Tuesday, October 24, 2023
A New Adventure
I am venturing into a new writing mode-----short stories. Some are historical and some are happening in 2023! Kindle Vella has a few of them for anyone to read and enjoy. These can be found under my name.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Covid 19
2020
A very unusual year. I call it the Year of living dangerously. Why? Life has been turned upside down because we cannot live the way we used to. Most of us who do not work have had to isolate ourselves. The only place we have left the house for was to buy groceries. Armed with a mask and gloves, we run into the grocery store, follow our list. Place items in the cart while staying away from every other person. Grag your food and wait 6 feet apart on line to pay. Then, load your car and head home. The only other store I ventured to was the pharmacy for necessities.
Easter came and we visited via zoom. It wasn't the best holiday we ever had together, apart. No Masses for months. When they were offered, we were more than 6 feet apart and in every other row. I opted to skip communion but I felt more comfortable in Church.Watching Mass on television just wasn't keeping my attention.
Almost every public place was closed: libraries, stores, town hall, restaurants and even our beaches for months. Then slowly these began to open to limited capacity. Use hand sanitizer, wear a mask ans stay away from others. That is the mantra, and, of course wash your hands frequently. No hugging, no physical contact whatsoever.
I postponed all doctors' appointments and when I did go in, it was by appointment with no one else around.
We did go to the beach and sat in the sun. We met with our beach friends, apart.
The number of cases lessend around June. We made a decision to have our daughter and family come to visit this summer. Now months later, the numbers, in general, are rising. What do we do about Thanksgiving and Christmas? Being indoors with people, seems to spread the disease. So, we have to decide, closer to the time.
An unusual year, and one none of us will forget.
Will we ever get back to normal? I don't know. News of the vaccines are promising but no guarantees.
I pray a lot for my family, friends and everyone else. Scary times.
I know this. I value my family more than ever. When we do see each other, we don't take our time togetherr for granted. So even living in these unueual times, there is hope and an appreciation of family. Stay safe and well.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
The Beauty of Having a Sister
What is it about getting older?
The older I get the more I appreciate my loved ones. Case in point----my sister. Today is her birthday and I can't be with her as she lives in another state. We do get together once a year for a week of catching up.
We are very different in personality, yet, I do believe we complement each other. Lu is the more fun loving one and I am the more serious one. We enjoy being together and laugh a lot. What could be better than that? She looks so much like our Mom, when she was young. And now, people say I look like her when she was older.
When our Dad was seriously ill, she and her husband Tom offered to have him live with them until I could arrange for a caregiver. Dad stayed with them for 10 months! My sister, a nurse, took great care of him and helped me set up a protocol when he returned to his home.
I am lucky to have a dear sister and today especially, I am thinking of her and miss her.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Old Soul
I truly believe that I am an old soul. I am fascinated by anything historical and gravitate toward reading about past times. My three books encouraged me to research this wonderful place in which I live---the oldest English settlement in New York state. I found a lot of information when I was researching. Every place I go in the area, I try to envision what it looked like back then. There are many historical plaques around commemorating specific events, which makes it easier to ponder.
The three years, I have been involved in the Historical Society have been exciting to me to be in homes that are in keeping with the historic era of that particular time. The Samuel Langley home was built in the 1700's. It is my favorite because when you walk in, you actually feel part of the times. A small entry way leads into the kitchen, the hearth of the home. Standing there feels so real. Of course, I have studied the home so I could lead a tour through it. One entire wall contains the cooking area which dominates the room. I know what each artifact is used for, so it looks as if the woman of the house just went outside to the herb garden to gather some for dinner. I could stay there all day. There is a workable loom in one of the rooms. A beauty and it works.
I will be at the Ann Curry Bell home,circa 1900, later today for a membership party to celebrate Christmas. Another blast from the past. The home harkens me back to the turn of the 20th Century. Decorated in the Victorian mode, it is very festive and beautifully polished and kept. I am comfortable in these surroundings and not in very modern ones. It has to have something to do with my love of history.
