Tis the Season

Tis the season for holiday cards.

Molly was my subject for many of my cards over the years and I honestly haven't made a card or sent out any since then. I mean for myself. I know everyone just can't wait for a picture of me for the holidays. At my age, you can see how much I'm shrinking over the years! That's what I should do, I should get one of those "how big are you cards" and mark myself off over the years. And I don't have to go far to get one, I've received lots of cards over the years for my birthday with the measuring tape in them. Ha ha ha. Yes I'm small, but you all must know that good things come in small packages. I'm just full of goodness.

So how tall will I be in my 90s? Mmmm. I'm 5 foot nothing now, although I haven't checked that in a while. But I'm guessing I'm gonna lose an inch or two? Whada ya think?

From the oldest of my nieces and nephews to the youngest, I have been the comparison mark to how tall they are getting. I'm taller than Aunt Tricia. Aunt Tricia, I think I'm taller than you now. Aunt Tricia, were you always that short? Irene, the oldest of my nieces and nephews who will be, I cannot believe this, 30 this month, always said I'm going to be taller than you Aunt Tricia, I'm going to be tall like Aunt Debbie. My sister Debbie is not tall, just next to me, she's tall. And Irene, well she is pretty much exactly the same size as me. Again good things come in small packages.

Growing up my sister Linda was a big John Denver fan. We all loved his music as well and continue to do so. My brother Bob took her to see him in concert I think two times when she was in her young teens, and he was pleasantly surprised at how much he enjoyed the shows. Can't beat John Denver in my book, he's one of the greats!

One year for Christmas I bought Linda a John Denver t-shirt. Just a small gift, not much money, but boy did I look forward to giving her that present more than anything I have ever given her.

I knew she would love it but I didn't want her to know what it was by just looking at the wrapped box. I wanted to torture her. And I did! I rolled up the t-shirt into the tiniest box it would fit into, wrapped it, and until Christmas morning I would give the box to Linda and have her try and guess what it was. I always had the biggest smile on my face while she was making her guess. She knew it was something she was going to love and was excited but just couldn't figure it out.

She did love the t-shirt, it was yellow and I can still picture her face that Christmas morning when she opened that little box. I can still see her in that yellow t-shirt as it became her favorite and she wore it until it fell apart. And me, well I felt like the greatest sister that Christmas.

I think those are always the best gifts. Big or small. When you buy a gift that you just know is going to make someone you love over the top happy, you feel as good as they will when they open it. How good is that!

So I don't make holiday cards for myself anymore but I do make a holiday card each year for my brother Joey and his kids. Below is a card I designed from a couple of years ago and the kids are smiling in this picture, but we went through many frowns and arguments before we got the smiles. In the end Joey had to scream to get them to calm down and smile. Very stern. SMILE! They laughed! The mood was lightened and we got a great shot.



I took the picture from my MAC. There's a program called Photo Booth which takes pictures and video and gives you lots of different effects to pick from. I used the mirror image effect and then in a print shop program I added the background and tree and then it's hard to see but the tree is inside the tree, inside another tree.

Tis the season, gotta call Joey and get my act together for his holiday card!!!

I Believe. It's Silly, But I Believe

Did something ever happen to you and you're like, wow, this can't be true, what a coincidence. Well, I don't believe in coincidences. I believe. It's silly, but I believe.

What do I believe? Oh too many things to tell you in one post!

My brother Michael used to tell me that I lived in a dream world and I guess I did. I'm glad I did. That dream world is hard to find when you grow up and life slaps you in the face with one thing after another. I'm glad I lived in a dream world where I believed in everything and more important, everyone. And though I don't live there anymore, I visit.

First I must say that Facebook has been a wonderful place where I have been able to connect with so many, so many, I mean it's almost unbelievable, but so many wonderful people who have passed through my life, some for a long stretch, others for a moment only, but they are part of me, part of who am, and they are my friends.

