Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Sunday

"The Book of Me, Written by You" - Is Blood thicker than Water?

This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations.
This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
The prompt for the week is:    
Is Blood thicker than Water?
The Brief:

We all have them. 
  • Family that are like friends
  • Family that are like acquaintances
  • Friends that are like family
  • Friends that are new, but seem old ones!
  • Family members that are like strangers
  • Emotional links to generations past?
Does it matter how we feel about the friends and family we have?
Is it a case of when the times comes family comes first?
Define good friends
How do you distinguish friends -
  • real
  • virtual 
  • colleagues
  • long term friends
  • does it not matter
This is an interesting post and topic. As growing up I only knew my immediate family and my grandmother and uncle on my father's side. However, I had friends through the different schools I went to. In fact, most of my friends today are from those days (some I've known over 35 years!). By high school I had pretty much figured out who is a true friend and ones that say they are but either they talk about you behind your back or stab you in some way. There are some friends that are friends but they are the quiet sort. I've got a range of the different friends.

In fact, some of my friends are closer to me than even my family his - a sad but true fact. People who are your family should love and respect you unconditionally - although you will have fights and argue over time which is a sign of a healthy relationship - but they shouldn't just ignore you until they want something. With my family, you really do need a score card of who's talking to whom and who's ignoring whom, because without it, you are lost.

New found family
Now that being said, I've now found some cousins and an uncle that I never knew existed. We are slowly getting to know each other and have found we have common likes and dislikes and goals in life which is great. We're finding that bond of family. Hopefully, it will continue to grow and the families will reunite as they should.

Direct family members
Now that being said, I do have one "outstanding" sister. She's a bitch and admits she's a bitch and is actually proud of that fact. Personally, I wouldn't be, but to each their own. I haven't spoken to her in about 18 years. Why? Well, let's just say I had enough of the name calling and other things she spoke about and it was time to say enough. I'm not the only one she's alienated over the years. Our other 2 sisters don't want contact with her as well because she's done something similar to them I think. I think her 2 sons have seen the light and have backed away from her as well. I do have some contact with at least one of them, although its not regular contact.


You can never have too much family. I know mine seems to overwhelm me in large amounts, but you take time out for other things and then family isn't so bad.

Friends
Like I stated above, I have had some friends over 35 years. We don't talk every day but we don't need to. We respect each other and if there's anything any of us needs, the others will be there for us.

That being said, there are others who try and use these friendships to either get further or just turn against you and say awful things they know aren't true. These are the testing friendships - usually I give people a warning or two and then I throw up my hands and walk away. I figure if they want the relationship bad enough, then they will contact me to talk about it.

I also have friends which are more of acquaintances because we don't actually talk about anything other than what's currently happening but we don't generally meld together though hobbies and such. Its not a bad thing, its just more of a general friend relationship rather than a deeper emotional one is all.

Virtual Friends
I do have some of these, where we met online through something happening or a hobby but we never met in person. Sometimes these do intend to cross over to IRL (in real life) meetings. Back when we (hubby and I) first started using the internet and Bulletin Boards (yes we've been around that long), we used to have "meets". In fact, when I moved to Australia, I had a small group of people I "met" online meet me at the airport along with hubby and his family.  Then later on, I went to a few meets here in Melbourne to catch up with them. In fact, we had a table at our wedding for people who would attend meets that met online!

In conclusion, relationships are what you make of them. You must judge each person on their actions and what they say and not what others tell you. Why? Well that's simple, if someone wants the others to look or feel in a bad way, by telling another person a lie or twisted fact which could cause their relationship to turn. Only your experiences will tell you want is right and wrong with each person. It doesn't matter if this is a friends or family - as we are all people and its in how you treat each other.

Some pictures of my friends & family:



 







  Check back for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.  

Friday

"The Book of Me, Written by You" - Regrets

This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations.
This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
The prompt for the week is:    
Regrets
The Brief:
    • Big Regrets  - I should (or not) have bought that large purchase 
    • Small Regrets - I should (or not) have had that thick shake at MacDonalds
    • Miscellaneous Regrets
      • Relationships
      • Jobs
      • Friends
    Regrets are something I try and avoid by doing the right thing and telling the truth. I figure if I can look myself in the mirror then I'm happy because usually that means I'm doing fine.