I must admit that I would miss our modern conveniences, like an indoor bathroom and appliances. Yet, I crave the feel of the quiet beauty that is shown in these homes. No plastic, or extraneous gadgets lying around, as these were not needed. Only items that were useful were kept.
A Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!
101 Glimpses of the North Fork and Islands
The Wampum Exchange
Captain Henry Green, a whaler
www.rosemarymckinley.com
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Saving the Earth
When I read about all the people who talk about Climate Change and saving out earth, I smile. My husband and I have been working towards this goal since the '70s. Yes, the 1970's.
There was a real push back then to use fewer paper bags to save trees and have meatless days because of the energy crisis. We waited on lines odd and even days to buy gas for our cars and consolidated trips to save gas.We served meals without meat. We hardly used air conditioning.
In the late '60's the slogan was, "Save water, shower with a friend." This was conjured up by a college student!
We still recycle plastic, metal, and paper, and conserve gasoline by consolidating trips. We hardly use air conditioning and I hang clothes out in the sun to dry. I don't buy water in plastic bottles! That is one of the most ridiculous ways to utilize water! Use a metal container. All those plastic bottles floating around! What about the energy to produce them and where do they end up? We recycle but many states do not. It boggles the mind that we don't use reusable water containers or have mandatory recycling in every state.
There are some simple, common sense ways to cut down on garbage and use less energy. We could do that now without using any grandiose measures.
There was a real push back then to use fewer paper bags to save trees and have meatless days because of the energy crisis. We waited on lines odd and even days to buy gas for our cars and consolidated trips to save gas.We served meals without meat. We hardly used air conditioning.
In the late '60's the slogan was, "Save water, shower with a friend." This was conjured up by a college student!
We still recycle plastic, metal, and paper, and conserve gasoline by consolidating trips. We hardly use air conditioning and I hang clothes out in the sun to dry. I don't buy water in plastic bottles! That is one of the most ridiculous ways to utilize water! Use a metal container. All those plastic bottles floating around! What about the energy to produce them and where do they end up? We recycle but many states do not. It boggles the mind that we don't use reusable water containers or have mandatory recycling in every state.
There are some simple, common sense ways to cut down on garbage and use less energy. We could do that now without using any grandiose measures.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Salvatore
This April 21, 2019 would be my father's Centennial birthday. A flood of memories come into my mind every day that I think of him.
One of the greatest generation, his childhood was formed during the Great Depression. He couldn't play baseball often enough because he became a shoe shine boy to help earn some money for the family to buy food. Apparently these boys were territorial about their corners and he would be beaten many times. Undeterred, he would find a new corner. He never complained about any of the hardships he and his sisters endured.
My grandmother, Rosina, my namesake, always had an entrepreneurial eye out to earn money to keep the family afloat. She opened a grocery store and sold produce until the competition from other businesses choked hers. When my grandfather was laid off and they couldn't pay their rent, they would use the seed money from the city to move to another place, always hoping that they would have income again. That happened a few times and they would have a place to live for a while.
Just when the Depression was ending and jobs were opening up, my Dad won the only lottery he would ever enter. He was drafted into the army in March of 1941. My grandmother who liked FDR because he helped the common person, hated him after that. He took her only son. Salvatore, Sammy to his family, was drafted into the army for four and a half years and fought in the Pacific. The boy from Brooklyn, was in the Calvary and traveled cross country by horse, until he was sent overseas. Honestly, I don't know how he managed to keep his sense of humor, but he did. Like many others of his generation, he didn't speak much about his war experiences. He landed in the field hospital a few times. In the Pacific islands, the GIs had to fake an airfield by playing golf and drinking warm beer. That was one thing he joked about, as if his tour was fun and games. From what he did say, his unit went in after the fighting to make sure no enemies were left. Not so much fun.
