Last week I turned 50. I'm now a 1/2 a century old, and I feel so blessed to have my health, my husband, my parents, my children,my friends, and so much more. Donnie and I decided that since we were both turning 50 this year, and all our High School friends were turning 50, we should throw a party. We talked about it for months, but it wasn't until a High School friend of ours died in a tragic car crash in January, that our friend Svein said to us...Let's do it, lets throw that party, and celebrate Life. We opened the party to any of our friends who were turning 50, and to any of their family and friends that they wanted to invite.
The hall could hold about 150 people, but in the end we had about 65- 70 people who showed up. A Friday night is not always easy for people to make, but no matter, it wasn't the number of the people who showed up, it was the atmosphere of the party. We had a blast. We sang Karaoke, We Ate, We Socialized, and We Danced. We personified the quote "Live, Love, Laugh". It was one of the best Birthday Presents I could ever have received, just having my friends and family all there.
Another surprising gift came from the reason, I named this blog a Blast from the Past. The past came to life last weekend with the party and our High School Friends, who were our past, are still our Present and God willing they will be our Future. But an interesting Blast from my past came on my actual birthday 3/20. I received a Birthday card from a girl, I went to High School with, (we weren't really friends in H.S.), but she ended up being my roommate my freshman year in College. When I arrived at Westfield State College in the Fall of 1981, I saw on my dorm room door the names, Donovan, Doucette, and Dougherty. What was really strange is that the three of us went to High School together, graduated in that order, and we never really knew each other in High School. Anyway....I digress. I only stayed at Westfield for one semester, but in that time, I grew very close to Beth Doucette, and I even sang at her Wedding in 1993. We saw each other from time to time up till that point, but after she got married we lost touch completely. I often thought of her over the years and I tried to find her, but it seemed like she just disappeared, so when I received her Birthday Card randomly out of the blue for my 50th Birthday, I could not have been happier. It truly was a Blast from the Past. We have reconnected through a few e-mails, and we are going to be calling each other today to catch up.
Life goes by so quickly and people come and go, but it truly is a gift to blend your past, with your present and hopefully your future. Sometimes we lose touch with people we care about, but this Birthday year of 50 taught me, that it is never to late to reconnect with people we have lost touch with, and that we should appreciate the friends we have had, the friends we have and the friends we are yet to make. The "end" in Friendship, doesn't have to mean the "end" it can also mean a new beginning, a reconnecting, and just a true appreciation for a "Friend" old, or new.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Traditions, La Famiglia, and Top of the Mornin' to Ye
What an amazing weekend, full of family and traditions. We began our weekend on Friday night with a surprise visit with Donnie's sister Elaine who came in to celebrate Carnivale on Saturday with the Vaudo side of Donnie's family.
Carnivale...a tradition that is over 80years old. It all began with Donnie's grandfather and grandmother, celebrating the onset of the Lenten season with a feast of homemade raviolis. They began this tradition with their oldest daughter Josephine, and then with their daughter Regina, who was born 9 years later. The tradition continued and now more than 80 years later, Donnie's 101year old grandmother, still resides at the head of the table as her family of 2 daughters, multiplied into: 9 grandchildren, (and their spouses) 20 great grandchildren,(and their spouses) and 8 great great grandchildren . Some years there can be as many as 65 people surrounding the table, eating homemade raviolis, meatballs, sausage, and so much more. (This year there was 523 raviolis made, 160 meatballs and 100 homemade sausages!) We gather together eating, socializing and singing. Donnie's Auntie Jo, many years ago, wrote a song to the tune of "MacNamaras" band, and each year in the song she recaps the years events. We all get kazoos, and the chorus of the song is: "Ohhh Raviolis, Meatballs and Sausage Holy Smokes, Carnivale a'skunzalata (spelling is probably way off, but thats how it is pronounced", and Grampa's donkey joke, Ohhh we eat a lot and we laugh a lot, and do everything that we can....a credit to Old Carnivale is Gradnpa Vaudo's Clan"
What an amazing tradition, that all began with two people, their two daughters, and a family that is still growing today, more than 80 years later. May the tradition continue on through the generations.
On Sunday, we celebrated a not as old as 80 year old tradition, but a tradition none the less. St. Patricks Day, Dougherty style! My parents make many pots of Corned Beef and Cabbage, and my siblings who live in Massachusetts, their children, and other friends who are considered family, all gather to feast on this amazing boiled dinner, wear our Green proudly, and in true Irish fashion, we are loud and boisterous.But the louder we are, the richer we are in health and love. It's a younger tradition than Carnivale, but both traditions bring to my children a Heritage, that is strong and proud.
I feel so blessed to be able to share these traditions with my husband, our five children, our daughter-in-law, and most importantly, my parents, Donnie's parents and Great Grandma. How truly fortunate we are to have our elders, still with us and so fully present in our lives. As I turn 50 years old this coming Wednesday, I realize, that I too, am now an "Elder" (not that I feel like an elder!!) but I feel the responsibility to carry on these family traditions and to continue to keep our children's Heritages alive and strong!
