I Am A Kings Fan - Celebrating Lord Stanley's Cup...Again

Two years ago, my son, Michael, realized a lifelong dream…his Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup.  Here we are two years later and to quote Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again!”

As the VP of Communications and Broadcasting, Michael was permitted to have the Cup on Saturday to celebrate with about 250 of his closest family and friends!  He was able to use the Stadium Club at the Stubhub Center for the afternoon and what a Gala it was.  It started with a welcome by Mike, an appeal for donations to the Hydrocephalus Fund through Kings Care Foundation, and then he and Gabriel carried Lord Stanley’s Cup to its place of honor.   

The venue filled with people, many wearing Kings apparel identifying their favorite players.  They sipped wine and beer and nibbled on appetizers while waiting in line for their turn to touch, kiss, and have their photo taken with the Cup.

I loved every minute of it because it gave me a chance to catch up with friends and family. But more importantly it gave me a chance to experience my son’s happiness.  As I wandered the room, snapping pictures here and there, my youngest son, Marc, asked me if I was going to blog about the event.  "Of course," I said.  "My blog is to capture important moments in my life.” Then he asked me, “What is going to be the message of the blog?  You know, you always have an underlying message, Mom!”   

So I thought about it.  What was the “bottom line” message or “take away” from the day?  My mind kept conjuring up images of Michael full of joy to be with people from all the different aspects of his life.  There was Matt Carroll, whom he had worked with when he was 14 years old, washing golf carts and gathering range balls at Alondra Golf Course.  He remembers Matt as his first “mentor” and was able to thank him again for his impact on Mike’s life.

There were high school friends and friends from his early twenties when he was in college and working as an usher at the Forum.  

Longtime friend, Rick Jelinek flew in from Minn. with his two children, just to be present.

 

There were current friends who share in his and Milli’s life.

There was Family...the Castillo Family who have embraced him as one of their own since his marriage to Milli.    

The Rinaldi Family…his Uncles and cousins.  

The Altieri Family, a cousin who came in from San Diego.  

 His immediate family…his brothers,

Even Gino (in utero) with his mom and dad.

  

And most important his own family of Milli and Gabriel.

After the big event, a smaller group of family and friends gathered at the Salt Creek Grill to continue the celebration, and sipping from the Cup.

At one point Michael stopped by me and said… "Mom isn’t this great.  When would I ever have such a chance to have all the people in my life who have been important to me be in one place with me. These people made me who I am.  I am so grateful that I can share this with them.”

And that is my message…that our lives are “seasoned” with significant people, people who touched us in various ways and at various times, and contributed to our growth.  They may just pass through or they might stay around.  But for whatever time they are present, they have an impact.  Michael is a loyal person and invests the time and effort to maintain his connections with those who have impacted his life. It is because of that, that he and everyone else was able to have such a wonderful event.  In the end, it is a gift he gave to himself!  I am proud of the Kings, but I am more proud of Michael!

So the pictures are captured, the blog is written, and we will wait for the next season when we hope we can experience “déjà vu all over again.”  We wait for you…Lord Stanley’s cup!!

I Am A Slacker - Catching Up On Two Months

This morning, as I was going through my recent photos I was again reminded of how life has been in session and I that I have captured none of it on my blog since March!  It is a discipline to sit down and record the events that compose my life and I have slacked off. (Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault!)  As a result, 2 ½ months have passed like a blank page.  So…this blog is going to be a quick synopsis, a quick replay of Key Moments…kind of like the reports I used to write, “What I Did On My Summer Vacation!”

In March, I accompanied Milli, Michael and Gabriel to Lanai, HI to bury Milli’s dear mother, Basillia.  Sharing in key life moments, happy and sad, is the thread that binds us as a family. I was grateful to be able to be there, to give a hug, to relate a story, to carry the Kleenix, to run an errand.

Life is death and new life and in April, we shared in the exciting news that Marc and Charlotte are going to have a baby.  This new little Altieri is due to arrive in mid-December…just 4 months after our current baby of the family, Gabriel, turns 13!  I call that good timing.  Marc and Charlotte are ecstatic and this baby is so wanted!!  I have already started knitting!

We watched Gabriel finish grade 6 and watch the tell-tale signs of a teenager emerging.  “I can do it myself, Mima.”  “You don’t have to remind me, Mima.”  “What’s wrong, Gabe”… "NOTHING!”  “Gabe are you done combing your hair yet?”  “Why don’t you want to go with us to the golf course?”…”just because, I’d rather stay here.” “Mima can you drop me off at my dance?” (Dance?...you are 12 years old!) We love this little boy…this young teen and are so proud of the young man that is emerging.

Gabriel and still the woman in his life...his mom, Milli!

These past months have been filled with doctor’s appointments, medical decisions, treatments, cooked meals, encouragement, car repairs, errands, and general hand-holding as my brother, Fred, and I care for our sister, Cathy, as she deals with her bladder cancer.  It has been an emotional time and at times depleting, but we know the best gift we can give her is our support and our presence.  We don’t have a crystal ball to see the future, but we can walk the daily path with her and her husband, Karl.

Cathy

 

Cathy and Karl, renewing their vows at their 40th Wedding Anniversary!

In May, Jay and I took a wonderful 3 week Enrichment Voyage to the Baltic Countries with a stay before and after in Paris and Stockholm.   

Our most prideful moment was when we boarded the plane with only carry-on luggage!  Three weeks of items in a carry-on suitcase and a back pack each!  

 I have so many photos that I may back track and do some posts of the interesting locations so I can remember…

In St. Petersburg at the Peterhof Palace...we had sun!