When he returned, he, like other vets, was supposed to get preferential treatment in the hiring of jobs. Somehow, that wasn't the case. He worked for a few businesses before he was laid off. Eventually, he got a job with Long Island Lighting Co. He earned his electrician's license in the town and started his own business---Sea Cliff Electric, with the motto, "Watts My Line."
He and my mother took a leap of faith to do this as he had three children and were saving to buy a home. Together, they were successful as small business people. He didn't earn a fortune but he sent all of his five children to college or technical school and kept his home.My father estimated and did the electrical work while my mother took care of payroll and keeping the books.
Dad was quiet but uttered some funny sayings that we all remembered. I think his sense of humor kept him centered.
When his 90th birthday was approaching, we said we wanted to give him a party. He said he really didn't want one. I said," Anyone who has lived to 90 deserves a celebration."
We promised we would only invite family so he did agree. He actually had two parties. When he was visiting my sister in South Carolina, both my brother and sister's families took him out to dinner.
At our celebration, I mentioned to his sister, Vicky, that my aunts always treated us so well despite that fact that my grandmother doted on my father, her only son. She set me straight and said that the family were always appreciative of my Dad.
She said,"We had no food many days and Sammy would come back from shoe shining with nickels so they could eat."
For that day, my sister-in-law suggested "roasting" Dad. He loved every minute of this as it elicited so much good-natured ribbing. He smiled the entire day!
This April 21, 2019 would be my father's Centennial birthday. A flood of memories come into my mind every day that I think of him.
One of the greatest generation, his childhood was formed during the Great Depression. He couldn't play baseball often enough because he became a shoe shine boy to help earn some money for the family to buy food. Apparently these boys were territorial about their corners and he would be beaten many times. Undeterred, he would find a new corner. He never complained about any of the hardships he and his sisters endured.
My grandmother, Rosina, my namesake, always had an entrepreneurial eye out to earn money to keep the family afloat. She opened a grocery store and sold produce until the competition from other businesses choked hers. When my grandfather was laid off and they couldn't pay their rent, they would use the seed money from the city to move to another place, always hoping that they would have income again. That happened a few times and they would have a place to live for a while.
Just when the Depression was ending and jobs were opening up, my Dad won the only lottery he would ever enter. He was drafted into the army in March of 1941. My grandmother who liked FDR because he helped the common person, hated him after that. He took her only son. Salvatore, Sammy to his family, was drafted into the army for four and a half years and fought in the Pacific. The boy from Brooklyn, was in the Calvary and traveled cross country by horse, until he was sent overseas. Honestly, I don't know how he managed to keep his sense of humor, but he did. Like many others of his generation, he didn't speak much about his war experiences. He landed in the field hospital a few times. In the Pacific islands, the GIs had to fake an airfield by playing golf and drinking warm beer. That was one thing he joked about, as if his tour was fun and games. From what he did say, his unit went in after the fighting to make sure no enemies were left. Not so much fun.
When he returned, he, like other vets, was supposed to get preferential treatment in the hiring of jobs. Somehow, that wasn't the case. He worked for a few businesses before he was laid off. Eventually, he got a job with Long Island Lighting Co. He earned his electrician's license in the town and started his own business---Sea Cliff Electric, with the motto, "Watts My Line."
He and my mother took a leap of faith to do this as he had three children and were saving to buy a home. Together, they were successful as small business people. He didn't earn a fortune but he sent all of his five children to college or technical school and kept his home.My father estimated and did the electrical work while my mother took care of payroll and keeping the books.
Dad was quiet but uttered some funny sayings that we all remembered. I think his sense of humor kept him centered.
When his 90th birthday was approaching, we said we wanted to give him a party. He said he really didn't want one. I said," Anyone who has lived to 90 deserves a celebration."
We promised we would only invite family so he did agree. He actually had two parties. When he was visiting my sister in South Carolina, both my brother and sister's families took him out to dinner.
At our celebration, I mentioned to his sister, Vicky, that my aunts always treated us so well despite that fact that my grandmother doted on my father, her only son. She set me straight and said that the family were always appreciative of my Dad.
