BEING THANKFUL FOR RICHARD

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for my brother Richard. He died earlier this month. He loved his wife Val, his daughter Emily, and his birth family. He also loved acting, cooking, and laughing. Rich is the one in blue. His obituary follows. It does a good job of speaking about his life. Rich will be missed by many.

Richard John Sottile 

SOTTILE - Richard John, Thespian, 58, died Thursday at Waterview Nursing Center after a beautiful life & long struggle with Lewy Body Dementia. Dick was born in Jamaica NY & grew up in Lindenhurst in the house his father built. His interest in theater was piqued at Lindenhurst High & cultivated at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His adventures included: experimental theater; cross country travel & fatherhood. He laughed easily; loved acting & reading; was a skilled baker & could cook up a mean pot of chili. Rich was devoted to his parents Molly & Tony. He leaves behind: devoted daughter, Emily Valentine; beloved twin sister, care taker & life-long companion, Margie; brothers Tony, Joe & Bob; dear friends, cousins & in-laws; as well as his best friend (& former wife) Valerie Gene. Services will be held at Lindenhurst Funeral Home 424 S. Wellwood Ave. Lindenhurst, NY Saturday 11/12/11 2–6pm. In lieu of flowers please make donations to LewyBody Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Rd. SW Lilburn, GA 30047 www.lbda.org or the SAGE Project www.sagesf.org 

  

Honoring My Mother on Mother's Day

A number of years ago, I read this at my mother's funeral mass. I am sharing it today with you to honor my mother and sister. It was the last gift that I could send upward to Heaven dedicated to her.

Our Mother, a Gift of Words

If my mom were alive today, she would thank you for coming here. So her family thanks you today. Besides prayers, the last gift that I can give our mother is a few kind words. She used to say, “If it makes you happy, do it.” And I am happy to share these words with you.


Our mother is gone, but she’s here in our hearts and memories—like Father Jim said. She’s here in her children and their spouses, grandchildren and many others. Yes, she’s here in her grandchildren. She was a “grand” mother to all of them. Whenever we closed a long distance phone call, she would add, “Give everyone a kiss for me and tell them that I love them.”


She even included our dog, Rosco, in her good wishes. Dogs held a special place in my mom’s heart because they asked for so little and gave so much. Dogs like Rudy and Lucy. Mom is here in her nieces and nephews and her friends.


So, who was this woman we call mother, sister, grandma, great-grandma or friend? She was an angel on Earth. That’s who she was. Those who used to watch “Touched By An Angel” know what I mean. This earthly angel wasn’t perfect, but she was as perfect as a person can be. She earned her angel wings by spending most of her teenage years without a father, a father who died in a fire. Her oldest brother, John, became her rock of Gibraltar, her substitute father. This lovely lass fell in love with a hard-working macho Italian man. It was a classic case of “Romeo and Juliet,” except that the relationship survived growing up in two different houses, with two different cultures and lifestyles.


In the first year of marriage, there were challenges and the background of World War Two. Out of love, my mother gave into her groom in many ways. She waited hand-and-foot on a man used to European ways of living. That’s partly how she earned her heavenly wings today. She pleased this tough macho man as much as she could because she knew that he would love her all the days of his life; that he would work hard for her and their family, as long as he could.


She knew a profound secret about him that escaped the minds of his children, even as their lives unfolded into adulthood. She knew that he was hard on the outside, and a marshmallow on the inside. And that he would always be a good father, better than his father, and better than most fathers.


She gave birth to three sons and one Earth-Angel, Margie. Our mom earned her earthly wings by being a wonderful mother to all of her children. Each one of us was an integral part of her life. We all have stories we could tell. I remember many things she did for us. Christmas was always full of tradition, food, laughter, gifts, and generous relatives. I remember wonderful birthday parties, my First Holy Communion, Confirmation, playing ball around the house, breaking windows, and ruining patches of grass and storm doors with a love of stoopball and baseball. If mom saw me playing happily with my cousin, John, nothing else mattered. I remember Queens, Ozone Park, getting lost at the Bronx Zoo, shaking Hopalong Cassidy’s hand at Gertz Department store, after waiting three hours on line. I remember our trip to Colorado, picnics at Belmont Park, a special yearly picnic at Coram, feeding our stomach and our souls. It was a fantastic time for young or old.


In our daily lives, our mom was always there for us, standing behind us 100%. She believed that we could do anything with our careers. When I was nervous about student teaching in the college campus school, where many college kids were always coming and going, I complained to mom about teaching in a fish bowl—where college professors and students could observe your every move through a two-way mirror that lined the classroom wall.


