Here's to good friends, yesterday was kind of special....Our day began at 8 a.m. as we drove to Huntington Station Long Island for the Bridal shower of our daughter Danielle's college roommate Michelle. The best part of the shower was in knowing that Michelle was going to be marrying my cousin Jon. Their love story began 4 years ago at my 25th Wedding anniversary party. I really wanted Michelle to meet my cousin Jon, and at our party, my sister Kristin, pushed Jon and Michelle together on the dance floor, and they have been dancing ever since. I can't wait to dance at their wedding. As quoted by Danielle before in one of my blogs "I love LOVE"
The best part of Jon and Michelle's union, is that Jon is the son of two of my favorite people in the world Auntie Brenda and Uncle Bobby. And Michelle (even though she was Danielle's roommate first) is the daughter of our good friends Jim and Marianne. We became good friends with Michelle's parents the summer of Danielle's freshman year at B.C. and I could not be happier to see both my friends and my family become even more connected. I am so grateful.
After the shower while still in Huntington, Donnie and I went to visit and go out to dinner with our friends John and Sally and their neighbors Rich and Susan. How could we not visit with John and Sally, when we just happened to be in the same town on Long Island. Donnie met John many years ago at a start up company they both worked for. I knew from the first time I met John, that he would not just be a good friend to Donnie, but he has become like a brother as well.
In many of my blogs I talk about the people and the friends I am grateful for. John and Sally, and now their friends Rich and Susan have become a part of the people I am grateful for and hold so dear. Last night at dinner was a reminder of why they are so special. We had such a great time. Good friends, good food, great conversation, and so much laughter. Who could ask for more. Here's to good friends, yesterday was "very" special.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
The many faces of.....
Mental Illness. It comes in the guise of many different faces. The face of Depression, Alcoholism, OCD, ADHD,Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Eating Disorders, and so many more faces. So many people hide these faces behind masks. Masks of shame.
Well I for one, have taken my mask off. I have said before in an earlier blog, that I suffer from Depression. I am not ashamed of this. I live with it, and I have gotten help for it. Help is out there, for those who suffer with the many faces of Mental Illness, and the key is to take off the mask, own up to your illness, talk about it, and seek help for it.
If more people would show their true face, and talk openly about their diagnosis, then the people out there still hiding behind their masks, wouldn't feel so alone, and they too, could cast off their masks, and get the help they need.
I do not, and I am not suggesting that you declare your mental illness the first time you meet somebody. However, all of us who suffer with the faces of mental illness, know that there is a time, where we choose whether to tell the truth or hide behind our mask. In my case, the truth has been much more liberating, and I wish for those of you who suffer, to find the comfort to be able to tell the truth. Perhaps, just hearing one person tell their story, will help those out there still hiding, to seek the help that is out there.
Well I for one, have taken my mask off. I have said before in an earlier blog, that I suffer from Depression. I am not ashamed of this. I live with it, and I have gotten help for it. Help is out there, for those who suffer with the many faces of Mental Illness, and the key is to take off the mask, own up to your illness, talk about it, and seek help for it.
If more people would show their true face, and talk openly about their diagnosis, then the people out there still hiding behind their masks, wouldn't feel so alone, and they too, could cast off their masks, and get the help they need.
I do not, and I am not suggesting that you declare your mental illness the first time you meet somebody. However, all of us who suffer with the faces of mental illness, know that there is a time, where we choose whether to tell the truth or hide behind our mask. In my case, the truth has been much more liberating, and I wish for those of you who suffer, to find the comfort to be able to tell the truth. Perhaps, just hearing one person tell their story, will help those out there still hiding, to seek the help that is out there.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Our Kitchen Table
Yesterday, I had my tea leaves read. In the tea cup there was an unmistakable,very large question mark. "?" This was amazing, because right now in my life, Donnie and I are living with a very big question mark hanging over our heads. Sell our house and move, or stay .
When I really think about moving or staying, I realize that there is only one material possession, that I would take, and that that piece of furniture holds the bulk of my sentimentality, MY KITCHEN TABLE.
