I Am A "Mima" - Waiting for Gino's Birth!

Time flies when you are having fun!  Last August 6^th I wrote a blogpost about anticipating the arrival of my third grandchild, Gino Bossie Altieri.  At the time, Gino was about the size of a banana, weighing about 1 pound.  And now, here we are just about 4 weeks away from his arrival into our arms!

Having a new baby galvanizes a family.  Everyone on both sides of Gino’s family is caught up in the excitement.  On Saturday Milli, Charlotte’s Aunt Vickee Turner and I hosted  a Couples’ Baby Shower for  a little over 40 close family and friends.   

Milli, Vickee, Charlotte, Patricia

We ate, 

I interrupted the football game to call everyone to the table!

A buffet spread...

Fantastic cake from Vickee!

we laughed,

Have you ever heard of "pee-pee teepees!"

we told stories, played games

Milli showing items for the game, "The Price Is Right!"

Uncle Joey and Kimberly putting down their guesses.

We watched Marc and Charlotte open a multitude of gifts.  

 

Mamma Mia!  So many gifts!

Since this is my blog, I can put in the picture of the Converse booties I knitted that were part of my gift!

The most touching moment for me was when Michael handed over the family cradle to Marc.   

This cradle has rocked the family babies for almost 100 years.  Legend has it my mother was rocked in it after her birth in 1916. I know I and my siblings all occupied it.  All three of my sons were rocked in it.  And both of my grandsons, Nikolas and Gabriel were in it.  I never knew what a bassinette was…I thought everyone had cradles.  It fit so nice next to the bed and if the infant stirred all I had to do was reach out and give it a gentle push.

  

The cradled outfitted with wonderful bedding by Mike and Milli with a picture of Marc when he was in the cradle.

 Now Gabriel passed it on to his new cousin, Gino.

Just as Marc and Charlotte are preparing their house for Gino, I am preparing my “nest!”   

Gino’s Drawer is labeled and waiting for spare clothes and toys.  

 I have newborn size diapers and wipes.  

 

 I have a Burl Ives CD of some of my favorite children’s songs…like “The Little White Duck!”  

 

I wish he wasn't holding that cigar!!

The little Travel Lite bed is set up for his crib, right next to the rocking chair.  

And so we wait.  I know the day will come when we can't remember what it was like without Gino in our midst, but for the moment we wait.  How fortunate we are, that in the midst of times that can seem out-of-control, the world in turmoil and uncertainty, we can close the door on all of it and be reminded that a new baby is like the beginning of all things.  A new baby is a wonder.  A new baby is a hope for the future and a dream of possibilities.  A new baby fills a place in our heart that we never knew was empty.

Gino, the world and the family is ready for you.  Our arms and our hearts are wide open.  You are sooooo wanted!! 

I Am A Mother-in-Love - Celebrating Milli

It is the morning after, the night before...and my heart is so full.  Last night we celebrated the 50th Birthday of my beloved daughter-in-love, Milli Castillo Altieri.  

Michael with Milli as we sang Happy Birthday,

For months Michael and Milli debated various ways to acknowledge this milestone event and finally they decided that what they wanted was a simple evening with Milli's dearest friends.  To Milli, these are the people who "people" her life and since the highest value in Milli's life is "relationship," bringing these people together was truly pulling her life into one locale.

Milli sees all of us as the components of her rich life...and what is so amazing is that for each of us, Milli is a key ingredient enriching our own lives.  Last evening, Michael gave a moving tribute to Milli, calling her "an illumination"...that who she is lights up a room, an event, a life!  And this is true.

Milli is the middle child of her family, having an older and a younger sister.  She was born on the Hawaiian Island of Lanai.  Her parents, Peter and Basilia Castillo, came to Hawaii from the Philippine Islands when they were young to work on the pineapple plantations. 

The Castillo Family (1996)  Myrna, Milli, Audrey, Basilia, Peter

Milli grew up running barefoot on the red island dirt, learning to hula as a young child, even doing her share of "summer work" in the hot pineapple fields. A beautiful island princess, she was actually crowned Miss Pineapple one year!  She eventually left Lanai, first to travel as a professional Hawaiian dancer in the Far East, and then to relocate in the Los Angeles area where her sister, Myrna, lived.  She put herself through school, earning a financial degree, met Michael and the rest is History!  From Lanai to Los Angeles, to the heart of my son, to the arms of the Altieri Family.  From a dancer to a professional accountant with her own business, to an artist, to a gourmet cook, to a devoted mother. Her life has been quite a journey.  But I think, if asked, she would say her greatest accomplishment has been being wife to Michael

and mother to Gabriel.

