Good morning everyone, today is Monday March 1, 2021.a new week and a new month. I like the month of March because of the unpredictable weather, one day it is beautiful and sunny the next it could be snowing, sort of like our lives one day up and the next down. We never know what to expect. I hope.you all had a nice weekend and enjoyed yourself. I certainly did. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the birthday wishes and beautiful sentiments you sent for Amanda’s birthday. I am truly humbled that so many people would take time from their lives to wish me and my family best wishes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As you know yesterday was Sunday and I went to church, I have resumed going back to church rather than watching it on tv. Church for me is very comforting. It always has been. I feel religion plays an important role in our lives. I do not only mean me , I am Roman Catholic, but I mean all religions, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist whatever you believe in. I feel it give you a grounding in life from a small child to an adult. We all need faith in something, we need to trust and believe in something without evidence. I always feel oxygen nourishes and give life to or bodies whereas faith nourishes our heart and soul. As I have mentioned before I feel god has given me extrodinary gifts during my life, many ti I ask why, I’m not even that deserving. One thing I enjoy about the priests sermons is how they connect the ancient world and what Jesus and all prophets who taught to our lives today, again I am sure these sermons are basically the same in all houses of worship.
This week the priest spoke about lent and our preparation for Easter, and brought up last year and how the pandemic robbed us of part of lent and then Holy Week, which to a catholic is quite important and finally Easter. So I did a little research and found this year was the first time in 20 centuries of catholicism that people were deprived of the sacraments. Even during the plague of the Middle Ages priests still offered communion. However, today we are much smarter medically and realized the churches and all houses of worship were to be locked down. Still today I cannot believe I did not go to church on Easter. The mere act of receiving communion has always been a pleasure for me. When I was sick I had one dr. In New Jersey and one in New York they agreed on treatment in every way but Jersey forbid me to eat anything except water New York said maybe a little broth this went o for weeks at different intervals. So However the one thing they did agree on was communion, when I asked they both agreed if I let it melt in my mouth. To me this was enough physical nourishment but it was also spiritual nourishment, it gave me strength to go on. So this year I pray nothing will bar me from my Easter duty. I have talked a lot today but I feel it has meaning for all of us especially now we need our beliefs.
I think it might rain today but don’t let that deter you from seeking something enjoyable to do h ave a great day Til Tomorrow!

To one who has faith no explanation is necessary.

To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

Thomas Aquinas

Good morning everyone, today is Sunday February 28, 202. I hope all is well out there with everyone. In our lives we are granted special days, days that give us joy for the rest of our life. One of those days was 36 years ago February 28, 1985. God once again smiled my way and gave me one othe greatest gifts a man could ask for, he gave me Amanda Visco Genovino. Now I had the perfect American family. From the moment she arrived she stole my heart. I knew from that moment I would protect and treasure her all the days of my life. In this days we did not know the sex of the baby , it was a surprise. Amanda was a scheduled c section where as Justin an emergency. As I waited outside of the delivery room with Drs. Fain and La Conti the only two men I would trust with my life to deliver this special gift. We talked about cars , clothes, vacations while Marylou wsas preped When it was time Fain put his arm around my shoulder and said let’s go get that little girl. I could have fallen over with delight and it would not have been the first time that morning. In admitting the woman said take a seat I was so nervous I just sat down without a chair. Boy did I get a look. So we went in and the baby was born, sure enough it was a girl. After the three of us stood outside the nursery and Dr La Conti asked alright whose going to pay for all the clothes. We laughed but at that moment I vowed to myself this girl will have anything she wants, I will work day and night to make her special, and I did, there was nothing too good for her. You know the phrase born with a silver spoon in your mouth, there was actually a reason for that, babies are born with some kind of film in their mouth and the silver counteracted that, that’s wh the wealthy coul do that. I did the best job I could and I think god answered all my prayers because she grew to be a fine woman.
Now she has given me the greatest gift anyone could ask for. She gave me my legacy named Rocco and Dario. I now rest with the knowledge that these two boys will carry the Visco, Genovino name for generations to come, something very important to me. She also gave me Ronnie another son. And Julian my third son ( a godfather). So my family is complete.
Last night we celebrated in an igloo with all the people I hold dear. Look on reflections of a life blog for the pictures.
So Amanda Happy Birthday my heart, and 1000 more. Love Daddy.
Now it is Sunday and it says it will not rain til later this afternoon so get out for some enjoyment and fresh air. I have a big birthday day planned. Ti tomorrow!