When Danielle was growing up, our kitchen table was a place where her friends would come and sit, while she baked chocolate chip cookies, and I talked to them about love and life. Its where Michael and Ryan's friends would eat us out of house and home, and burp, and fart, and laugh, and share their many stories. Its where we decorated countless Christmas cookies, Easter Eggs, and Carved Pumpkins. We ate our family dinners at the kitchen table, and our dinners were always loud, and boisterous, but filled with conversations, life's lessons, familial bonding, and lots of love. When we moved to the house we live in now, I wanted to buy an even bigger kitchen table, because I knew as our kids grew older, the friends of all five of them would begin to fill the seats at our kitchen table, and there would be even more stories to tell and laughter to share. Mary and Jane's friends would sit around this table and continue the traditions of Danielle, Mike and Ryan's friends, before them. They would bake cookies, eat us out of house and home and Donnie and I would be lucky enough to hear their laughter, share in many of their stories, and tell them our stories as well. All these things are priceless, and no matter where we end up, the one thing that we will always share is "THE KITCHEN TABLE"
When I really think about moving or staying, I realize that there is only one material possession, that I would take, and that that piece of furniture holds the bulk of my sentimentality, MY KITCHEN TABLE.
When Danielle was growing up, our kitchen table was a place where her friends would come and sit, while she baked chocolate chip cookies, and I talked to them about love and life. Its where Michael and Ryan's friends would eat us out of house and home, and burp, and fart, and laugh, and share their many stories. Its where we decorated countless Christmas cookies, Easter Eggs, and Carved Pumpkins. We ate our family dinners at the kitchen table, and our dinners were always loud, and boisterous, but filled with conversations, life's lessons, familial bonding, and lots of love. When we moved to the house we live in now, I wanted to buy an even bigger kitchen table, because I knew as our kids grew older, the friends of all five of them would begin to fill the seats at our kitchen table, and there would be even more stories to tell and laughter to share. Mary and Jane's friends would sit around this table and continue the traditions of Danielle, Mike and Ryan's friends, before them. They would bake cookies, eat us out of house and home and Donnie and I would be lucky enough to hear their laughter, share in many of their stories, and tell them our stories as well. All these things are priceless, and no matter where we end up, the one thing that we will always share is "THE KITCHEN TABLE"
Friday, April 20, 2012
"Happier When"
Today I went to a fundraiser started by my sister Kerri called Tea for the Troops. It is a fundraiser for our Wounded Warriors. Our brave military men and women who fight to keep our country free, and who come back wounded and need our support. We owe them so much for fighting to keep our country safe, and this fundraiser is just one way to help show our support.
At this tea, my sisters dear friend Alexandra Stoddard (interior designer and famous author) was the guest speaker. In her speech today, she spoke a lot about being positive, and finding happiness in our lives. One of the things she said today, really struck me, and it inspired me to write this blog.
She said to stop saying "I'll be Happier When....." and to just be happy. I thought about this and finished the sentence in different ways. "I'll be happier when...I have more money, I'll be happier when....I lose some weight, I'll be happier when....all my children are settled, I'll be happier when, when, when, when.....There are so many ways to finish this sentence. Yet if we stop trying to finish this sentence and just live our lives and be grateful for the positive things in our lives instead of dwelling on the negative, we won't have to worry about "when" we are happier, we can just be "Happy" and live each day to the fullest.
At this tea, my sisters dear friend Alexandra Stoddard (interior designer and famous author) was the guest speaker. In her speech today, she spoke a lot about being positive, and finding happiness in our lives. One of the things she said today, really struck me, and it inspired me to write this blog.