    I've been looking at what I've done throughout my life, and conscientiously made the decision to live life in a way that I can look into the mirror and think that I've done my best in life. Further, I know, within myself, if I can make decisions which back up what I know my rights and values are in life, then if I was to leave the earth tomorrow, I could leave peacefully without any regrets from that point onwards. This is how I've lived my life since I made this decision.


    Big Regrets
    The big regrets I don't really have. I have concerns about children and if we can't have them. I do regret that we might not be able to, but its due to infertility. I know my losing weight would help, but I've done what most women have done and they've successfully lost weight, so I know its the infertility issues helping the weight issues in this problem. And I know as much as I might regret it, I've done everything within my power (and other people's powers) to become pregnant. As we're still going through this whirlwind of conceiving - this is to remain in questions for a few years yet. 

    Employment
    However, within the last few years I found this point of view was getting sorely tested because of what was happening in my business life. I didn't like it and what it was turning me into. At the time, it was really tough to act according to my morals and beliefs, but I didn't want to leave because of the support I was giving to the organizations and community and the belief I had the work that was being done was important and not just paper shuffling. However, by the organization forcing retrenchments, and that was hard in itself as we all have bills and need money, this tug of war came to an end. It took a bit to redirect my thinking and doing, but now everything is back in balance and I'm much happier.

    I do regret not being able to find a stable job. I know when I was in the US, once I got into working, I always had an abundance of places looking to hire me. True, it wasn't within the IT sector, but at least it was using my skills in different areas. However, since I've moved to Australia, something happens and I ended retrenched and out of a job. There is no clue why this is the case in both times I've been retrenched, as managers have always praised the job I do and how well I do my job. I do hope I find employment that keeps me longer than 6 years this time around. 

    Friends
    I am proud to say that I've had some of my friends since I was in first grade at Walden Elementary School which is well over 35 years now. We have gone through a lot in that time but we all still can get together and act like we're our younger selves. I've been told many times that I have NOT changed. This means that I am living truthfully and I cannot regret that. A smaller regret is not being there at times from family and friends, but if I can possibly be there, I am there and they know this. Its tougher living so far away at times, but we do try and keep up with each other with the phone, Facebook and Skype. Harder is not necessarily meaning NOT there - you just have to try that little bit harder if you really want it.
    Friends from school in 2010

    Friends from school in 1991

    Family
    Family has always been a subject that's more love and hate than anything. I love them all, but at times I hate them as well.

    I do regret, for what its worth, not taking more time out just to talk and ask questions to and with my paternal grandmother, Jean. That being said, when she passed I was only in my early teens, so every child isn't so keen on doing this, but hindsight is a great thing. I do know I would have loved to get my camera and take a  picture of my maternal, and namesake, grandmother, Janet. If nothing else, we would have a picture to remember her by. Further, I would have written down the last place she lived and would have fought NY to have them tell me where she was living, so I could have developed more of a relationship with her. Again hindsight is a great thing, but I am looking for places I can go to get her records released...its just taking me time to track it down, but I will prevail.
                                            Some immediate & extended family at my Uncle's funeral (2002)                                        Immediate family missing are sister's Jean and Theresa

    I don't regret anything I've done, but I do wish my whole immediate family were closer - it would be great to have a family reunion where everyone comes along and has a huge picnic and plays games for the day. The reality of this would be if we even tried it, we would need bodyguards for certain family members and/or murders would be committed, others would be so distanced from the other it would like they were on another planet, and there are a few that would get along but the fear is always how long would they get along for?

    I guess one of the bigger regrets is when a dear family member was hurt by someone, I wasn't there the one time she needed someone to protect her. However, no one, not even myself, could see what was happening, so nothing was done. However, once it was brought to our whole family's attention, we banded together. Everyone was scared that I would go after the person who hurt the family member, and so they watched me. I wouldn't regret what I would do if I EVER got my hands on him, but I know, from the one time I had seen that person and the way he ran, that he will always keep a wide berth of me because he knows what I WOULD do if I ever did get that close to him.

