Five weeks. I don't know about you all, but I'm quite impressed with myself that I have written a post every week. Yay me! Yay to all my friends participating in this little project as well.
Favorite Possession (and it can't be photographs)
I had to think about this a bit. I have some photos that are just really special to me. Like one of Brad Pitt snapped when he was filming a movie in Yonkers, one of Jerry Garcia 6 months before he died and a great photo of my grandparents at my parents wedding. But since I can't pic these, I had to think about it a lot more. I believe I'm going to go with a Venetian mask that my son brought me from Italy. When the J-man was in 10th grade, he was lucky enough to go on a trip to Italy. I had to work a LOT. I mean A LOT. I had 2 jobs. Took on side work. My parents, his Dad and step-mom and even my best friend Angel all helped to pay for him to go on this trip. But we did it. We got it paid for and he was able to have a trip of a lifetime. They landed in Venice, which is the one place that if I had unlimited money, I would want to visit. My boy bought me a tiny purple mask from that city so I had something of my beloved Venice to keep at home.
Favorite Holiday
So many to choose from. I think my favorites are 4th of July and Halloween.
I love 4th of July but not for Red White & Blue reasons. I love that it's Summer. There are cook outs and more importantly, STUFF BLOWS UP!!! 4th of July is always a good time. Living here in the Hudson Valley and pretty much living on the River for practically my entire life, the best part is not only do you see your local show, but you watch a bunch of them all at once along the River. I think my love of this holiday started around my teen years. I began to appreciate the fun aspect of it more. My boyfriend at the time, Candyman (my little nickname for him still), and I would go down to a little beach in Tarrytown and watch the firework displays up and down the river. As I got older, my Dad always had cook outs. We'd go to Pearl River and watch the fireworks there too. Once, when J-man was a little guy, Candyman was away and came home just before I was to leave for Pearl River. It was a total surprise and we had a lot of fun.
Now 4th of July is spent on the Rockland side of the bridge. Bear works the Haverstraw Bay Park 99% of the time when the town of Haverstraw has their display. We (J-man and I and friends) go to the park, and get to watch. Plus, the best part is, I get to see the display with Bear and that always makes me smile. Last year on July 4th, he wasn't working and when it began to get dark, we walked down to the River and watched the displays in Croton and Peekskill and one of our neighbors private display. He always knows how to make me smile.
I love Halloween because it's just so dang fun! My kid brother was born the day before Halloween and my first memory of knowing I had a brother was when my Dad took me to Nyack hospital, dressed in my little witch outfit. This was 1973 and the rules for visiting new Moms were insane. Kids didn't get to see their Mothers when they gave birth. So my Dad and my Mom arranged it that he'd take me to parking lot and she would wave out the window at me. I remember seeing her in the window. I didn't understand back then why she couldn't be with me, but I was 3, so ya know. I work for HHV now and the Fall holidays are HUGE. There is Blaze (pumpkins!), Horseman's Hollow (scary) and the event at my site Legends. Washington Irving gave Halloween a great story with "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and since I work at Sunnyside, WI's home, we make sure we celebrate with everyone else. When I lived with my Dad in Garnerville, he was like the traffic cop in our neighborhood. He'd stand in the road with a big flashlight making sure no one went speeding up the hill so the kids walking around would be safe.
I love the meanings behind Halloween. THE TRUE MEANINGS...not the messed up meanings that so many seem to think are truth. Halloween or Samhain, was a time to HONOR your ancestors that passed before you. I love that there is a day to do that. Halloween is so beautiful, well, when the weather cooperates it is. It's fun to hear the kids laughing and screaming. Parents are usually smiling. Everyone has a good time. The food is great too, I don't mean just the candy either. It's Fall and there is early squash and stews and soups. And for some, Halloween means, IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!
Favorite Gift
Tickets. Concert tickets. Specifically, a ticket to the Dead show on June 15, 1995. My 25th birthday. I went up to Highgate VT with The Boy and Candyman. I didn't tell Candyman
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