I can remember the times that we would travel the 3 hr road trip to Brooklyn for Christmas...and boy it was a straight trip there was no stopping for anything..my dad God love him..I know I do...if you didnt use the bathroom before you left Maryland..you didnt use the bathroom until we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house on 19th st....I can remember Uncle Teddy upstairs.....I can remember all the family Kids, grandkids, cousins and 2nd cousins all the house on 19th street..eating, drinking, and just having a good time....I remember when Santa would come to visit us and always seemed like he would stop off by the kitchen first to have a little 'pick me upper'...with Grandma...he even Santa needs a drink every once in awhile I guess...hell when dealing with all us kids..can you blame him...I dont....I can remember Auntie Ann and Uncle Joe stopping by with the famous popcorn balls.....I can still smell Grandma's famous gravy she seemed to always have the meatballs cooking in....I can remember walking down 19th street to church on Sunday's and then going to the bakery on the Ave U....

 

The saddest day that I can remember is the day we left to come to Maryland...I remember crying in the hallway hugging Johnny and Tommy Sica..saying I didnt want to leave....

 

The 19th Street house was very much a big part of my memories..I can remember walking home from the school around the corner for lunch....I remember walking on the Ave U with my brothers and cousin Teddy and Billy...back in them days we are the best of friends..and then came John Michael and Vinny Canesa...and they became part of the "circle".....to this day..whenever I talk to John or Vinny its always like talking to brothers...and when we see Ted and Billy...just like old times....just like at Grandma's funeral when we were all together...just like old times even with Cousin Tommy  and Anthony...along with the other second cousins...it was just like old times....

 

I can remember playing ball in the backyard..getting yelled at for breaking the basement windows or if the ball would go into Howies garden...which still amazes me that you can grow that much veggies on a 5 x 10 ft. plot of dirt in BROOKLYN..but he did and it was truly wild....

 

Playing ball with Lou and his siblings next door....

 

I can remember Grandpa..coming home from work with a fresh paper....and no matter how tired he was...always seemed to smile...and say his famous words..."I'll give you an Italian crack"....even on his death bed Grandpa seemed to have the last word...I can remember him yelling at my father because we wanted to stay and mom and dad had to leave for work....

 

Let me describe Grandpa to you for those of you who may not know him....

 

Grandpa was a very strong and gentle person...but he was one that if you needed to be put in line he would but then give you a hug....he was also one of the sweetiest people that you would ever run across...I can still picture Grandpa and Grandma at I believe it was their anniversary...dancing...and Grandma fanting because Uncle Frank was there and surprised them...

 

There are so many good times that I can think of about our family...but the most important one that I think about is the strenght and love we have for each other...we have all grown up and now we all have families of our own...and I just think back about Grandma and the influence she had on my daughter....Courtney I believe to this day is a better person from knowing her....

 

Grandma would greet anyone with a smile and a kind word...no matter who you are....until you messed up...but even then she was not one to judge or hold it against you...that was our jobs...lol!....