Good morning everyone, today is Friday February 26, 2021. Yes it is the beginning of the weekend, we have gotten through another week , thank god. I hope everyone is up to snuff this morning, a little colder than yesterday but it still promises to be a beautiful day. Sunshine for some reason just makes everything seem better. My mother in law used to say yes the sun is shinning and it is beautiful out but don’t be fooled it is still cold out so dress warmly. I call these days Emily days. So I will pass her advice on today remember if you go out dress warmly. It is not spring yet, a long way to go. Today, I am back to my old self some days we all need a little self pity. It helps us to be stronger and accept the life we are given.
As you know during this time I have taught my self to cook and now I think I’m not so bad at it, because I enjoy doing it, and I am beginning to create my own dishes. I did not do this alone , when I set out on this adventure I thought you need a teacher so I chose two famous chefs one the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten and the famous Italian chef Lidia Bastiianich, Lidia I knew cooked the way I wanted to Italian because I have been going to her restaurants in New York for many years especially Becco on 46th street. I have enjoyed it there over the years with many people and have had parties there and the food is always excellent. I don’t know why, maybe it is my magnetic personality but I always meet the right people wherever I go. I gift I guess ha ha. But I did befriend the matre d and we became friendly over the years so when I wanted or needed something I would just call him, however, I also believe you don’t take advantage of a gift like that, be thankful. So I armed myself with lidia’s cookbooks and set out to cook, her books give more than recipes they also give technique and I learned. She always talkes about her immigrant background and you know how that draws me in like a honey bee. How she began in nyc. She also talks about her mother and what she learned from her and how she would not be the success she is if it wasn’t for her. It seems like I know the whole family by now. A few weeks actually ago was Erminia, her mothers 100 birthday. On the website like hundreds of others I wished her a happy birthday. Sadly, she passed away last week and Lidia wrote a beautiful message on line to all her fan announcing her death. I again like hundreds of fans sent my condolences, I don’t know why I just felt bad after reading so much about her. The other day I found an older cookbook of hers and the dedication was to her mother. At the time she was in her early nineties but it was a beautiful tribute, it also included a speech written by her great grandson. It is long so I will mention just a few lines “experience is the teacher of life” “ she is the fundamental force that drives me to excel and enjoy life” “ her story is a story of perseverance, appreciation and imparting knowledge “ the knowledge passed down to me by Nonna is invaluable” when I read this tribute I felt like I could have written for my grandmother as you know she was a major force in my life then and even now after almost 50 years without her.
I think I said a lot today and I don’t want to bore you too much but again I found a beautiful poem “ broken chain “ I have posted it on reflections of a life. I felt it was just about the way we all feel at a certain time in our life.
Now get out and enjoy the sun get some vitamin d you are probably deficient in it anyway,we all are have fun . Til Tomorrow! Enjoy the Emily Day