She said,"We had no food many days and Sammy would come back from shoe shining with nickels so they could eat."
For that day, my sister-in-law suggested "roasting" Dad. He loved every minute of this as it elicited so much good-natured ribbing. He smiled the entire day!
Friday, January 11, 2019
Christmas and Good Times
I was speaking to one of my friends in December and she was lamenting about the fact that we don't celebrate holidays that way we did when we were young. That's true but life does change. Our parents are not here anymore and neither are most of our relatives. They live in different states, not around the corner. All those family gatherings, with so many aunts, uncles and cousins, are part of the past.
I remember and cherish those days and realize that we can't recreate the past. Our children grow up and we now include others in our family circle. The grandchildren add to the mix and that is the best part.
So here we are at the end of 2018. Life is good and we are happy to celebrate with our children and grandchildren. I recently heard a reporter say something so true. When we are young we anticipate getting gifts and as we get older, we enjoy seeing the faces of others as they open the gifts!
So true and good to keep in mind. Celebrations are about sharing with the people you love!
I was speaking to one of my friends in December and she was lamenting about the fact that we don't celebrate holidays that way we did when we were young. That's true but life does change. Our parents are not here anymore and neither are most of our relatives. They live in different states, not around the corner. All those family gatherings, with so many aunts, uncles and cousins, are part of the past.
I remember and cherish those days and realize that we can't recreate the past. Our children grow up and we now include others in our family circle. The grandchildren add to the mix and that is the best part.
So here we are at the end of 2018. Life is good and we are happy to celebrate with our children and grandchildren. I recently heard a reporter say something so true. When we are young we anticipate getting gifts and as we get older, we enjoy seeing the faces of others as they open the gifts!
So true and good to keep in mind. Celebrations are about sharing with the people you love!
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Birthdays
Today I am flooded with nostalgic memories, so clear and happy yet tinged with a little sadness. I wish my parents were here to remember with me. My mother planned my parties around Columbus Day because we were off from school on the 12th of October. The chocolate cake had a special place next to the gifts!
It was always an exciting time for me. Anticipating my special day and then off from school the next one added to the event. Even later when I grew up, my mother always made an effort to see me and celebrate.
She would call and ask me to come over. The pictures would come out in those marked albums that she lovingly put together. The first year she took them out, I didn't even know she had organized one for each one of her five children. Because I am the oldest, I had the most photos. We always laughed about that. It seems to happen in most families as the parents get busier and busier the more activities their children are involved in. I know I fall into that category with my own children.
I suppose my friends and family fit into the old school mentality as pretty, colorful and meaningful cards were in my mailbox this afternoon. I keep looking at them and remembering the good times.
As I get older I cherish those memories and keep them close. I hope I always will.
Now I am in the process of making new memories with my grandchildren and sharing our birthdays together.
It was always an exciting time for me. Anticipating my special day and then off from school the next one added to the event. Even later when I grew up, my mother always made an effort to see me and celebrate.
She would call and ask me to come over. The pictures would come out in those marked albums that she lovingly put together. The first year she took them out, I didn't even know she had organized one for each one of her five children. Because I am the oldest, I had the most photos. We always laughed about that. It seems to happen in most families as the parents get busier and busier the more activities their children are involved in. I know I fall into that category with my own children.
I suppose my friends and family fit into the old school mentality as pretty, colorful and meaningful cards were in my mailbox this afternoon. I keep looking at them and remembering the good times.
As I get older I cherish those memories and keep them close. I hope I always will.
Now I am in the process of making new memories with my grandchildren and sharing our birthdays together.
Monday, July 30, 2018
News: Former History Teacher, Rosemary McKinley, Brings Long Island History to Life. Writers' Dream
Just thought I would share an interview of my me and my books.
Linda Maria Frank is a writer and host of writers' dream. Her Y/A Ann Tillery mysteries are good reading for young and older alike.
Published in Newsday July, 2018.
