Polio once the most feared diseases in America during the 1950’s. Parents were frightened to let their children go out to play, especially in the summer when the virus seemed to tear its ugly head and peak. Pools were closed, parks, movie theaters all closed. Even birthday parties were cancelled. Inter city travel and commerce was restricted, quarantines were imposed to restrict the movements of well people. Thanks to the polio vaccine and Jonas Salk the created, health care workers and diligent parents polio has been eliminated in this country for more than 30 years. Shown here is how the vaccine was distributed. On three consecutive Sundays in 1960 called Sabin Sunday we line up outside schools and other buildings after church in our Sunday best to receive the pink sugar cube which contained the vaccine that would end polio forever. I remember lining up at south end school with my family, happy this nightmare would be ending. That’s why Monday 60 years later I lined up once again to get the shot that would end this terrible plaque we live with now. I will line up again March15 for my second dose and be thrilled to get it.

Good morning everyone, today is Wednesday February 17, 2021. I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the day ahead, again it is already hump day so the week is half over. I want to thank everyone who reacted or commented on the photo I posted yesterday, it was such an uplifting feeling to realize so many people out there care. By the way the cake was delicious.
Yesterday I felt like Phillies Fogg from around the world in 80 days. You know how I love to travel the world virtually through food. Yesterday being Fat Tuesday I felt like traveling so in the morning I was in New Orleans at Marci Gras for my king cake and reviled with all the partygoers. The Slavic people believed at this time of year they awaited the return of spring, so they ate little round pancakes called blini to remind them of the sun they called this week butter week. So for lunch I traveled to mother Russia and dined on blini and caviar with caviar, I almost felt the presence of Nicholas II and Alexandra, who I think were one of the most tragic love couples of all history. I left the imperial palace and for dinner arrived at the beautiful green Ireland where I had Irish stew to bring my Carnivale to an end. What an imagination, but without it imagine how boring life woud be.
Today I am ready to settle down and enter lent. As a child we feel lent is the most horrible time of year and at that time of life it is, sacrifice, prayers, no meat on Friday, even the churches take on a somber look. But at my age I look at it differently now, god suffered through this time for us and eventually was persecuted and died for us. Now I think back through my life and god has always been there for me in ways I didn’t even know, he has never forsaken me. So it is the least I can do for him to sacrifice a little during this time. In a way it brings you back to reality, it humbles you. So I enter lent with great joy and await Easter. We can all do this together. So today is Ash Wednesday and we will wear our ashes proudly.
Have a great day, Being lent does not mean to not enjoy yourself god does not expect that so continue to pursue happiness I will . On reflections of live I have posted a beautiful poem that has given me reason to think most of my life. Please enjoy reading it today. Tomorrow.

Good morning everyone, I hope all is well with everyone. Today is Tuesday February 16, 2021. The weather seems to be giving us a little break today, the prediction has changed from freezing rain to plain rain, I will take it. Maybe the weather realized today is Mari Gras, Fat Tuesday, Carnevale what ever you want to call it is a reason to celebrate. Some of you may be saying does this man think of anything else but celebrating, the answer is not much , why do I believe in celebrating because we are given one life and we don’t know how long that is no one but god can answer that, he has given us this time to make the best life we can for ourselves, so enjoyment must be part of it. Over the weekend I was watching the Today show and a noted psychologist said ‘ In life it is important to celebrate everything we can and that’s what I try to do even a minute thing I try to make special.
So today my Kings Cake is ready and calling for me to eat it for breakfast, I hope I find the baby so I can have a party next year. As a teacher we celebrated Mardi Gras in school , with beads and the thre colors , gol, red , and purple. We talk diversity and tolerance , I’ve always felt if children are not exposed to all aspects of life how can they appreciate each other and life itself, this is a missed year a missred opportunity for that. Chinese New Year with barely a mention. However Rocco came home from school and said bebop we have to sweep the floor. I thought thank god he is beginning to realize about cleaning his messes. That was not the case I asked why he said for company for the new year. So I was happy he was exposed to the lunar new year.
Now today we celebrate because as Catholics tomorrow we go into Lent forty days of sacrifice and fasting ending Easter Sunday. I never minded lent that much , sometimes I was glad we just got to eat more fish and there is always the no meat on Friday deal. If we touched a piece of meat it was like we were condemned to hell. But the older you get you seem to appreciate these religious customs more. Maybe because our world is changing so much these customs remind us of what and who we are. If we abandon all of our customs and traditions how will children like Rocco and Dario, and Vanni, and Isla and all the other children know what they are and where they came from. So yes I will continue to celebrate all that I can and I will drag you along with me everyday in our talks even if it gives you 5 minutes of joy or happiness or a memory that give you something to be happy about. I will post a picture of the Cake on refections of life blog page for you all to see, I wish we could all enjoy a piece together with a little cafe au lait. I have been meaning to ask if you like the name of the blog page. I felt that is what we do we talk about how we reflect on our life’s.
Enjoy today wear purple, green , or gold and celebrate because tomorrow we fast . Til Tomorrow!