    That being said, if things go on within families and others do not know, they they cannot act. However, its how you handle the knowledge of those things once you know about them. I do know that I've ALWAYS acted once I had knowledge of goings-on. In fact, one of these goings-on, I didn't speak to one of my sisters for years because of it. We have made up, to a point, but the relationship is forever ruined by what she did.

    Families are precious and if anyone decided to abuse or hurt any of them, and I found out about it, even now, keep looking over that shoulder because I will never stop looking for them. Would I regret this, no, because these types of people bring this stuff onto themselves. I wouldn't go looking for them, but if our paths ever crossed, I would serious warn them to run and get as far as they could from me.
     
    In conclusion, as you can see, I don't have many regrets compared to some. Protection is something we all think we are able to do for those we love, but hurting others is just wrong unless you are provoked. I do try and see things from all points of view and make the best decision based upon that. I know, within myself, I've done the best I can do, with what I've got to work with, and if I die tomorrow, I've done the best I could have and, I believe, my ancestors would support me with the decisions I've made. That's all anyone can ever expect to do with their life.

     

    Check back for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.    

    Wednesday

    "The Book of Me, Written by You" - Love

    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations.
    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
    The prompt for the week is:    
    Love
    The Brief:
    • Love comes in varying shapes and sizes
    • I love you
    • I love ice cream
    • I love the smell of rain, Spring, toast
    • I love my (insert your family member, pet etc)
    • There is no right or wrong way to love....or is there?
    • Define what love means to you.
    Love is a 4 letter word that can and to some does mean so much more than a 4 letter word. It means a variety of things from loving a song, colour, a food, a thing, a place, a pet and a person just to name a few of them. It also revolves over your lifetime as well. Something you love when you are aged 10 changes and as you grow some of the things you love drop off once you reach the age of 40, while others stay there but there are different types of love each of which has a different level of importance.

    As I group these into types, remember these are MY types and levels and not everyone will feel the same way.

    Hobbies & Everyday Items Type - Lowest

    2 of my running trophies before I had to stop
    The lowest type of "love" are for hobbies and everyday items such as chocolate, ice cream, shoes, songs, etc. These are the things we do love but if they ever went away, while we would feel the loss, it wouldn't bring you to your knees. Further, these are the items I'm talking about when I say love drops off and evolves overtime. Other types of love do this, but this is more frequent in this group. For instance, when I was under 15 years old, I loved to run. I would run to school and then run home...just to run. However, once I had injured first my back and then my knee and ankles, I still
    loved to run, but just couldn't do it any longer. Do I love to run? You bet, but I can't. Another form would be chocolate and ice cream. I love both, but I have to regulate how much I eat, so I can't eat as much as I want (or else I'd get sick if nothing else!). I could survive without them, and I have done so in the past when I needed to regulate my sugar, however, I wouldn't want to go without. Besides, as I'm sitting here writing this article up, I'm eating some dark chocolate baking bits. YUM!

    When you discover a new hobby or item, such as a new food you tried, and when you experience it or accomplish something is when you feel true love of this type.

    Pets & Friends Type - Medium

    This is in the middle as we have very close friends and some friends that we haven't seen in awhile, but the fact remains if they were to go away or die we'd feel a more severe heart ache because we do love them. The same goes for pets. Some people have pets and they go outside to feed and give them a quick pet. Whereas others, like myself, consider them family and they are a member of the family. When something happens to them, we have the same severe (or maybe even more so) than loosing a close friend. An example would be my friend Brian Sherry VanLeuven. I knew him from school and considered him a friend; however, when we lost him in 2013, it hurt and I was sad to know someone that young is gone. Another example would be when we lost our dogs JR (2004) and Jackie (2012). They were both our dogs, but JR was under 3 years old and Jackie as over 10 years old. They both hurt, but Jackie we let go due to diabetes complications as it was the thing to do. JR I still think of and mourn for but Jackie I am sad but know he's in a better place. 

    During better times, you have when you first meet the friend or pet or parties or celebrations for them are some examples of these times.

    Family Type - High

    Unfortunately, we only have one of these which for some people is a good thing and for some people is a bad thing. However, how much everyone within that family fights and doesn't get along with they are still joined by common genes, people and views on basic levels. Believe me, I don't have the closest of families, and have never even had a reunion or gathering because World War 3 would probably be a safer place, but we all still have the same genes and basic views on most things (please notice the world MOST). 
     