When I read Lance Filler's Opinion piece [Toward a more human debate, Opinion,July 11], I was heartened. Everyone should read this piece as it puts today's top political debates in perspective. He breaks down people's opinions into calm, disparate points of view. We all have strong ideas about immigration and abortion but we don't have to get personal and emotional against others who disagree. He makes a great argument for tolerance and understanding.
When I read Lance Filler's Opinion piece [Toward a more human debate, Opinion,July 11], I was heartened. Everyone should read this piece as it puts today's top political debates in perspective. He breaks down people's opinions into calm, disparate points of view. We all have strong ideas about immigration and abortion but we don't have to get personal and emotional against others who disagree. He makes a great argument for tolerance and understanding.
We can disagree and still work together toward finding a common humane ground. We can all learn from this.
This is a call to civility to all Americans. We need to work together for a common goal.
Southold 4th of July Parade 2018
Southold Town 4th of July parade is such a special day. Local community groups march and children dressed in ethnic costumes wave from the Historical Society's float. It is a feel good day. People arrive early with their lawn chairs and water bottles. Volunteers hand out red, white and blue balloons and flags for a donation. Everyone is smiling and in a good mood. It sets the tone for the glorious fourth. My grandchildren have been looking forward to attending for a few years now.
This year we had Betsy Ross and a patriotic boy. Other years we had pioneer girls and Lady Liberty. Another year an Irish lass graced the float.
This year we had Betsy Ross and a patriotic boy. Other years we had pioneer girls and Lady Liberty. Another year an Irish lass graced the float.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Local Author Fair Saturday, May 19, 1-3pm Library's Feather Hill site (formerly Elmer's Amish Furniture) We hope to see you at our Local Author Fair! Authors will introduce themselves and their work. Get your favorite books signed by the author. Books will be available for purchase.
LI Author Rosemary McKinley will talk about her latest novel, Captain Henry Green, a whaler @ Cutchogue Library today @ 3:00. Henry was an ordinary man who led an extraordinary life in the 1800's as a whaler from Sag Harbor. wwwrosemarymckinley.com
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
The Emerald Isle
Just returned from a trip to Ireland, a hauntingly beautiful, natural wonder. I saw the Cliffs of Moher in the pouring, cold, pelting rain. It was well worth it but I was soaked through and through because of the time it took to walk up the many steps to the top.
The Ring of Kerry was worth seeing from the tour bus as it runs round a large area. Every part of the land was very green, as I expected. What I didn't expect were the many hues of verdant fields. A sight to behold.
Best of all were the sights of Blarney Castle on a sunny, fairly warm day. Hiking up the seventy-eight circular, stone steps was well worth the effort to be at the Blarney stone. The view of the grounds and garden brought me back to what the lord of the manor would have seen. Spectacular.
I didn't kiss the famous stone but I did touch it. All part of the experience.
The Irish people were very friendly and proud of their nation. All in all an upbeat feeling, even though the tour guide was telling us many sad stories of the Irish past.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
The Wampum Exchange
Great news----The Wampum Exchange is now an audio book and available on audible.com.
https://dreamlady-rosemarymckinley.blogspot.com/2018/03/great-news-wampum-exchange-is-now-audio.html
The narrator has a very pleasing voice and the story comes alive listening to it. I have promo codes for people interested----just go to my website: www.rosemarymckinley.com and find my email. Contact me for the free book.
Daniel is a twelve-year-old settler's son who accidentally meets up with a Corchaug boy of the same age. Daniel finds a wampum necklace and is not sure what it is. He spends much of the story trying to find out how to return it to Ambusco. Along the way, he spies on the settlement and sees how the Corchaugs live. The reader learns how both the English settlers and Native peoples lived back in 1650 Colonial America.
https://dreamlady-rosemarymckinley.blogspot.com/2018/03/great-news-wampum-exchange-is-now-audio.html
The narrator has a very pleasing voice and the story comes alive listening to it. I have promo codes for people interested----just go to my website: www.rosemarymckinley.com and find my email. Contact me for the free book.
