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February 9, 2021

Good morning everyone, today is February 9, 2021. I think we are having snow showers enough of the snow already but I’m afraid we are not going to be that Lucky this year. I hope everyone is feeling well and ready to take on another day, we have to what other choice do we have, there are other choices but I don’t want to hear them, we are all strong and can handle what life gives us right.
This week my furnace acted up so I called pse&g and they came and said I needed a switch because it was overheating. They ordered the part and came Saturday to put it in, when leaving the technician said keep an eye on it if it happens again because this is not the first time you might have to replace it and watch for carbon monoxide. Marylou and I looked at each other and both said I can’t live with the threat of carbon monoxide not with Rocco and Dario in the house so tomorrow it will be replaced. When the estimator left I read over the paperwork, the guarantee is 20 years. I said to myself this furnace probably will last longer than me. I don’t dare say that out loud my family will go nuts on me.
I used to be very involved with the Essex Arts Council in teaching the kids poetry. A poet once read the poem ‘when I get old I will wear Purple’ I loved that poem and read it to my class for years and have quoted lines from it ever since. Talks about age, I have always been obsessed with it. I told you I always asked myself how old will I be ain2000 or how old at certain events but I think many of us are like that. Recently I saw a photo of a beautiful young girl learning to drive who was a student at school, she was there in kindergarten, how is that possible. I remember when I started to drive,and I in thought let me give some advice besides be careful, have fun it an enjoyable time. We are always looking for benchmarks at 5 we started school, at 7 you made your communion, at 13 you get bar mitzvah, 17 you drive. But now I think I watched my life pass by worried too much about age. What is it , it’s a number nothing more, when I stop and think, I don’t feel any different than I did at 25 or 30. Would anyone believe we would ever see a pandemic that would cripple our way of life. I can answer that no, but it has changed me, it has shown me how important life is and forget all the baggage we carry around. If you want to wear purple wear it, if you want to eat sausages all day eat them, if you want to sit on the pavement sit. These are lines from the poem. We can no longer worry about getting older, We have to live and enjoy all that life has given us. That’s why when it snowed I told everyone that I taught and all the young people, go out and enjoy the snow with your children, those times do not last long. In a blink they are grown so enjoy the time with them, there is nothing that important that can’t wait. Enjoy make memories one day they become priceless and that is something we all must do.
I tell Amanda many times these posts are more important than gold to me. Someday Rocco and Dario can read them and see the life bebop lived. What I wouldn’t give to have anything written by my parents or grandparents, all I have are stories and now I write them so they become our family history. Don’t other cultures esp in Africa have an elder who is the keeper of the tribes history.
Seriously forget about age live the life you want, this is my new way of thinking. We can’t stop time but we certainly do not have to succumb to it.
Enjoy this beautiful day because that’s what it is a new day, a fresh start do something you want to do. Til Tomorrow!

February 4 2021

Good morning everyone, today is February 4 2021. I hope everyone is enjoying the gift Mother Nature has bestowed upon us. Yesterday I ventured out and it really wasn’t bad kind of enjoyable. A little walk from store to store was invigorating. I think somewhere along the line I forgot the beauty of the snow. On line I see pictures of all my kids playing in the snow. I consider everyone I ever taught , directed and somehow had contact with me my kids I’m happy to see that , and I will give advice to anyone. My family says mind your bbbusiness no one needs you telling them what to do, but that doesn’t stop me, I even tell people in the stores new ways to cook something. But my advice is well founded and given with love and caring . When I se my kids I tell them as I tell Amanda, Ronnie and Justin enjoy every minute you can with them their children because in a flash of time that time is gone and everyone is grown before you know it. Now today uncle Justin is taking Rocco sliegh riding so we started to prepare when I said Rocco you need to wear your boots he said no bebop they hurt my feet. That was all I needed to hear in a half hour I was back with the best snow boots I ever saw they have a million ways to keep your feet warm and Dario has new Ugg’s, it’s so funny to see him walk he is just learning and with the Ugg’s he’s like a new colt.
I come from 2men that were crazy about shoes and feet now I joined the ranks of my father and father in law, if they saw you barefooted they went nuts. Don’t ever tell me your feet hurt because of a shoe immediately I will replace it. That’s why Dario has the Ugg’s he pulls off every shoe and sock and is barefooted. Well now I think I outsmarted him the Ugg’s are high with a button lets see him get out of these.
A funny story when my mother in law passed away, Marylou wanted to have the repast at our home. We had recently hired someone from Nigeria to watch Justin and Amanda , that day she was there to help. Now being from Nigeria her clothes reflected that. At one point during the day my father said I need to talk to you. I figured this had to be something stupid he never made it a point to want to talk to me alone. When I met up with him he said do you know this girl Vickie I explained who she was and why she was there. His main concern was did I realize she was walking barefooted with all the strange people in the house and that was not good. I should explain to her that wearing shoes was important. The day ended and a few weeks later he asked me did you take care of that. Finally I just said yes, even I was not going to try and change someone’s cultural dress .
Enjoy your day if you venture out be carful and dress appropriately. Wear shoes ha, ha. But seriously watch out, remember to find something enjoyable today. Til Tomorrow!

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