    Some family at my uncle's funeral

    While I put the word most in there, there are sometimes very few things families look at the same way whereas sometimes you cannot mistaken they are family because they have the same outlook on all things. For instance, my father's a Republican and sends me (who's a Democrat for the most part) jokes about things against the Democrats. At first I told him not to send me those things, but he didn't take any notice of me. At first I was ticked off and annoyed, but rather than getting upset, I just delete them now. However, the fact is we both have strong views in politics, which is a common thing and that's ok. Another is my brother, myself and my nieces feel strongly about family and how close they should be. And if anyone in the family needed anything, we would help out as much and where we could and nothing would stop us. An example would be when my niece needed help after the hurricanes visited her multiple times in 2005. They needed a bit of help to get them up and going again, and my nieces took up a collection for her to help them out, which it did. It wasn't much but it was all we could do to help them out and they were very thankful. 

    Some good examples of this type are parties, celebrations, births and weddings are when you see each other during the better times.

    Spouse/Partner & Children Type - Extremely High

    This type are the people you are in direct contact with day in and out. If something happens to them, your whole world feels like it comes crashing down on you. This is the extreme love where your chest feels like its going to kill you because it hurts so much. I know all about the children loss when I didn't have a choice to have surgery because our baby was in the wrong spot in 2004. Your whole world just stops spinning and you just feel completely and utterly numb. Every day you think about the person - even if its just something small or in passing but it reminds you of the loss. True over the years the loss feels less but its still constantly with you no matter what.

    1997 My husband's family at our wedding
    Marriage, commitment or baptism ceremonies are probably the best examples of these types of good things in these types.


    As you can see by my chart, there are different levels and types. They do vary but if they all still hurt when it comes to death or disassociation from them. On the other hand, which I don't think I've mentioned enough in this article, when you feel the love with these types its the best at the same time.


      Check back for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.    

    Friday

    "The Book of Me, Written by You" - The feeling of home

    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations.
    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
    The prompt for the week is:    
    The feeling of home
    The Brief:

    Home means different things to different people, so this week we are going to explore what it means to us

    • What does it feel like?
    • How do you recognize it?
    • What makes it home - people, place, time

    The most common phrase I always hear is "Home is where the heart is". Growing up, I didn't understand this concept. Even now, I think I understand it but it still feels foreign to me. This is confusing and I'll like to warn you, not everyone (within my family) will be happy to read some of the things below, but its what I feel.



    I believe that home is what you make of it. Growing up, we had a place to live...and I visited my father on Sundays. Home? That is probably what I made out of those 2 places. That being said, we moved every 3-5 years when I was growing up, so once I started to feel comfortable, I guess would be the name of it, it would be time to move once again.

    Early 1990s with a small group of my friends
    Fast forward this to high school, and what I realized was that my physical address and the people in it might change, but my friends in school that were around me almost never did. If anything, there always seemed to be a few people that didn't belong any place so we accepted them into the group of us. There was one year when we moved from one part of the state to another, but that only lasted for about a year and then I went back to the original school and most of the group was still around, although people were changing and the one group was splitting bit by bit, but no matter what if anyone needed us we were all there for them.

    We had a few issues within the family and then there was college at the local college I went to. The old group in school went their own ways and it seemed like I made what I could out of it. Made some new friends and learned quite a bit about relationships. In fact, one of the classes I took, psychology 101, actually went over relationships and why they are formed, etc. For me this was great because I started to understand people within the family and what they do and the reasons behind the way the groups and people were in high school. Interesting and informative.

    By the time I was ready to complete my Associates Degree, I understood living compared to feeling accepted. Unfortunately I had both my in my life which is why I've always had the problem understanding the difference between a house to a home and the statement "Home is where the heart is" and I understand why.

    A house can be a place you live and existing with common people which you have a relationship with. A home is where you find yourself completely accepted for who you are without reservation or judgement. This is why the term home is so difficult to understand for some people - if you don't have those types of relationships with a group of people then you wouldn't fully understand those statements.