Second, this morning my friend Mary, who I have not seen since 8th grade and is another wonderful person I shared time with in my journey called life, posted a spiritual message on her wall and I then copied it and posted it on my wall. This is it:

Just have to pass this along.... I have so much going on in my life right now... I need a blessing and cant afford to not pay it forward... so here ya go... If you have taken a minute to read this... God has seen YOU struggling with something. God says its over. A blessing is coming your way.... If you believe in God send this message on, please don't ignore it, you are being tested. God is going to fix two things (BIG) tonight in your favor. If you believe in God… drop everything and re-post it. Can't hurt...I Still Believe in Miracles..

Now I don't believe that God is testing me, but I do believe, you may think it's silly but I do believe, that somehow I was meant to copy that post. Hey, I believe in "the force" from the movie Star Wars. I think it's a beautiful message about "the force", we are all combined in some way. Not a coincidence. So I reposted and then my friend Betty, who by the way I probably met once or twice when I was about 10 or so, as she dated my brother Michael when they were teens. Is that a coincidence with the Michael connection? No I don't think so.

So again, I repost and then I'm sitting at my computer and I see that someone commented on a post that Betty posted on her wall. Have I confused you? I hope not, I really want this to be clear, it happened so quickly. Okay, so first I repost Mary's post. Then Betty posts "Breathe" on her wall and her friend Alice comments and all I see is Betty's comment, cause I don't know Betty's friend Alice. Are you still with me? Betty's post was, "Amen Alice". Two seconds later, my friend and Betty's friend, another Alice, puts a little hands up "I like" sign next to my post. I'm surrounded by Alice!

Alice was my mom's name. I had the most wonderful mother you could ever know. I truly was blessed in every way, except that she died too young, only 57, and unfortunately had to suffer through so much pain. Her death destroyed me for way too long. But I got through it. Molly Made Me Do It! It was a long road for me, but I found myself. I remembered and keep on remembering every day how blessed I was and continue to be. I am forever the daughter of greatness, she is me, I am her, "we" will always be.

And then there's the connection to my brother Michael, who unfortunately also passed away much too young. I kind of feel like Michael was telling me to make a visit to my dream world. More to believe. I believe. It's silly, but I believe.

I also commented back on my wall to the post I quoted above. I said, this is working already because of all the Alice reminders that were popping up, not a coincidence to me. Betty believed too. She said it was divine and not divine like in the "Divine Miss M" for Bette Midler! She meant heavenly, celestial, "the force", God. She even said to say hello to my mom for her. I did. Somehow I believe my mom will find a way to say hello back. Nothing obvious but it will be there. And I also think Betty will know. Why? She's my friend, that's why.

I believe. It's silly, but I believe.

If you don't know by now where that quote is from I'm so sorry that you never enjoyed one of the most magical movies ever. Miracle on 34th Street. They remade it, like they try to do with so many, and as cute as it was, nothing can compare to the original.

Please join me in my visit to my dream world and believe!

I See You

I started wearing eyeglasses about the time I was in fifth grade. Both my sisters grew up wearing eyeglasses and my four brothers all got away with it, not fair! We're all older now so I don't count reading glasses, although I'm almost 53 and still don't need reading glasses, unless I'm wearing my contacts, then I do the arm stretch, holding the paper so far away and still not seeing clearly so I need the reading glasses.

When I first got my eyeglasses I needed them for seeing the blackboard in school, watching TV and at the movies, otherwise my eyes were fine. I didn't have those first pair of eyeglasses very long, seriously, maybe only a week or two, and I lost them. I remember exactly where I left them though, down "Rubber Park" in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn by the big swings. Of course they weren't there when I went back for them.

I didn't take care of my glasses from the start and that neglect continued until I was out of secretarial school.

I didn't want to tell my father that I lost that first pair, not like he was going to kill me, but I knew he would be angry and I'd have to hear a whole lecture again about taking care of my glasses, and then that would lead into another discussion about responsibility and what kid wants to hear all that. So I squinted in school, sat right in front of the TV and the same at the movie theaters. My father finally noticed me sitting in front the TV, which I would do with my eyeglasses, so I had been getting away with it for some time. I don't think there's a kid out there who hasn't been told a gazillion times to sit back away from the TV. So my father tells me to sit back from the TV and then notices I'm not wearing my glasses and tells me to put them on. Now I have to tell him. When, is his first question and I'm like, a while now. Now he's angry about the glasses and the fact that I didn't tell him for so long! You think I would have followed that thought process through when I decided not to tell him right away. Never smart enough to know it all, as I know I had told my parents a gazillion times. I know, I know. Yeah I knew.