She said to stop saying "I'll be Happier When....." and to just be happy. I thought about this and finished the sentence in different ways. "I'll be happier when...I have more money, I'll be happier when....I lose some weight, I'll be happier when....all my children are settled, I'll be happier when, when, when, when.....There are so many ways to finish this sentence. Yet if we stop trying to finish this sentence and just live our lives and be grateful for the positive things in our lives instead of dwelling on the negative, we won't have to worry about "when" we are happier, we can just be "Happy" and live each day to the fullest.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
"You Complete Me"
I was sitting here thinking of my blog, "Even though we ain't got money", and my recurrent theme of gratefulness, and my heart filled with so much love and appreciation for the man I married. As I watch my youngest son, begin his journey into the early months of marriage, I reminisce about my first months of marriage.
Donnie and I were 20 years old and we just wanted to spend all our time together. We faced our share of ups and downs in the first months, and in the years that followed, but never once did my love for my best friend and husband waiver. He has seen me at my best and at my worst, at my highest and my lowest, and he has loved me through it all. When we were raising our children, He was good cop to my bad cop, or vice a versa, we agreed to disagree on certain parenting methods, but always parented with love. We have been through a lot these past 29 years, and will continue to go through alot.
Donnie said this weekend, that life is a Marathon. With each mile marker, you may face a new hurdle, but its how you face those hurdles at each mile marker and finishing the race that matters the most. And like Tom Cruise says in the movie Jerry Maguire "You Complete Me"....I want to finish this Marathon Race called life with you, Donnie Naugler, because "You Complete Me" and I am so grateful for you and for your love. Lets keep on running this road race of life together....1,2,3
Donnie and I were 20 years old and we just wanted to spend all our time together. We faced our share of ups and downs in the first months, and in the years that followed, but never once did my love for my best friend and husband waiver. He has seen me at my best and at my worst, at my highest and my lowest, and he has loved me through it all. When we were raising our children, He was good cop to my bad cop, or vice a versa, we agreed to disagree on certain parenting methods, but always parented with love. We have been through a lot these past 29 years, and will continue to go through alot.
Donnie said this weekend, that life is a Marathon. With each mile marker, you may face a new hurdle, but its how you face those hurdles at each mile marker and finishing the race that matters the most. And like Tom Cruise says in the movie Jerry Maguire "You Complete Me"....I want to finish this Marathon Race called life with you, Donnie Naugler, because "You Complete Me" and I am so grateful for you and for your love. Lets keep on running this road race of life together....1,2,3
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Big Fish in a Big Pond
Many years ago, Donnie and I had considered moving back to our home town of Bedford. Our kids were growing up in Newton, but we had a chance to maybe move, and we talked to the kids about it. Danielle would be heading into High School, and we told her if we moved, she could be a Big Fish in a Little Pond. She gave this some thought and stated emphatically, that she wanted to be a Big Fish in a Big Pond. We stayed in Newton.
And so, she proceeded to be that "Big Fish". She graduated from Newton North High School, winning the Senior Cup, for outstanding senior girl, she got into the college of her choice Boston College, and after graduating from college she moved to the Big Apple and is swimming in the big pond that is NYC.
Yesterday, Marathon Monday in Boston Mass, Danielle proved that she is still a Big Fish in a Big Pond. Along with over 22,000 people, she completed running the Boston Marathon in over 90 degree weather. Donnie and I were there 100 feet from the finish line, she saw us, threw us kisses, told us she loved us, and sprinted with everything she had left to the finish line.
We are so proud of our Big Fish, and may she continue to challenge herself, and swim in the Big Ponds. If you believe it, you can achieve it!
And so, she proceeded to be that "Big Fish". She graduated from Newton North High School, winning the Senior Cup, for outstanding senior girl, she got into the college of her choice Boston College, and after graduating from college she moved to the Big Apple and is swimming in the big pond that is NYC.
Yesterday, Marathon Monday in Boston Mass, Danielle proved that she is still a Big Fish in a Big Pond. Along with over 22,000 people, she completed running the Boston Marathon in over 90 degree weather. Donnie and I were there 100 feet from the finish line, she saw us, threw us kisses, told us she loved us, and sprinted with everything she had left to the finish line.