Milli has a generous heart and with it she has embraced our family. Not only has she never stood in the way of Michael's relationships with his family, but she has joined us as a vital member of the family.  I love having her in our corner because I have seen what a protective "Momma Bear" she is for those she loves.  There is no more loyal and dedicated woman, friend, daughter, sister, wife or mother than she!

So last night, her radiant smile never left her lips.  She moved among all of us with grace and beauty and she truly illuminated the space, just like she lights up our lives.

Milli, my beloved Daughter-in-Love, for all you accomplished in your first 50 years, for all that is yet to come, for your energy, your spirit, for the love you have shown to all of us, for being my daughter, I salute you and I say,  "Brava!  Well done!" 

It has been my joy to share the last 17 years with you and I wish you many years of continued health and happiness.  I love you, daughter of my heart!

I Am A Grassroots Member - Participating in TEDx

As I watch life and age sneak up on me I find myself having an even greater appreciation for opportunities that feel new and inject an energy and enthusiasm into my life.  Since retirement, Jay and I have promised to help each other push boundaries and walk through doors that might present a new experience or a new perspective or a new group of people.  We walk through, look around, and then decide to stay or to walk out.

Last night we walked through a door when we attended a gathering of the TEDx Manhattan Beach.

We have long been enthusiasts of TED talks.  TED stands for Technology, Entertainment & Design and the talks are short - maybe 20 minutes long - FREE videos on a variety of topics...all "Ideas worth spreading"...all stimulating and informative, all generating interesting discussions.  We have watched and discussed numerous TED talks in the comfort of our living room or in Omnilore Study/Discussion Groups.  Here is a quote from the TED mission statement:

We believe passionately in the power of ideas 

to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.

So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers

 free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, 

and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.

While TED spreads ideas on a very global stage, its offshoot, TEDx focuses on a local community that concentrates on local voices, bringing people together to engage on a specific topic by viewing a few TED videos or listening to a TEDx speaker and then discussing the content.  TEDx was started in 2009 and now includes 1200 cities and 33 countries. Here is an interesting article with statistics in a recent Forbes Magazine.

Last night's gathering, sponsored by the local Manhattan Beach group, was focused on the topic of "Globalization."  Since it was a topic of interest to us, was held just a few miles from our home, and the price was minimal ($10 each), we decided to walk through the door and take a look around.

The first hour was for "networking," enjoying a glass of wine or beer and a variety of appetizers.  What we first noticed was that this was a new mix of people for us and happily, our age cohort was not the dominant group....there were "young people!" with youthful perspectives, youthful ideas, youthful energy!  That is the one difficulty we have in our retirement life, finding avenues to interact with younger people like we did in the work world.

After a very pleasant mingle which included talking to the organizer of the Manhattan Beach TEDx, John Marston, we all adjourned to the presentation room to watch three TED videos on the topic of Globalization: first, Paddy Ashdown, giving a TEDx talk filmed recently in Brussells on the Global Power Shift; second was our personal favorite presenter, Hans Rosling, using his fantastic graphics to show data on Religion and Babies; and lastly Gordon Brown talking on Wiring a Web for Global Good.  In between each video, John Marston facilitated a spirited discussion among the attendees.  Bottom line, the world is not what it used to be, interconnectivity and interdependency brings us into a global society that is continuing to evolve and bringing with it new sets of needs and challenges.

On the way home, Jay and I talked about how much we had enjoyed the evening.  While not political in nature, TEDx  fosters healthy discussion with new insights.  We came away with the thought that maybe it is going to be activities like TEDx that are going to bring about change of our current global and political structure. Currently this structure is broken and the powers-that-be are so vested in the status quo and so polarized that we do not seem to see to any positive change...maybe it is going to have to come from the grass roots, from gatherings like "Occupy" and "bloggers on the internet" and events like TEDx and Zocalo that provide a place for discussion of new ideas that will bring new blood and new life to our world scene.  Thankfully, we can be part of that discussion and part of the solution, adding our ideas, meeting some new friends, and even having a glass of wine!