The King Cake Tradition, Explained

Why is there a plastic baby baked inside this Mardi Gras staple?

• By Dana Hatic 
• on January 4, 2018 11:32 am

Americans usher in the new year with diets and lifestyle resolutions galore, but many people across the globe — particularly those from predominantly Catholic countries — celebrate the calendar change with a sweet pastry known as king cake. It first appears in bakery cases at the beginning of each year and can be found at the center of celebrations through early spring. Some associate it with Mardi Gras, others with a celebration known as Epiphany.

King cake is eaten on January 6 in honor of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, which historically marks the arrival of the three wise men/kings in Bethlehem who delivered gifts to the baby Jesus. (The plastic baby hidden inside king cakes today is a nod to this story.) King cake also appears on tables throughout the Carnival season, which runs from Epiphany to Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent), at which point practitioners typically abstain from such indulgences as cake.

Good morning everyone, today is February 15, 2021. Monday, today is the third Monday of February a day designated to honor the presidents of the United States. We originally celebrated George Washington’s Birthday and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in February but that has changed by an act of Congress to celebrate all presidents on the third Monday of February. It was intended to give us a three day weekend. It’s not such a bad idea. When we think of why we celebrate the presidents it’s important for us to know what they do to make us the greatest country in the world. Of course we have had great presidents along the line,a line of approximately 250 years and some not good ones but again they have four years to prove themselves to the people , if the people disapprove the are voted out of office.
I don’t fully understand my thinking this morning but I am beginning to understand why I am writing what I am. We are all from immigrant backgrounds, our ancestors chose to come to America, so all of their experiences are very similar. Now I am very proud of this fact and the people who made that choice to come here are a very important part of my life. Now you know I am from Italian roots, that is what I am 100 percent. I have no other culture running through my veins. So my point of reference will always be Italian oriented. That does not mean I don’t respect every other culture that makes up our great country. As I have been thinking my forebears left Italy most realized they would never return, the truth of the matter they did not want to return . They wanted America to be their new home, the wanted their children and grandchildren to be American. They wanted to follow the ideas of the president. Growing up and then working the poles older these people made it their duty to vote for the president. He was growing to give them a chance to fulfill their dreams of a better life for them and their offsprings for generations to come. This is why I have great respect for our president I was taught that. I was taught the job of the president of the United States is the greatest job in the world. That’s why it is so hard for me to see the office of the presidency tarnished in any way. Of course I understand the ramifications of doing something wrong and the need to take action against it. But I also see every time we do that it weakens the presidents position in the world. Now I don’t know if this concept is an Italian thing or if it is universal but I was taught keep your mouth shut and don’t air your dirty laundry for all to see. That was drilled into me from a very early age. So to me today we celebrate the office of the president,an office recently has taken a lot of hits but it will smooth itself out. Did the presidents fulfill the dreams of our ancestors of course they did Italians moved up the socio economic ladder very quickly. America fulfilled all their dreams . That’s why today we are all Americans and proud of it, yes we share many Italian ideals the love I of family, food, our heritage this can never be irradiated but we are Americans through and through and would give our lives for that privilege and many have.
The other day I came across a poem that made me really think of our heritage. So l posted it on the blog page reflections of a life on WordPress. Thank you all for accepting my invitation to it. I think it will be a lot of fun when we really get into it . I’m looking forward to posting many things to share together, poems , recipes, pictures and so on.please read today’s poem it made me really think of what my essence really is.
Enjoy another gift from the president, a holiday today so take advantage of it. Enjoy doing something you might not normally do. I hope you all enjoyed some candy or other treat yesterday and guess what I got a sweater.
Have a great day, Til Tomorrow!

Always remember

You are

Braver than you believe

Stronger than you seem

Smarter than you think

&

Loved more than

You know

Never never give up.