We are so proud of our Big Fish, and may she continue to challenge herself, and swim in the Big Ponds. If you believe it, you can achieve it!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
From BC to PC
Almost 10 years ago in the month of April, Donnie and I had just finished taking Danielle to NYU for the fifth time, trying to decide if this college was the right fit for her. After spending the day at NYU, she finally decided, that she did not want to go to NYU. Her choice was made, and she would be a Freshman at Boston College in the Fall of 2002. She was the first of our children to leave the nest for college, and she made the right decision, because she had a fantastic four years at BC.
This past week, Donnie and I took Janie, our youngest of five, to Wagner College in NY, and after spending the day there, she decided that Wagner was not the right choice for her. Today we took her to the college of her choice, so in the Fall of 2012, Jane will be a Freshman at Providence College.
From BC to PC, it has been a long journey. Danielle went to Boston College where she fit right in and felt right at home. Michael went to B.C. for a year and to UMASS for a year, and neither school was the right fit for him, he decided that college wasn't his path at that point in his life, and is pursuing his music career. Ryan started out at Stonehill College, but transferred his sophomore year to Fr. Woods night school at Boston College, and it is there that he found his right fit. Mary went to UMASS for a year as a nursing major, but did not feel it was the right place for her. She worked very hard and transferred into Boston College school of Nursing for her sophomore year....she loves BC and it is definitely the right fit for her.
Jane had no intentions of applying to Boston College. She wanted to follow her own path, and today as we toured Providence College for accepted students day, I felt it...Jane's right fit was this college. She is her own person, and as soon as we stepped on the campus grounds, both Donnie and I knew in our hearts that this is where she belonged.
From BC to PC, these last 10 years, have been a roller coaster ride of emotions. Each of our children had to find the right fit for them, whether it was the right college or the right career choice. I cried on Danielle's first day of college, and I have cried on each of the other children's first day of college. Today, without letting Jane see, I held in my tears, because this fall will be the last first day of college for our children, and it is hard for me to believe that my baby girl will be going to her first day of Providence College in September of 2012.
Ten years, and I could not be prouder of each and everyone of my children. May they continue to find their right "fit" in whatever they choose to do in life. BC to PC, 10 years, it's been a great ride. I know this fall I will definitely be crying on Jane's first day, but the tears will be of joy and a whole lot of pride..
This past week, Donnie and I took Janie, our youngest of five, to Wagner College in NY, and after spending the day there, she decided that Wagner was not the right choice for her. Today we took her to the college of her choice, so in the Fall of 2012, Jane will be a Freshman at Providence College.
From BC to PC, it has been a long journey. Danielle went to Boston College where she fit right in and felt right at home. Michael went to B.C. for a year and to UMASS for a year, and neither school was the right fit for him, he decided that college wasn't his path at that point in his life, and is pursuing his music career. Ryan started out at Stonehill College, but transferred his sophomore year to Fr. Woods night school at Boston College, and it is there that he found his right fit. Mary went to UMASS for a year as a nursing major, but did not feel it was the right place for her. She worked very hard and transferred into Boston College school of Nursing for her sophomore year....she loves BC and it is definitely the right fit for her.
Jane had no intentions of applying to Boston College. She wanted to follow her own path, and today as we toured Providence College for accepted students day, I felt it...Jane's right fit was this college. She is her own person, and as soon as we stepped on the campus grounds, both Donnie and I knew in our hearts that this is where she belonged.
From BC to PC, these last 10 years, have been a roller coaster ride of emotions. Each of our children had to find the right fit for them, whether it was the right college or the right career choice. I cried on Danielle's first day of college, and I have cried on each of the other children's first day of college. Today, without letting Jane see, I held in my tears, because this fall will be the last first day of college for our children, and it is hard for me to believe that my baby girl will be going to her first day of Providence College in September of 2012.
Ten years, and I could not be prouder of each and everyone of my children. May they continue to find their right "fit" in whatever they choose to do in life. BC to PC, 10 years, it's been a great ride. I know this fall I will definitely be crying on Jane's first day, but the tears will be of joy and a whole lot of pride..
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