She said, “Don’t worry, Joe. You will be a Kingfish.” She was right. I did well.
I could always count on my mother to believe in me.


Later on in life, when my wife had a serious operation, mom came for a week and took wonderful care of all of us. Mom could be there for family and for strangers in need. Mom and Dad loved movies, [so here comes a movie-connection for mom]. In the movie “Judging Your Life,” the main character had to prove to a panel of his heavenly superiors that he’s worthy of advancing higher. He wishes for the sake of upward mobility that he had a real fire scene in his life like his new friend has. He wanted something dramatic to show the panel judging his life.


Well, our mother did have a fire scene. She saved a boy from death who was on fire in the neighbor’s yard by rolling him in the wet grass. He had second and third degree burns but he survived, thanks to my mother. Besides her fire rescue scene, she had her long lasting marriage to father. And she gave birth to four children who were touched by an earthy angel every day.


Our mom is now a full-fledge angel. She was the best mother we could possibly have had. She spent her whole life being an outstanding wife and mother. We will miss her deeply. But she did leave behind wonderful memories and three sons and an Earth-Angel, Margie, who became mother to her own mother in the end.


Mom told us we were all loved the same amount. But, if she loved Margie a little extra, that’s okay. Margie gave mom some of the best years of her life. Amen.  

The Best Bunch of Writing Quotes

"Writing comes more quickly if you have something to say." ~Sholem Asch

"Men may move mountains, but ideas move men." ~Lois McMaster Bujold

"Ink on paper is as beautiful to me flowers on mountains; God composes, why shouldn’t we?" ~Audra Foveo-Alba

"There is more pleasure in building castles in the air then on the ground."~Edward Gibbon

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly." ~Buckminister Fuller

                           

“You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.”~Nietzsche

“Author sho never give you something to disagree with never give you anything to think about.”~Michael LaRocca

“If my doctor told me that I had six months to live, I wouldn’t brood, I’d type faster.”~Isaac Asimov

“I find that when we really love and accept, and approve of ourselves exactly as we are, then everything in life works.”~Louise Hay

“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”~Toni Morrison

“Write down on the page what’s in your heart.”~William Wadsworth

“Live from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.~Melody Beattie                            

“Life—like writing—it's about the journey; fill it with dreams, direction, and dedication.~Joe Sottile

           

Math Is Beautiful Just Like Poetry

By Carrie Graham Donaldo

Subject: MATHEMATICS

Love of Mathematics and the Love of God!   This is TOO cool!  
Just the math part is good enough, the end is even better.  

I bet you won’t be able to read it without sharing it! 
 

Beauty of Mathematics!!!!!!! 

1 x 8 + 1= 9
12 x 8 + 2= 98
123 x 8 + 3= 987
1234 x 8 + 4= 9876
12345 x 8 + 5= 98765
123456 x 8 + 6= 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7= 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8= 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9= 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111 
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111 
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111 
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111 
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111 

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888 
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888 
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888 
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888 
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888 
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it? 

And look at this symmetry: 

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121 
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321 
11111 x 11111 = 123454321 
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321 
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321 
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Mind Boggling...

   
Now, take a look at this... 

101% 

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint: 

What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they
Are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to
GIVE OVER 100%... 

How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100%in life? 

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help
Answer these questions: 

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

Is represented as: 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26. 

Then: 

H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K 

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% 

And: 

K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E 

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96% 

But: 

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E 

1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100% 

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you: 

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D 
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101% 

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, andAttitude will
Get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

If you find this interesting share it with your friends & loved ones.

Have a nice day & God bless you! 

For Jessica

Debra Ross in this week’s KOA newsletter for Rochester ended her newsletter with the following, and this is what she wrote:

"Recently, the New Yorker had a front-page piece about a study that purported to show that having children does not, on average, increase happiness. There has been a lot of debate about this since that article was published. Last night, I came across this true gem of a blog post from a writer named Jennifer Lawler. Here's part of what she has to say:

Only an academic would undertake a study like this, defining happiness as something along the lines of “satisfaction with life” and “feeling rewarded by your work.” If there’s an occupation more likely to make you feel incompetent and unrewarded than being a parent, I have never heard of it...If you weren’t an academic, you might define happiness as the experience of being fully alive. To know grace, and despair, and the kind of hardness you have to learn to stand against; to watch your family fail you when you need them the most, and have your ex-husband look around, shrug his shoulders, and hold out his hand to help you up again.