It ended up that my eyes got worse and I needed to wear my glasses all the time. Well at least I wouldn't lose them. But boy did my glasses, and I had many, many pairs, go through the ringer with me.

First they were always filthy. I remember my Uncle Richie, who wore glasses, was always looking at my mine and saying, do you ever wash your glasses. No. Never. Put them on in the morning and put them in various places before bed. I slept on the top of our bunk beds and not having a nightstand, I just left them wherever. I stepped on them, dropped them, but I didn't lose them. I remember, I was in high school, and had glasses with a clear frame and the lenses would pop out because they weren't sized right, which I should have told my father right away. Not me. I taped them back together, it matched the clear frame, well not really, but kinda.

One day I was getting a drink at the water fountain and a lens fell out and broke. I put it back in and taped it til it finally just wouldn't stay. I know I had been begging my father for wire-framed glasses all the time, which weren't on the plan. And plus he was always reminding me that I didn't take good care of my glasses. And, anyone remember that? Now kids can get contacts on the plan. The "plan" glasses for us were the ugliest, and wire frames were not on the plan. Of course he bought me wire framed glasses, spoiled me rotten that wonderful man. Yeah the wire frames didn't work either. The nose pieces, kind of a cushion for your nose, those were gone pretty quick, so the wire prongs that the little cushion sat on, they just ground more deeply into my nose, making that eyeglasses' mark even worse. And they were much more fragile than my pastic frames, I did in wire frames really quick, they didn't stand a chance with me.

I don't remember feeling nerdy wearing glasses but I do remember girls in grade school that did feel uncomfortable (or not pretty) when wearing eyeglasses. I remember one girl would put them on and keep her hands around them the whole time, trying to hide them. She just stood out more. I still remember all these years later that one thing about her. Not her name, not what she looked like with or without glasses. All I can remember is her hiding her glasses.

Now as much as I didn't think I looked nerdy I didn't think I was pretty either.

Have you ever seen Molly Shannon playing Mary Katherine Gallagher on Saturday Night Live? She even had a movie, Superstar, and played Mary Katherine too. Now I wasn't as nuts as Mary Katherine Gallagher, well okay, I was and still am a little nutty, but I've never smelled my armpits, well okay, just not in public! But I do look the same don't I?! And at this age I too thought I was going to be a superstar, just like Mary Katherine Gallagher, again not thinking I was so nerdy.



When I got my first job, I bought my first pair of contacts. I started to care. Eyeglasses were now an obstacle because I had bad vision and now for meeting guys. Do men make passes at women with glasses? Oh yes they do! And vice versa. But at 19 and 20, I still didn't know, that everything I thought "I knew", I didn't know. Got that?

I loved contacts, and, then, when they came out with the ones you could sleep with, I was even happier. I didn't have to wear glasses anymore. I could see clear all the time!

It's funny, but my whole life I have pretty much felt that people who wear glasses look very attractive, pretty, handsome, cute, adorable, etc., but not me. Again I didn't think I looked nerdy, but I never looked in the mirror and saw them as attractive, cute, etc. I saw them as an obstacle and as not pretty.

For the last few years I have stopped wearing my contacts. It ended up like I said above that I needed to wear glasses with my contacts and ended up always searching for them and getting so frustrated not being able to see right away. An obstacle. It's easier for me to just wear my glasses when I need them and take them off for everything else. What's the difference. Right? I can watch TV without them, work on the computer without, just not drive. I wear my glasses to parties, on dates, I don't care. I don't need them to see the person in front of me, but I do need them for distance and outside my "safe zone", wherever that might be, I'd rather have my glasses on to see everything as far away as possible. I wonder if all people who wear glasses, with my kind of vision, do the same?

I am much more careful with my glasses than in the past. I pay for them. My father used to like that, used to tease me all the time, "oh, you buy no frills for your apartment, you take care of your things now." Now I can say I know. Somewhat.

