and see what we can capture for a sunrise shot. I now keep my camera bag with me at all times because I have two clients who live out near the salt marshes in Quincy and I have enjoyed watching the color of them change from week to week. It is funny how I see the world differently now. I view it with my eyes wide open, I think of it as a new canvas so to speak. I see it as how it would look in a photograph. It is like seeing for the first time. I feel like a little kid and get all giddy when I see something and just have to pull over and capture it with my camera.

Do not take life for granted ladies and gentlemen, life is precious, love and enjoy life as if it were your last day. Do not take it for granted.

As you can tell, I am so very happy, I am doing well, my back is better, I am out walking a lot now and am looking forward to the holidays. I will be putting the turkey in the oven soon and then can officially start playing Christmas Music! Yeah me!

Enjoy the Holidays.