I Am A Mom - The Stanley Cup Visits the Altieri Family

Today is the morning after the night before!  I am still on a bit of a high after experiencing a most rewarding and joyful day.  Yesterday, the Stanley Cup, awarded to the Los Angeles Kings as 2012 National Hockey League Champions, came to visit my son, Michael's, home.  As a senior member of the Kings' staff he was entitled to have the Cup in his possession (with its two handlers) from 4 pm to 11 pm yesterday.  He could use his time anyway he chose.  And being Michael, he created the most gracious and generous way possible.

Previous posts have told Michael's story...how he has been a loyal, dedicated member of the Kings' staff for over 17 years...how winning the Stanley Cup has been his dream. So now, having the Cup in his home was icing on the cake.

Michael, with the Stanley Cup in his home!

Michael, his wife Milli and his son Gabriel, chose to share their block of time with all the family and friends who have supported them during their life and careers, and with their neighbors, and the community.

The first hour was just for family and friends close enough to be considered family.  We had our time to revel in this accomplishment.  Michael thanked us for supporting him.

Michael welcoming and thanking family and close friends.

Gabriel made a speech thanking the team and his dad and presented his dad with a Certificate of Appreciation.  Here is the video of that:

At 6 pm Michael began to welcome all guests.  Mike and Milli opened their home to over 300 people...and by the time one friend told another acquaintance they ended up with about 500 people who walked up their side walkway into their backyard to see, touch, even kiss the Stanley Cup and have their pictures taken with it.  They allowed guests to make freewill donations to the Kings Care Foundation for the privilege of taking the photo so in another way they are sharing it with others.

Jay and I stood in front to welcome people and direct them to the backyard.  It was wonderful to watch people walk up the street wearing their Kings' jerseys.

One family, originally from Canada, brought their children blind-folded to surprise them with being able to see the REAL Stanley Cup.

Michael notified the Hawthorne Police Department of the event and invited them to drive by in case there were crowd issues but to also stop by to view Stanley!  And many of them did...bringing their own jerseys bearing their favorite athlete's name and number.

A few of Hawthorne's finest!

The atmosphere in the backyard was so upbeat and positive.  They served their guests appetizers, sliders, small desserts and beverages.

The Slider Buffet table

People mingled...old friends reunited...new friends were made. People took photos for each other.  They reminisced and told stories.  I had a chance to see so many of the young men who are my adopted sons that in their youth ate many times at our family table!

Patricia with Michael, Mike Pedersen, son Marc, John Meadows, grandson Nik.

Over the past few months I have come to a greater appreciation of the sport of hockey and a great respect for the LA Kings organization.  Other sports win Super Bowls or World Series, with their individual year trophy or ring, but the NHL has ONE Stanley Cup that is given year after year to the champion team.  That one cup symbolizes the entire sport.  It carries the hopes, dreams, and accomplishments of 120 years of hockey playing and to be with it, allows you to be present to that heritage.  The Kings have gone out of their way to share the Cup with the Los Angeles Community.  Local papers show "Stanley" at LA Children's Hospital, schools, camps, fire stations, parks.  Anytime someone sees the cup and asks, they can have their picture taken with it.  Michael even took the cup to his disabled Aunt and Uncle, who could not leave their home, so they could see it, touch it and have their picture taken with it.

Cathy and Karl with Michael and "Stanley

That is what the Stanley Cup is all about.

But Michael was my pride last night.  He is such a generous spirit.  Even in the midst of all of this, the one aspect that gave him the most joy was sharing it with his wife and son.

Milli, Gabriel and Michael

Today he said to me..."I am so blessed, Mom.  I have the most wonderful wife and the most fantastic son.  Did you see Gabriel yesterday...did you see his eyes all lit up...did you see how alive he was!"

There are traditions associated with the Cup.  Everyone wants to hoist it into the air, but that is really only a privilege that the players and staff have earned.  Everyone wants to drink from it, but for security reasons, the handlers do not permit viewers to do that.  You can touch, you can hug, you can kiss it.

Gabe's first kiss not to a family member!

But that is all.  However, Michael got a special permission from the handlers to allow him to do one special thing before the Cup left the Altieri home.  He held the Cup while his son drank Sprite from the Cup...what a memory to give a little 10 year old hockey fan!

Mike helping Gabriel drink Sprite from the Stanley Cup!

So the Stanley Cup left last night to continue its journey to Russia.

All packed up and ready to go!

For the next 100 days it will travel the world visiting the homes of families of the Kings' players.  But the Cup  will return...Gabriel is already predicting a back-to-back win next year.  From his lips to God's ears!

As for us, in the 13 years that Jay and I have been married, we have never sent out a Photo Christmas card.  Maybe this year will be the first!