I also do know now that, I look pretty, cute, sexy, smart, silly, insane, whether I wear my glasses or not and everyone who does, or does not, the same!

To all my fellow four-eyed beauties, young and old....I see you!

A little more of Mary Katherine Gallagher, a skit from Saturday Night Live. Whitney Houston was the musical guest, so she's in the skit as are Rosie O'Donnell and Penny Marshall as the nuns. This clip doesn't show enough of the scene, they were all cracking up at Molly playing Mary Katherine. Try to catch a repeat on TV or maybe you can find it on line?! Enjoy!

It's The Least I Can Do

ARME (Animal Resue Media Education) www.arme.tv

ARME's mission is to eliminate the suffering of all animals. This goal is achieved by rescuing unwanted and homeless animals and by educating the public of the vast extent of the suffering animals endure in our society. Through its actions and words, ARME advances the freedom of all animals.

ARME is a 501(c)(3) organization which relies on the kindness and consideration of the public's donations.

Sometimes I just don't want to know or think about things because it hurts to face the truth, within and outside myself. But then something gets put right in my face and I can't ignore it. Yesterday was one of those days. One of my friends on Facebook posted the attached video from ARME. It's about nine beagle dogs who see sun and grass for the first time having spent their entire lives in a research lab. I wanted to ignore the video. I knew the story was about their rescue but I know me, I wouldn't be able to just see their rescue, I would be thinking about what they went through before their rescue. I bawled my eyes out! Sobbing and talking to the video at the same time, saying come on out when the dogs looked so scared and unsure. And still crying when I watched them walking on the grass and being in the sunshine for the first time. When they were being loved by their rescuers. This video is beyond touching.

I shared it with my friends on Facebook and noticed so many of them doing the same. I received so many comments, so many of my friends outraged that animal testing still goes on. Glad to call these people friends. Some of them have themselves rescued their own pets, gladder still to call them friends. So many have their pets' pictures as their profile picture because they just love them so much and want to show them off.

Some people don't get it, don't understand why some people are so into their pets, and you know what, I can understand. What I don't get is how anyone can be cruel to animals. That I will never understand. How do people like Michael Vick ever live with themselves. Yes I know he does some kind of community service but in my book it's not enough and the fact that he's able to play professional football again sickens me, it's always about money. He should be the one working at places like ARME, he shouldn't be allowed to return to professional football and make the money he does, and all his money should be going to all of these organizations that help animals. Sorry, I'll never feel different about him. Isn't cruelty to animals one of the traits of people who end up killing people?

I spent hours after watching that video on line searching out companies that continue to do testing on animals and you know what, there are so many of them! So many products you wouldn't even think about. But, there are so many companies that don't. Go on line, check out PETA (People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals - www. peta.org), they have a list there of companies that "do" and companies that "don't" use animal testing.

There's not a lot I can do to help others, I'm not money rich, but I am rich in heart and can help in other ways. We all can help in small ways that can make a BIG difference. I have passed along this video and their website and PETA's website.

It's the least I can do.

Tradition

Tis the season for tradition, well more noticeable traditions.

Traditions are created by the passing down of beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to the next.

I live in New York and every year the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is a tradition. I actually went one year, had a really great spot and enjoyed all the festivities before the tree was lit. I remember it was a nice evening, not too cold. When they're getting ready to light the tree, at least the year I was there, we were looking up for a few minutes, waiting...I guess they were building up to the moment and I actually missed it because I looked down for a second. I could not believe it! It was still beautiful. At least I did one of the traditional sightseeing events in NYC. I've never been to the Statue of Liberty or the top of the Empire State Building. Maybe that's sticking to New York tradition. I wonder if there are more New Yorkers that haven't been to both of those places than less? I'd bet more.

But daily we hold true to traditions that have been passed down in our family, from what you do when you get out of bed until you lay down to sleep at night. And I'm not talking about habits. I'm talking about things that just were one way growing up for you and you continue to do the same. I think we follow most traditions in our daily life because they're comforting.