Good morning everyone, today is Sunday February 14, 2021. It is Valentine’s Day I hope everyone one is well and ready to enjoy this beautiful day. I’m really not sure of the weather but everything out there is not white so that is a good sign but they are not calling for good weather for the next week. None the less we will celebrate inside our nice warm homes.
We have been talking this weekend about love leading up to Valentine’s Day and now it is here. I researched great couples in history to share and most I’m sure you know and some surprised me but I decided not to go that way this morning. Why should we talk of lovers from the past when we have enough going on in our lives right now to share.Valentine’s Day is a time to share love and admiration for friends and people we care about. In our lives today we have many people to admire and love, so being Sunday let’s say a prayer of thanks to these people, the essential workers, what is an essential worker to me everyone is essential, this past year we have needed many walks of life to get up through this misery, doctors, nurses, police, fireman but what about all the maintenance people who work so diligently to keep our environment clean and safe. The food industry which is almost destroyed but have still managed to feed us. Truck drivers who travel interstate to get supplies to us, grocery clerks who come in contact with hundreds of people everyday. Let’s take a moment and wish all of them happy Valentine’s Day because we do truly admire and love them.
Now I am ready for the day, I am armed with candy cookies and anything else my two special Valentine’s need to begin to burn thes memories in their minds. When I talk about candy many of you bring up Bambergers, a department store of grandeur in its day and yes on Valentine’s Day I still remember my father walking through the door with the bag laden with hearts, for my mother, grandmother , sister and mine was usually a box not a heart, I don’t have to explain why after all I was a boy. My mother always got me a sweater, and for 50 years I have been saying that to Marylou sometimes it works. I have another sweater day but that is next month St. Joseph’s day. But through all this today we must remember that a lot of love and caring has gotten us through this last year some from afar because we can’t be together, but we pray this hell will end someday soon.
I said this the other day many are out there alone today either they choose to be alone, or they are afraid to be with people, or jusyt are alone, and then there are us that are lucky to be with loved ones. But whatever the case may be don’t let today pass without showing some love and admiration to yourself. We have all endured this horror the best ways we could so we deserve our own love. Maybe it sounds stupid but it is not it has really made us survive it believe it or not. Now I hope you took my advice and bought yourself a treat candy, flowers, cake, or something else you wanted maybe a sweater ha ha, . But if you didn’t I am sending you all a virtual hug and kiss for Valentine’s Day so there you received a token of my love and affection for you all. If it was in my power you would all have a heart to.
So Happy Valentine’s Day my dear friends and loved ones, enjoy today. As an added bonus many are off tomorrow due to Presidents Day. Enjoy be carful if you venture out. Til Tomorrow!

Good morning everyone, today is Sunday February 14, 2021. It is Valentine’s Day I hope everyone one is well and ready to enjoy this beautiful day. I’m really not sure of the weather but everything out there is not white so that is a good sign but they are not calling for good weather for the next week. None the less we will celebrate inside our nice warm homes.
We have been talking this weekend about love leading up to Valentine’s Day and now it is here. I researched great couples in history to share and most I’m sure you know and some surprised me but I decided not to go that way this morning. Why should we talk of lovers from the past when we have enough going on in our lives right now to share.Valentine’s Day is a time to share love and admiration for friends and people we care about. In our lives today we have many people to admire and love, so being Sunday let’s say a prayer of thanks to these people, the essential workers, what is an essential worker to me everyone is essential, this past year we have needed many walks of life to get up through this misery, doctors, nurses, police, fireman but what about all the maintenance people who work so diligently to keep our environment clean and safe. The food industry which is almost destroyed but have still managed to feed us. Truck drivers who travel interstate to get supplies to us, grocery clerks who come in contact with hundreds of people everyday. Let’s take a moment and wish all of them happy Valentine’s Day because we do truly admire and love them.
Now I am ready for the day, I am armed with candy cookies and anything else my two special Valentine’s need to begin to burn thes memories in their minds. When I talk about candy many of you bring up Bambergers, a department store of grandeur in its day and yes on Valentine’s Day I still remember my father walking through the door with the bag laden with hearts, for my mother, grandmother , sister and mine was usually a box not a heart, I don’t have to explain why after all I was a boy. My mother always got me a sweater, and for 50 years I have been saying that to Marylou sometimes it works. I have another sweater day but that is next month St. Joseph’s day. But through all this today we must remember that a lot of love and caring has gotten us through this last year some from afar because we can’t be together, but we pray this hell will end someday soon.
I said this the other day many are out there alone today either they choose to be alone, or they are afraid to be with people, or jusyt are alone, and then there are us that are lucky to be with loved ones. But whatever the case may be don’t let today pass without showing some love and admiration to yourself. We have all endured this horror the best ways we could so we deserve our own love. Maybe it sounds stupid but it is not it has really made us survive it believe it or not. Now I hope you took my advice and bought yourself a treat candy, flowers, cake, or something else you wanted maybe a sweater ha ha, . But if you didn’t I am sending you all a virtual hug and kiss for Valentine’s Day so there you received a token of my love and affection for you all. If it was in my power you would all have a heart to.
So Happy Valentine’s Day my dear friends and loved ones, enjoy today. As an added bonus many are off tomorrow due to Presidents Day. Enjoy be carful if you venture out. Til Tomorrow!