No Matter what your heritage is, don't ever take it for granted. Embrace it, cherish it, pass on the history of your families, and continue to create new and celebrate old Traditions....It is the foundation of who we are.
Carnivale...a tradition that is over 80years old. It all began with Donnie's grandfather and grandmother, celebrating the onset of the Lenten season with a feast of homemade raviolis. They began this tradition with their oldest daughter Josephine, and then with their daughter Regina, who was born 9 years later. The tradition continued and now more than 80 years later, Donnie's 101year old grandmother, still resides at the head of the table as her family of 2 daughters, multiplied into: 9 grandchildren, (and their spouses) 20 great grandchildren,(and their spouses) and 8 great great grandchildren . Some years there can be as many as 65 people surrounding the table, eating homemade raviolis, meatballs, sausage, and so much more. (This year there was 523 raviolis made, 160 meatballs and 100 homemade sausages!) We gather together eating, socializing and singing. Donnie's Auntie Jo, many years ago, wrote a song to the tune of "MacNamaras" band, and each year in the song she recaps the years events. We all get kazoos, and the chorus of the song is: "Ohhh Raviolis, Meatballs and Sausage Holy Smokes, Carnivale a'skunzalata (spelling is probably way off, but thats how it is pronounced", and Grampa's donkey joke, Ohhh we eat a lot and we laugh a lot, and do everything that we can....a credit to Old Carnivale is Gradnpa Vaudo's Clan"
What an amazing tradition, that all began with two people, their two daughters, and a family that is still growing today, more than 80 years later. May the tradition continue on through the generations.
On Sunday, we celebrated a not as old as 80 year old tradition, but a tradition none the less. St. Patricks Day, Dougherty style! My parents make many pots of Corned Beef and Cabbage, and my siblings who live in Massachusetts, their children, and other friends who are considered family, all gather to feast on this amazing boiled dinner, wear our Green proudly, and in true Irish fashion, we are loud and boisterous.But the louder we are, the richer we are in health and love. It's a younger tradition than Carnivale, but both traditions bring to my children a Heritage, that is strong and proud.
I feel so blessed to be able to share these traditions with my husband, our five children, our daughter-in-law, and most importantly, my parents, Donnie's parents and Great Grandma. How truly fortunate we are to have our elders, still with us and so fully present in our lives. As I turn 50 years old this coming Wednesday, I realize, that I too, am now an "Elder" (not that I feel like an elder!!) but I feel the responsibility to carry on these family traditions and to continue to keep our children's Heritages alive and strong!
No Matter what your heritage is, don't ever take it for granted. Embrace it, cherish it, pass on the history of your families, and continue to create new and celebrate old Traditions....It is the foundation of who we are.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Rabbit Rabbit March 1st
Is it really March 1st today? Where have the months gone? In 19 days from now, I will turn the Golden Age of 50. Golden age = Gold. Gold = Being Rich. I am a wealthy woman. I have riches in abundance. My riches are not the monetary kind, but the kind that make turning 50 feel like I have won a lottery. I have my health, I have my parents, I have 5 amazing siblings with wonderful spouses and children, I have my in-laws and in-law siblings and families, I have my friends, I have my high school sweetheart, who after almost 30 years is still the love of my life, and I have five healthy children, and a beautiful daughter in-law. What more could a woman ask for?
If I had to live these past 50 years over again, I would not change a thing. Good times, Bad times, Highs and Lows....God has been good to me. My life is not perfect. Is any one's life ever really perfect? I think if we just take one day at a time, and appreciate the gifts we are given, and love unconditionally, then life can be as close to perfect as one can get.
When I think of my husband Donnie's grandmother at 101years old, I know that she lives her life this way, and everyday is a gift to her and she never takes life for granted. If I am blessed to live as long as Great Grandma, and I embrace life and the loved ones around me the way she does then I will be beyond rich. But even if I don't see 101 years, I will continue to be golden, because each day if full of the riches that surround us, and I am grateful to be turning 50, and having so much in my life to be thankful for.
Thank you Mom and Dad for the gift of life, Thank you siblings and your families for being a part of my life,Thank you in-laws, Thank you friends, Thank you kids for enriching my life, and Thank you Donnie for being the Love of my Life. I embrace turning the Golden Age of 50.
If I had to live these past 50 years over again, I would not change a thing. Good times, Bad times, Highs and Lows....God has been good to me. My life is not perfect. Is any one's life ever really perfect? I think if we just take one day at a time, and appreciate the gifts we are given, and love unconditionally, then life can be as close to perfect as one can get.
When I think of my husband Donnie's grandmother at 101years old, I know that she lives her life this way, and everyday is a gift to her and she never takes life for granted. If I am blessed to live as long as Great Grandma, and I embrace life and the loved ones around me the way she does then I will be beyond rich. But even if I don't see 101 years, I will continue to be golden, because each day if full of the riches that surround us, and I am grateful to be turning 50, and having so much in my life to be thankful for.
Thank you Mom and Dad for the gift of life, Thank you siblings and your families for being a part of my life,Thank you in-laws, Thank you friends, Thank you kids for enriching my life, and Thank you Donnie for being the Love of my Life. I embrace turning the Golden Age of 50.
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