Good morning everyone, today is February 25, 2021, Thursday. Yes another month hurdling by. It is only about 2 weeks til we turn the clocks ahead and we get longer days, can’t wait, it means spring is around the corner. I hope everyone is well this morning, looking out the window the weather looks beautiful, maybe a good day to get out. I trust everyone took advantage of yesterday’s present of a beautiful day and did something fun.
As I was walking yesterday I thought to myself growing older is really not a lot of fun as I have told you I do feel lucky with the life I have had. I think I have experienced many things others have not. For that I am thankful, and I thank god everyday for what he has given me because if it wasn’t for his kindness and goodness I would not have had my life. On a secular level I was taught very young not ever to be that happy because the other shoe could easily drop. And at this age I’m finding that to be more true than not. I have gone through years of illness now and just when I think I feel good something creeps in, again I thank god they are minor and can easily dealt with but it just gets me down sometimes and I abhor that feeling. I was also taught that god only gives us what we can bear. If you put all your problems in a barrel with everyone else’s you would always take yours back. When I awoke this morning I was not as jovial as I am on other mornings but talking is making me come alive again, because I don’t want to miss this beautiful day. I’m tying to plan my next move, that may also be part of my problem, I also believe an idle mind is the devil’s worship, I always have to be doing something. I can’t tell you the last time I sat and watched a movie , I just feel that time could be better spent. Growing up I had friends when it was time to watch television at nigh their mother would always bring out something for them to do knitting, crocheting, something to keep their hand busy. Others would have to practice the piano 1 hour before tv and their father being a surgeon would drop the scalpel between their fingers as they did the scales. I myself when I finally sit down around 8:30 9 o’clock come with a barrage of books and papers to read while I watch tv, now the internet has been added. Maybe that in itself is a problem I cannot sit idle.
Today let’s enjoy this glorious day and have some fun, I don’t know what , but I will try and find something.
Enjoy, Til Tomorrow!

Good morning everyone, well it is hump day today , the middle of the week, it is February 24, 2021. The weather looks good today so maybe we could venture out and do some enjoyable things or maybe even run some errands. I think many of us about now are starting to go a little stir crazy with all the snow and bad weather, it’s not bad enough to endure what we are but did we have to top it off with bad weather too. I’m looking for nice temperatures, not balmy days yet, I know we have a way to go to get really warm.
As I have told you I am a people person, I like to talk to anyone that will listen, but I also enjoy listening to them maybe even more. I am also a people watcher, I enjoy nothing more than to sit in a restaurant, cafe, park, mall and watch people go by. If I were in France I could do this all day in a cafe with coffee and a croissant, and I have done that with great delight. Why does one watch people, it is a way to create intrigue in life ,you create scenarios imagining all sorts of things, the way people act dress and carry themselves, when I would direct a show more than once I got my characterizations from ordinary people I saw, the way they stood, held their hands, walked. Teaching monologues I would always give a picture and tell the students put life into these photos, on your way home watch people and use those mannerisms you see on you photo to create dialogue. This is not something new people have always people watched, Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel was built specifically for that purpose. Great restaurants used to seat people that way, in France a man could never sit against a wall he had to be looking at his companion while she sat against the wall. The premise was a woman was to be seen by others not the man. In Maxims one night a patron could not understand this and fought the waiter and mater d finally he was told if he could not abide by the rules he could leave. He sat down where they told him. I’m sure these rules are no longer in place. I myself find it difficult to sit facing a wall because I want to see what’s going on. Throughout history women have always been watched for their beauty and style because basically all women are beautiful. The me too movement would have me murdered for saying that. But I don’t mean just physical beauty I also mean inner beauty, women are mothers and caretakers and there is a softness about that , and can be seen by others. One night in Regines I was having dinner and a woman came in and she looked at me and something about her intrigued me as I sat most of the night sometimes glancing at her I realized she was much older than me, she was extremely beautiful and in this case I mean facially her skin was perfection and finally I realized it was Zsa Zsa Gabor. She was just beautiful no matter what her age was, and I thought no wonder so many men married her. I am not speaking disrespectful in this post about anyone. I felt the same way when I saw Rock Hudson. These people made their lives by their looks. Times are much different now. So this post is really to honor all people, everyone is beautiful to me. That’s why I enjoy watching them. What is more beautiful than an elderly couple walking holding hands in a park, or a parent teaching a child to ride a bike, or a grandparent holding a grandchild. A teacher walking with the class behind her like Ms. Clavell in Madeline, but one I love is a women or man at a farmers market picking tomatoes with such expertise, you know whatever they make with that tomato will be delicious because they are experts. These are scenes I love seeing. So please do not take offense to anything I said, I love all people and watching everyday life go by.
Have a great day, try watching a snlpit of life it will make you enjoy yours even better. Again I have posted a short poem about what makes people important try to read it refections of a life. Til Tomorrow!