I took many early morning walks with my dear friend, Cindy.  It is our "walk and talk!"  We meet at the Interpretive Center and walk for about an hour and then stop at Starbucks and talk for another hour.  It is wonderful to have a friend who will listen to my whining and applaud my happiness.

On the walking path, watching for whales and discussing life!

We began what started out to be a simple deck repair of dry-rotted wood and has become a major project!  Our view of the beautiful Pacific is what we enjoy most about our home and we don’t mind putting the time, effort and MONEY into making sure we and others can enjoy it.

The demolition

Jay checking the framing!

We cheered the LA Kings on to a second Stanley Cup Victory!   

The team photo on the ice after the victory game...Michael is in the upper mid left!

Watched a long series of games…games with multiple overtimes…and agonized over each penalty and erupted in joy with each goal!   

We drove Pegasus around the golf course with our Kings flag!

The entire family was involved with texts flying in all directions in group distributions between those family members who were at the game with those who were home this time in front of their TV.   

Michael was thrilled to share the victory with his brothers and son and Gabe's best buddy Sean. 

 

 

Charlotte and Milli were also there!

Jay and I attended one game of the final series and experienced the frenzy and excitement that fills the Staple Center.   

With Fred and Sharon having a beer before the game started!

We are excited for the team, but we are MORE excited for Michael.  He is the main reason our family is so present…sharing in his life and his joy!

Michael lifting Lord Stanley's  Cup!!

I look back over these events and realize that through it all, my life is GOOD!  What gives it meaning are the connections...the people who cross my path...my family...my dear friends...and most of all, my partner in life, Jay.  I write my blog as a gift to myself…so that I can capture all the joys and sorrows that give meaning to my life.  While this recap is not really fleshed out, at least when I look back at March thru June 15…like Kilroy said… “Patricia was here!”

I Am A Mother - Sharing Michael's Moment

"Who AM I?" I sometimes ask myself.  One of the first words that pops into my head is, "Mother."  This role often dominates my self image. Bearing and raising three sons, each so unique, each different, has brought into my life some of my richest joys and some of my deepest pains.  Nothing hurts a mother as much as watching her child hurting and not being able to do anything about it.  Nothing fills a mother's being as much as watching her child rejoicing and being privileged to stand on the sidelines and feel her own heart and eyes spill over.

Michael Anthony Altieri is my second son.  Born just 15 months after his older brother, Joey, when I was a mere 23 years old, I wondered how I was going to handle life and these two little ones.  But fortune smiled on me...because from the day he graced this earth, Michael demonstrated the qualities that would guide his life. He was the easiest child...capable, considerate, conscientious...a child that captured your heart.

It was impossible to grow up in our household and not be a sports fan. Like his brothers, he played sports, collected trading cards, had posters of his heroes (like Wayne Gretsky) on the wall, even cut school to attend a special sporting event!  When he was a Communications Major at Long Beach State University he decided that the life path that would make him happiest was to take his skills and find a way to use them in the Sports Industry.  A meeting and subsequent internship with John Black (PR Director for the LA Lakers) and a first job from Jeannie Buss as PR Director for the LA Blades Roller Hockey team, set him on the path for his current position as Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting for AEG Sports.  In time, Michael advanced through the organization and I would often be in a position to see him in his role dealing with co-workers, players, and management and what was so apparent was that Michael continued to be an older version of the child I knew...capable, considerate, conscientious...well-respected by all who worked with him.

Michael working a Kings game at the Forum.

Michael was never one to call attention to himself or to toot his own horn...(his job was to toot the horn for others)...but he knew that as a mother I wanted to share in his special moments.  So occasionally I would quietly receive an email picture from him just to let me know that:

He had to handle a Press conference and someone snapped this photo:

Press Conference - 2005

He had to participate in the NHL draft and someone snapped this photo:

NHL Draft - 2003

He happened to have an extra team photo with him at the end of the second row that I might like:

Would I like to sponsor him in the Beard-a-thon?:

He had to respond to some media questions and someone captured the video:

He had to accompany the LA Galaxy to meet the President and someone snapped this photo of him shaking the president's hand:

President Obama reaching for Michael's hand.

And as a typical mother, I treasured these mementos as much as I did the school drawings that used to don my refrigerator door.

I asked him once to tell me his approach that helped him do so well in his job and he replied, "Mom, no matter what happens, I always try to take the high road."  That describes his approach to not just his professional life, but to life in general.  That is what my son has taught ME.

Over the years Michael has had other opportunities to move about in the industry, but after considering the pros and cons he always remained where he was, a part of the LA Kings family.  He would say how he loved the team, how he believed in them, how he wanted to be with them when they won their first Stanley Cup because he knew they would do it.  This year his loyalty paid off. The Kings captured the Stanley Cup and Michael was immersed in all of it, competently handling his responsibility while reveling in the victory.

Embracing Jonathan Quick after the Stanley Cup WIN!

The Team Photo taken after the Final Game of the Stanley Cup Play-offs

Culmination of 17 years...lifting the Stanley Cup!!!

I was fortunate to be able to attend a few of the play-off games and to participate in the Black Parade and victory Rally the team provided for all their loyal fans. I watched him interacting with the press and team, I watched him share his joy with those who mean the most to him, his family...Milli and Gabriel.

Michael with Milli and Gabriel at the Fan Rally

Michael enjoying a special moment with Gabriel at the rally.

I was a mother....sharing his moment, standing on the sidelines and watching...as my heart and my eyes spilled over.

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!