I Am A Demonstrator - World Wide Knitting in Public Day

From the time I was a child, I knew that there were public things and private things.  I can still hear my mother's voice chastising me once when we were outside and I started to put my finger in my nose..."Patricia, we do not do that in public!"  I was warned that things that happen within the family, stay within the family and are not to be broadcast to the world. "We do not air our dirty laundry!"  When we were out of the house and I was wearing my pretty new dress and shiny patent leather shoes, I was reminded "A lady always keeps her knees together and her ankles crossed in public." There are things we do in public and things we do in the privacy of our own homes.  Overtime, these boundaries can seem to blur.  I know today it is not unusual to see a young mother discretely nursing her infant in public and it touches my heart, but I always retired to a back bedroom when I nursed my babies...thinking it made others uncomfortable if I were to do it in public and it just wasn't "seemly!"  And...there are many articles written about "PDAs" (Public Displays of Affection) and when is it just tooooo much! So what about knitting?  Is knitting one of those activities that should be confined to ones home or is it OK to knit in public?

I will never forget the first time a woman friend and member of our Learning-in-Retirement organization took out her knitting when one of the presenters began to give his presentation to the class.  The look of horror on the faces of other class members was memorable.  My friend, recognizing the non-verbal signals, calmly assured everyone that she was perfectly capable of knitting while listening to a lecture and would also be making intelligent comments...she could do two things at once!  She broke the glass knitting ceiling!

Today, I ventured out to a very public place, Wilson Park in Torrance, to join other members of my Slipt Stitchers Knitting Guild who were participating in the 2012 World Wide Knit In Public Day.  

This is the largest knitter run event in the world.  It began in 2005 and grows each year in participation. Thoughout the world, on the second Saturday of June, knitters gather in public venues...in parks, in malls, in libraries, in coffee shops.... Even in Palermo,Sicily at the Fiori in Zucca shop, Italian knitters would be celebrating: “GIORNATA MONDIALE DELLA MAGLIA IN PUBBLICO"!!!!   Yes, knitters demonstrate to the general public...demonstrate their knitting and demonstrate that knitting can be a community activity.  I am sure today we broke the stereotype of the grey-haired granny sitting in her rocking chair with her needles clicking (while we do have some of those too!)

as we sat in our circle outside the Sports Center and next to the Weekly Farmers' Market and talked to passers-by and each other about the craft of knitting.

 Fred, one of our members who gives us gender diversity, also showed up and a woman who stopped by to speak to us said she knits and so does her husband!

While the actual event is fairly new, I stumbled across the photo taken in 1941 of the Queen Mother with her daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, showing off some of their knitting supplies that they received from Canada as Britain was rationing for the war effort. I don't know if their surroundings was a public area but it was outside!

So today was fun... a wonderful way to pass a few hours of the morning,

I do enjoy knitting...this is the beginning of a baby blanket for charity.

sharing knitting secrets, laughing, telling stories, buying fresh vegetables and delicious hot food from the market and showing the world..."Better Living Through Stitching Together."

I Am A Groupie - Clapping with Red Meat!

I have always loved music. Since I was a child, I could never stand still when spirited music was playing. But somehow when I was growing up "I never got the memo" that I was supposed to have a favorite band, buy all their albums, and sell my first born child to be able to buy tickets to see them in concert.  I think I was born in the cusp between generations because my brothers, Chuck and Fred, are just 3 and 5 years younger than I and they were into bands in their teens...starting with the Beatles.  My own sons loved music, had posters of  KISS, Ted Nugent, Terry Bozzio and many others decorating their bedroom walls through the years and to this day, they still scramble obtain concert tickets before they sell out to see their favorite artists, currently The Avett Brothers.

The first item I ever bought on a time payment plan was a High Fidelity Record player. The first album I ever owned was a Perry Como Christmas album, 33 1/3 rpm...and I was president of the first Andy Williams fan club because my dad worked with Andy's brother when he was first starting his career.  But I was never what could be defined as a "groupie!"  That is until 2006 when Jay and I went to see my cousin, Michael Montalto perform with his band, Red Meat, at the "world's smallest honky tonk bar" The Cinema Bar, in Culver City.