Daniel is a twelve-year-old settler's son who accidentally meets up with a Corchaug boy of the same age. Daniel finds a wampum necklace and is not sure what it is. He spends much of the story trying to find out how to return it to Ambusco. Along the way, he spies on the settlement and sees how the Corchaugs live. The reader learns how both the English settlers and Native peoples lived back in 1650 Colonial America.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Family Nostalgia
Maybe it's the time of year or maybe I have been looking at too many old photo albums lately but I sometimes smile and other times feel sad when I look at my family's lives from the 1950's and 60's. Yes, it was a simpler time and yes, we spent a lot of time with family. We always felt loved even when we were disciplined.
The holidays brought so much cooking activity to the kitchen with plans for what had to be done each day in preparation. My grandmother did much of the Italian cooking at home. She would bring these huge pots on Sunday with the gravy and meat. We children were expected to help out with cleaning chores beforehand and then setting the table for the big day, serving our aunts and uncles and then washing all the dishes and pots. Our house was the center of most of the activity, since my parents had the most children, five to be exact. I always marvel that our home wasn't the largest, nor the most beautiful but it was the gathering place.
I have to say I did not like all the work but I enjoyed the fact that we would all be together.
My mother, who was ahead of her time, bought a dishwasher in the 60's , when no one had one. Her motive was to lessen the load for my sister and me as we were the dishwashers on holidays and every Sunday. It was a big help to us.
Those get-togethers were full of laughter and family talk. We children were expected to keep silent about what the adults spoke about. Always the eavesdropper, I listened intently and did keep it to myself. We were too busy anyway to say too much as we were the oldest of all the cousins and working in the kitchen serving and cleaning up.
Still, I have fond memories of these meals. Some sort of pasta was the first course along with meat balls and bracciole. Then a roast and potatoes was served with a large salad. Mom always made her own dressing of a mixture of olive oil and wine vinegar, sometimes too strong. Then the desserts and coffee were laid on the table, usually from a bakery that one of my aunts and uncles brought. Espresso was brewed on holidays in those tiny cups and served with zambucca.
The other interesting picture in the albums were of birthday sheet cake. It seems that in a big family there were almost always a birthday to be celebrated. No one was ever forgotten.
When I was in the later years of high school, I kept asking my mother if we could change the time of these dinners so I could go to the beach with my friends. My grandfather had a strict rule that dinner was always @ 1:00 PM on Sunday after Mass. He did not want to budge but my mother prevailed and it was changed during the summer. I felt blessed because my grandfather set certain rules so this was a small victory and I don't know how my mother was able to persuade him! But it worked.
The holidays brought so much cooking activity to the kitchen with plans for what had to be done each day in preparation. My grandmother did much of the Italian cooking at home. She would bring these huge pots on Sunday with the gravy and meat. We children were expected to help out with cleaning chores beforehand and then setting the table for the big day, serving our aunts and uncles and then washing all the dishes and pots. Our house was the center of most of the activity, since my parents had the most children, five to be exact. I always marvel that our home wasn't the largest, nor the most beautiful but it was the gathering place.
I have to say I did not like all the work but I enjoyed the fact that we would all be together.
My mother, who was ahead of her time, bought a dishwasher in the 60's , when no one had one. Her motive was to lessen the load for my sister and me as we were the dishwashers on holidays and every Sunday. It was a big help to us.
Those get-togethers were full of laughter and family talk. We children were expected to keep silent about what the adults spoke about. Always the eavesdropper, I listened intently and did keep it to myself. We were too busy anyway to say too much as we were the oldest of all the cousins and working in the kitchen serving and cleaning up.
Still, I have fond memories of these meals. Some sort of pasta was the first course along with meat balls and bracciole. Then a roast and potatoes was served with a large salad. Mom always made her own dressing of a mixture of olive oil and wine vinegar, sometimes too strong. Then the desserts and coffee were laid on the table, usually from a bakery that one of my aunts and uncles brought. Espresso was brewed on holidays in those tiny cups and served with zambucca.