When I got my first apartment by myself I had to play the same news radio station that my parents had on in the mornings when I grew up. I really wasn't interested in listening to it at all, just had to hear the same sound. It took years to break that tradition and feel comfortable doing something else. My day just didn't feel right without hearing that radio station.

A silly tradition, but it's just what we did at home, was putting wet shoes in the oven, not with the oven on. Just the warmth of the oven dried them faster. I don't do that anymore. First, I'm a girl, I have tons of shoes, and can let the ones that are wet sit for a few days and second, years ago my sister Debbie (little sister Debbie) was staying overnight at my brother Michael's and sister-in-law Debbie (big sister Debbie's) house. I guess little sister Debbie's shoes got wet and she put them in the oven to dry just like she had seen my mom do so many times. Well, the next morning, my big sister Debbie put the oven on low to heat the kitchen, her morning tradition, maybe something started in the apartment she and Michael had, or something her family did, I don't know. But big sister Debbie put the oven on and after a short time started smelling something burning and said so. My little sister jumped up. "My shoes!" They were kinda shoe boots, ankle length, and now were curled around the oven rack. Little sister has much bigger feet than big sister, so there was no sharing shoes that day between Debbies. They also worked together at the same company, along with my sister Linda who would bring shoes for little sister Debbie to wear but she had to wear the boots that were baked to work and it was painful, but really funny, and I doubt she puts shoes in the oven anymore!

There was a popular television show years ago called All In The Family, which by the way, was quite controversial when it first aired since the main character was extremely prejudiced in so many ways. It was 1971 and I was 12 and my father refused to let any of us watch. My brother Bob got hooked on it when it played in reruns years later and he got the rest of us watching as well, I think my father even laughed a few times. Now pretty much everything that was so unacceptable then is no big deal these days, even for kids.

But I remember one episode, Archie, the main character was arguing with his son-in-law Mike (meathead), because when Mike was putting on his shoes and socks he put one sock on, then the shoe instead of what I've seen most people do, put on your socks and then your shoes. I wonder if anyone does like "the meathead" but in any case my point is, people do different things just because of tradition.

My mom always made us soup and soldiers when we were kids and it's something that my brothers, sisters and cousins who are parents have passed down to their children. The soldiers are just pieces of bread and butter, cut into thin long strips to dunk in our soup. My mom used to just butter bread and cut it in slices while I sometimes will toast my soldiers!
Changing tradition a bit, but it's still soup and soldiers. I didn't know why my mom called bread and butter soldiers, just accepted it as a tradition when we had soup, especially when we were sick, you had to have your soup and soldiers. But a few years ago I was watching The View and Sarah Ferguson (Fergie) was a guest. She was talking about her children I think, but she mentioned soup and soldiers and one of the hosts stopped her and asked what she meant by soup and soldiers. Fergie gave the same description as I just did, bread and butter, only she gave the reason why the bread was called soldiers. She said it was a tradition passed down since WWI, that it had something to do with honoring the soldiers. Then I knew why it's part of our family tradition. My mom's grandparents were from England, Stockton-on-Tees, and I'm pretty sure that soup and soldiers must have been a family tradition that followed my family "across the pond".

Tradition. You can't say you're creating a tradition. It just happens. It becomes part of you, your family, your community.

My sister-in-law Janet, brother Bob's wife, tried to start a tradition with my young nieces and nephews during Christmastime a couple of years ago with baking cookies. From the start she just called it "tradition" and unfortunately the kids weren't into it as much as she was and it was over before it had a chance to become a tradition. At least she tried. She's so good with them, she's very crafty and always has some fun project in mind for them and brings them all kinds of supplies and sits and plays with them. The boys join in sometimes but it's really the girls and they are really into it right along with my sister-in-law who is Aunt Bubbles to all of them.

Tomorrow I think Aunt Bubbles is going to get her "tradition" wish with Bella.

There's a church in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, St. Anslems, and every year they have a Christmas tradition that is so much fun. Probably about 20 years ago or so, Janet invited me and my aunt, sisters, cousins and then I invited my friends, who invited their friends, and so on, and so on... and it was our tradition, but people move, have kids, etc., life just gets in the way of things, we all know how that goes, and a lot of us stopped going. But Janet's been going again these last few years and Tomorrow she is bringing Bella. She did invite Gracie who also lives by us, but she couldn't make this one, hopefully she can next year.