The essay is simply beautiful, and made me look at the entire question a new way."

Debra is right. This essay on a blog drew over 240 responses the last time I checked. It’s certainly worth reading. Thank you, Debra Ross, for sharing. The connection is below...

http://jenniferlawler.com/wordpress/?p=747

If the Rocker Fits, Then Rock On!

From the Internet and in my mailbox today... NOW WE’RE THE OLD FOLKS! By Annie Must          Another year has passed  And we're all a little older.  Last summer felt hotter    And  winter seems much colder.       I  rack my brain for happy thoughts,      To  put down on my  pad,    But  lots of things,    That  come to mind    Just  make me kind of  sad.       There was a time not long ago      When life was quite a blast.        Now, I fully understand    About "Living in the Past".       We used to go to friends homes,      Football games and lunches.      Now we go to therapy, to hospitals,       And after-funeral brunches.        We used to have hangovers,       From parties that were gay.      Now we suffer body aches     And sleep the night away.      We used to go out dining,    And  couldn't get our fill.      Now, we ask for doggie bags,      Come home and take a pill.        We used to often travel    To places near and  far.    Now, we get backaches    From riding in the car.      We used to go out shopping    For new clothing at the Mall        But, now we never bother...      All the sizes are too small.          That, my friend is how life is,     And now my tale is told.    So, enjoy each day and live it up...      Before you're too darn old!!         You  pass this way only once so enjoy it while you can, Live Laugh and  Love!

A Letter to Keep and Share

The following came by way via the Internet, and it rings true to me; maybe, it will to you too. I do think it’s a  “Keeper.” Share this letter with those that you love and want to keep near. I don't know the author of the letter, but it's a gem.

Dear Keeper,

I grew up in the 50's with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a Name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.    
Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat, and Mom in a house dress, broom in one hand and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress, things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it.. it's best we love it... And care for it.... And fix it when it's broken.... And heal it when it's sick.  
  
This is true... For marriage.... And old cars.... And children with bad report cards..... Dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents....... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special..... And so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn, if you wish, to send this to those people that are "keepers" in your life. Send it back to the person that sent it to you if they too are a keeper. Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Keep them close. 

Courage Does Not Always Roar

I love this quote. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice that says, "Keep on doing what you are doing, and things will eventually get better." It could be doing a job that you really don't like, but you give it your best, and you're pleasant and positive with all the people that you meet at your job. That takes courage. To fight a serious illness, takes a vast amount of courage. To watch your spouse's hand shake, knowing that the medicine to stop the shaking causes more problems than it's worth, takes courage. We are never "innocent" bystanders to the pain of the ones we love. We see their pain, and we feel their pain, even if we hardly ever verbalize it. That is the nature of true love.

What Miracles Have Happened in Your Life?

What miracles have happened in your life? I'll get the magic rolling by mentioning several miracles in my life. First, falling in love with my soulmate and marrying her. Life for me could have turned out so differently and poorly had I not married Marilyn...Secondly, adopting Mary Lou was a miracle. It was meant to be. We picked her up from Catholic Charities on April 8, 1971 at 10:30 am. Exactly two years later at 10:31 April Marie was born, another miracle. Both girls were meant to be in our lives. Thirdly our oldest grandson needed a liver transplant and after a very long wait one came his way miraculously saving his life. That was four years ago. So, those are three miracles in our lives. There were more, but not quite as big as those.

The story ahead is about a miracle. You probably read it before on the Internet....This has been around for several years, but deserves, no requires, a re-issue at this happy and HOLY time of year. GOD BLESS!!

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment.

Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing... She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't se en in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone.. 'He's really, really sick ... and I want to buy a miracle.'

'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.

'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs..'

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'

'I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation... But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.'

'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago

'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly

'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'

'Well, what a coincidence,' smiled he man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. '

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle I wonder how much it would have cost?'

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost..one dollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law.

I know you'll keep the ball moving!

Here it goes. Throw it back to someone who means something to you!

A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

Today I pass the friendship ball to you.

Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you.

MY OATH TO YOU...

When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.

When you are scared....I will comfort your fears..

When you are worried......I will give you hope.

When you are confused......I will help you cope.

And when you are lost .... And can't see the light, I shall be your beacon .... Shining ever so bright.

This is my oath ..... I pledge till the end.

Why you may ask? .... Because you're my friend.

Signed: GOD