After that first time we were hooked.  Their music is consistent, original, up beat, toe-tapping, humourous lyrics, together with some side-splitting stand-up comedy (even if Smelley is a little risque!)  We always grab the chance to see them live. Once, while on a vacation, we even were able to catch one of their shows in the San Francisco Bay area where they live. Each year they make the pilgrimage to Southern California, usually playing one night at the Cinema Bar, and we never miss it.

The group all hails from the Midwest and they have been performing together since 1993.  Michael, also known affectionately as "Monty," is the lead guitarist.

Michael Montalto 2012

Scott Young plays the guitar, the violin, the trombone and sings.  Jill Olson, bassist and vocalist, tries to keep vocalist and front man, Smelley Kelley, from becoming too outrageously ribald.  Drummer, Les James, and manager, Owen Bly, keep everything on an even keel.  Much of their music is original written by Jill and Scott, but they also play many country favorites as well. We have bought all their CDs, sing along with the lyrics in the car, and even bought the T-shirt.

Well, last night was the night for 2012. We headed to Culver City to the Cinema Bar and it was a family reunion for us.

Though Michael was just a little boy when we moved from Ohio, over the years I have been able to develop a nice relationship with this first cousin.

Patricia, Michael and Jay

  His girlfriend, Gillian, was also along for the trip and it was good to reconnect with her.

Gillian and Michael

All the band greets us as "Here's Montalto's cousins" and we feel right at home.  We even enticed another LA resident cousin, Michael Bove, to join us and we all shared beer, laughs, hugs and music.  Michael Bove, an actor and drummer himself, knew just how to help Les set up his equipment.

Michael Bove, the cousin and the "roadie!"

A drummer himself, he know how to set it up!

We stayed for both sets and got home around 2 am!

Red Meat performing

So today, though I woke up a little groggy from the late night, I was happy...happy to have reconnected with family and happy to have enjoyed a fun evening with great people.  Now I just have to get that song out of my head..."I have a 12 inch, three speed, oscillating fan..."

Yes, I am a finally a groupie.

I Am An LA Kings Hockey Fan - Going to a Play-Off Game

While I am not a particularly sports-minded person, by virtue of having 3 sons, sports have always been a part of my life.  Working in the snack stands, washing grass-stained uniforms, bringing treats for the team was all in a day's work.  Whether it was football, baseball, basketball or golf I took my place in the stands and loudly cheered while whispering little prayers that their team would win.

Today, many years later, I again found myself sitting in the stands cheering for one of their teams.  My second son, Michael, has been a part of the Los Angeles King's Hockey staff for many years and I have had the pleasure of attending my share of  games as a spectator, but today's game was special because the Kings were hoping to "sweep" the second round of play-off games...this round against the St. Louis Blues...in their attempt to ultimately capture the 2012 Stanley Cup.  Hockey games are always exciting and hockey fans are a rare, avid breed.  We reached the Staples Center in downtown LA well before the noon game so we could wander around LA Live and see all the pre-game activity.

LA Live is the Sports and Entertainment District that has been created around the Staples Center and the Nokia Theater.   It was filled with people getting into the play-off spirit, wearing King jerseys and other emblems of their team loyalty...even purple hair!

Kids were playing street hockey, 

Luc Robitaille's son was entertaining with his band, 

Jay even got to check out the new hybrid plug-in Prius on display.

The entire family supports the Kings and I was happy to see Joey who had driven up from San Diego with his buddy Nick to attend the game.

Nick and Joey

Gabriel, a die-hard King and Hockey fan, was sitting with his Uncle Marc.

Gabriel with Marc

Once in our seats Michael came to see us.  

Michael sporting his beard!

He, like the Kings' players and other staff members, is participating in a Beardathon...growing a beard throughout the playoffs and getting sponsors to contribute to the Kings Care Charity for their efforts.  Being a good Mom I supported this activity, just like I supported his jogathons when he was a young boy!

The game was fantastic and began immediately with the King's scoring a goal.

For the entire three periods the Kings were never behind and at the end, with the crowd going wild, the Kings did it, they won 3 - 1, sweeping the round by winning the first 4 games of the series and knocking out the first and second seeded teams in their conference.

Even Jay was excited!

Next they will advance to the Western Conference Finals.  

It was a lively day and an exciting game.  I cheered hard, I waved my King's towel and I even whispered a little prayer during the tense last 2 minutes.  While I was happy for the Kings, I have to admit that I was happier for Michael.  A mom always wants her son's team to win!