You have to sign up for it about a month in advance and let them know what you will be making so they will have the supplies you need. You have a choice of making a wreath, a centerpiece or a small Christmas tree. They have tons and tons of branches of trees piled in the front of the school auditorium and the smell is just heavenly. You get your supplies and then go to work at the long lunch tables the kids use, either in the auditorium or downstairs in the cafeteria where of course you can get yourself a cup of hot chocolate! Christmas music is playing in the background and when I did go, another part of the day I enjoyed tremendously was running into people I probably hadn't seen since the last year. Friends I grew up with when I did live in the neighborhood. And I especially loved running into one of my mom's really good friends, Ann, just felt a little more of mom around when I said my annual hello to Ann.

I always made a little Christmas tree, about 2 feet high. They gave me a wired, cylinder shaped tree base and then I had to cut the branches and build the tree, after which I could decorate with supplies they give you or ones you bring yourself. I remember the first year I went I used what they supplied and then looked at the amazing work the other people did with supplies they brought from home. My tree was really nice but the others were way better. After that we all started bring our own supplies. A lot of my friends made wreaths which are a little more difficult to make but they all did great jobs. It's just a fun day.

I hope Aunt Bubbles gets her wish and she and Bella can share the St. Anselms Christmas craft day for years to come, I hope it becomes their tradition.

Below is the song Tradition from Fiddler on the Roof. A great song and though he may be talking about Jewish traditions from a different time, it's fitting! Enjoy.

A Big Ole Sigh...

It's FRIDAY. I can't tell you how many people I have walked by, run into or spoken with today that have just let out a big ole sigh of relief because it's Friday. It's still early in the day so the sighs are releases of stress but I can tell by the look on their faces and the sound of the sighs that they know the day is almost over, more important, the week has ended, and they are holding on for close of business when they can go home, relax, not have to get up for work tomorrow and Sunday. The sighs I hear on Mondays and Tuesdays are different, they're a bit deeper, longer. If I were to put words to the Monday and Tuesday body language, faces and the sound of the sighs, they would be "I can do this, I can do this, hold on, the weekend will be here before I know it." Wednesday, the middle of the week, the sighs sound almost as good as Friday and somehow seem to be better than Thursday? At least that's what I think. Thursdays don't seem to bother people, have you noticed? I had a job once where I worked Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, loved it. Loved having Thursday off. It was like I had a mini weekend before the big weekend. If I had Monday or Friday off, and a three-day weekend, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much, I think I would have tried to put more into a three-day weekend and would run myself ragged. Thursdays became my "run around day" and the weekends were for fun and relaxing.

But Fridays sighs, for the most part, sound more positive.

There are those that are sighing today with relief, and I'm one of those, I'm tired, it's been a long week, but I know in the blink of an eye I will be on my way home. But there are those that are sighing about the fact that Monday will be here before they know it, just skipping over the fact that they have a weekend off.

Now I'm an optimist, a cockeyed optimist, quoting the title of one of my favorite Rodgers & Hammerstein songs from the film South Pacific, and I've stopped wishing time away, goes by fast enough. My thought is, if you think that way, why not go further, the next weekend will be here before you know it too. And you know what? You're wishing your life away!

When you let out that big ole sigh, let go of the stress and think about something comforting instead of wishing time away or wanting to be somewhere else or doing something else, it will all come, time passes by whether we want it to or not. When you let out that Friday sigh during your workday, just let go of the stress and make a wish for something that really makes you feel good. Don't waste a wish!

Sigh...all comes to those who wait.

My Irish Accent

Nah, I don't have one, but I do have a great joke I tell with an Irish brogue about two penguins knocking on a convent door, a little dirty ending, so unfortunately I'm going to leave you hanging here unless you know me and I can tell you face to face. I'd like my blog to be for everyone and dirty jokes are not.

Back to my Irish Accent...