The other interesting picture in the albums were of birthday sheet cake. It seems that in a big family there were almost always a birthday to be celebrated. No one was ever forgotten.
When I was in the later years of high school, I kept asking my mother if we could change the time of these dinners so I could go to the beach with my friends. My grandfather had a strict rule that dinner was always @ 1:00 PM on Sunday after Mass. He did not want to budge but my mother prevailed and it was changed during the summer. I felt blessed because my grandfather set certain rules so this was a small victory and I don't know how my mother was able to persuade him! But it worked.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Captain Henry Green, a Whaler
www.rosemarymckinley.com books available on amazon and b&n.com
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Captain Henry Green
I am about to publish an historical fiction novella about Captain Henry Green, a whaler from Sag Harbor, New York. Henry was an ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life. His whaling life was one of adventure and overcoming hardships of being at sea for a year or more at a time. Yet, he, like many other sea captains, led a full life on a ship and later on land. However Henry was involved in spotting the Amistad, an infamous slave ship, and being a part of the Gold Rush.Sag Harbor and whaling in the 1800's seemed to go together, so this book depicts life there and what it meant to be a whaler.
I have spent two years researching this interesting man. I went to visit Sag Harbor just to see where he lived and walk the area to get a feel for life back then. I could see why whaling and the sailing vessels took over the town. Standing on the Long Wharf and looking out over the water reinforced to me why it was a whaling center. I could smell the sea air and feel the mist as I walked around. A beautiful place to be back then and today.
101 Glimpses of the North Fork and Islands
The Wampum Exchange
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Christmas
Christmas
I don't live back in the 1950's and 60's but it does comfort me to think back and savor those days when life was a lot simpler.
My mother loved Christmas and surprising people with gifts of love. All the hiding and wrapping must have been hard to do with a big family, such as ours. My mother enjoyed every minute of it.
Instead of buying us socks, underwear and pajamas in Sept, she wrapped them up in December. When we woke up Christmas morning, we thought we had so many gifts! Each of the five of us had a tall stack of presents. Mom wrapped everything, even stocking gifts. It was all so exciting that morning.
Christmas Eve dinner was also anticipated and savored. I didn't even like fish but that was our tradition and that's what we had. Of course, the dessert--pieca dolce, a cheesecake, made from a family recipe was worth the wait. Knowing we would see our cousins and aunts and uncles made the evening special.
Being allowed to stay up late and attend Midnight Mass was a treat, even though lack of sleep made us bleary eyed the next day!
We have tried to keep many of the traditions alive. We still have several fish varieties for this dinner and the children exchange gifts. The excitement is palpable for the little ones and they do enjoy seeing their cousins. Most of all I do miss my parents and their excitement about this holiday. My fond memories keep me smiling and remembering the good times.
I don't live back in the 1950's and 60's but it does comfort me to think back and savor those days when life was a lot simpler.
My mother loved Christmas and surprising people with gifts of love. All the hiding and wrapping must have been hard to do with a big family, such as ours. My mother enjoyed every minute of it.
Instead of buying us socks, underwear and pajamas in Sept, she wrapped them up in December. When we woke up Christmas morning, we thought we had so many gifts! Each of the five of us had a tall stack of presents. Mom wrapped everything, even stocking gifts. It was all so exciting that morning.
Christmas Eve dinner was also anticipated and savored. I didn't even like fish but that was our tradition and that's what we had. Of course, the dessert--pieca dolce, a cheesecake, made from a family recipe was worth the wait. Knowing we would see our cousins and aunts and uncles made the evening special.
Being allowed to stay up late and attend Midnight Mass was a treat, even though lack of sleep made us bleary eyed the next day!
We have tried to keep many of the traditions alive. We still have several fish varieties for this dinner and the children exchange gifts. The excitement is palpable for the little ones and they do enjoy seeing their cousins. Most of all I do miss my parents and their excitement about this holiday. My fond memories keep me smiling and remembering the good times.
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