My Irish accent is a lass named Tracey. Tracey is my cousin Doug's wife and now of course my cousin, my family. This morning on Facebook, she shared with her family and friends a song by The Pogues, "Fairytale of New York". I've never heard the song before or the band, but I loved it and have also now shared it with you below. Share and share alike right? That's what my mom always told me!

I like Irish music, there used to be a bar in Bay Ridge that was all Irish music, may still be there, I don't know, but a slow song will melt my heart and a song with a beat will make me want to move my feet, stomp down and dance like crazy! My niece Jessie, my brother Bob's daughter, gave Bob a CD for Christmas one year, Flogging Molly. Of course I loved the name of the band and when I heard them all I wanted to do was start stomping my feet and dancing! I was in a car at the time so it was kinda difficult, but when you're listening to Flogging Molly you can imagine yourself in an Irish Pub with a gang of friends and feeling the music and the love. Now I've never been to a real Irish Pub in Ireland, but I've found lots of Irish pubs here in Staten Island and in Bay Ridge Brooklyn that give me a good idea of what the real thing is like and of course knowing Tracey gives me a more of that knowing. Irish pubs all have the same feel to them and you either like that or don't. I do. And my family does and lots of my friends too. I love eating at an Irish pub. No, I don't think the Irish are known for more than their potatoes and ale, but to me that's a great start. Not a fan of beer or ale myself, I can't pass a potato! Last night at work, one of the attorneys had clients up late and had dinner brought in and told me there was leftovers up in the conference room. This particular attorney always, always gets the same meal. Lemon chicken with red roasted potatoes. I had already eaten but I went up and made myself a plate for dinner tonight, yup, lemon chicken and red roasted potatoes. Mmmm. I took way more potatoes than chicken. And eating at an Irish pub is usually just like a home cooked meal to me, though my mom wasn't Irish.

I do have family way back that came from Ireland on my father's side, so there's a bit of it in my blood I guess, maybe that's why I feel this way, but there's just a homey feeling to an Irish Pub and the music as well. And that's how I feel about Tracey, that homey feeling, even before she and Doug were dating. To me hearing an Irish accent is so melodic. Tracey could walk up to me and say, Tricia you're a moron and it would sound just as sweet as if she were saying hello darlin' (which is my cousin Sandra's favorite tag line, she's always calling everyone darlin', and it's soooo Sandra, I love it!). But even the kids in my family, I've noticed them just loving Tracey right away. Tracey is sweet and is the type of person who pays attention to kids but with the kids in my family I know it was her Irish accent, she would just say hello to them and they would feel like she just sang them a lullaby.

Tracey does have a beautiful singing voice and she loves to sing. I remember her first Christmas with us, she was broken hearted over not being home in Ireland with her family. And family to Tracey is big, in size and at heart. I always forget but I think she's the youngest of 13, could be one or two more or less, but that's big. That first Christmas she had been trying to call home and the phone must have been off the hook or her family in Ireland were singing their hearts out (which they do) and didn't hear the phone ringing. My cousin Doug is the sweetest man, his heart was broken too. It was a bittersweet Christmas. Tracey is part of my family and loves us, I come from a pretty great family I have to say, we had a great Christmas celebration that day. Tracey shared one of her traditions with us. At the dinner table, they put these little poppers. Two people pull them apart and there is little prize inside and a paper crown. One year we had poppers that had whistles in them and each one had a different tone. We played the most awful rendition of Jingle Bells ever, but we all had so much fun, all of us with our paper crowns on our heads.

Tracey finally got through to her family that night. I think they finally called her, asking why she didn't call them! But I remember her being on the phone and putting her family on hold for a moment and turning to us all and saying, is it okay if I sing along with my family on the phone. Is it okay!? Are you serious!? It's more than okay, thank you, thank you for sharing your family with us on this special day, sing Tracey sing! And she did. That first Christmas was the hardest for our Tracey but I think that it also made her feel like she had a home and family here too. We joined our families that day.

Tracey is my Irish Accent and it's not just the way she tawks. Hey I'm from Brooklyn, I tawk (and tawk and tawk and tawk) but she's accentuated my life, she adds her own special color and style...

My Irish Accent!