    Did I have a family that cares for me? Yes, but I never truly got the feeling as they accepted me completely and without reservations. They took care of me and made sure I had food, and a roof over the head, but the feelings? That's another story.
    A few years ago - a group of my friends and I from high school

    Over the last 10 plus years, I've reconnected with some of my friends in high school. The best thing about it is it feels like it hasn't been those many years since we last saw each other. It was great to feel that relaxed around people I grew up around.


    So do I have a home? Yes, I believe once we got married, we truly have a home where everyone is welcome (to a degree which is a long and personal story), but everyone must be accepted and respected above all else because our family and friends which walk through the door are loved because of these things and that IS what a home is. I know as a person, all I've ever wanted was to be completely accepted.

    Us in front of our home

     Check back for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.  

    Thursday

    "The Book of Me, Written by You" - Iconic and Famous Figures Dinner

    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations.
    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
    This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
    The prompt for the week is:    
      Iconic and Famous Figures Dinner
    The Brief: 
    If you had to hold a dinner party and could invite a maximum of 12 special people who would you invite?
    You can NOT include family in this – the special people could be famous or historical people.
    What meals would you serve and why.
    Perhaps include the recipe or a photo if you decided to actually cook the items!
    Please look at the video for this week as it explains about week 14 too!


    Check back next week for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.    - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/#sthash.LXywwwLd.dpuf
    I have to admit, I've been putting both prompts for dinner's off. The next one, on who would I have to dinner with family and friends (alive and dead), took me awhile to come around to, and I do have some thoughts on that one. However, this one? I don't have a clue what to do about it.

    At first I thought, maybe people who influenced me? Nope, I have to say only family and friends (and in some cases people who were NOT friends or family) have done that. Then I thought about people important to where I grew up (New York USA) and where I now live (Australia).  Yes, there are some influential people in either country, but honestly, it doesn't really interest me.

    Then I started to think - what else can I do for the prompt? I thought if I could have a few sit downs with Famous & Iconic people who made decisions that affected others it might be interesting. So here are a few people I'd sit down with (along with a interpreter!) and the reasons why I chose them.

    Bolesław II The Generous
    Bolesław II the Generous - When I first read about Bolesław's father, I thought that he was great because as a Duke of Poland, he reunited and gave people what they deserved - if you worked for it, you were rewarded. Upon reading more into the history, I found Bolesław. He was given a stable country people liked him and thought of him as a capable ruler. He gave the country many
    monasteries and churches. Further, he also was one of the first to produce their own coinage or currency and this helped bring in money into the royals pockets. Because of this the economic and cultural development of the country flourished and was able to become sustainable in its own right. However, when he declared himself King of Poland, this upset many people. Remember Bolesław's father stayed a Duke of Poland because he knew once he declared himself a King, it would result in uprisings. Bolesław didn't seem to care and declared himself a King and the Polish nobles and others revolted and ended up having the King overthrown (to say the least).

    I would loved to have a talk with him about why he decided to make himself a King, didn't he know why his father never took up being a King? Once the unrest started going towards revolt, what motivated him to keep going while the people were getting more upset, why didn't he listen? If he could have changed things, what he would have changed in how he did things. Would he have given up the Kingship and go back to a Duke or would he have stayed?

    Josef Pilsudski - I have mixed feelings about this person. He was Poland chief of state in 1918, but wanted reestablishment of Poland’s independence which had been lost. He became leader of the Polish Socialist Party (PPS) and traveled to gain
    Josef Pilsudski looking over the Polish Army
    some assistance with gaining back independence. Once revolutionary movement began, he returned to Russian Poland (as Russia had a majority of the land that was Poland when it was split up into 3 partitions) to help with the movement. He was highly instrumental in putting together a Polish Army. In 1916, they declared Poland an independent country which the other countries did not like and they set out to attack these armies. He refused to comply with the other countries to stand down and they arrested him in 1917. In 1918, West Germany collapsed and Pilsudski returned to Warsaw and became a hero and head and chief of Poland's Army. 

    I loved that he was a fighter and came from basically nothing. I can understand him wanting his country free again instead of split into 3 other countries. I'd love to ask him if it was worth all the fighting? Or would he have waited until the Polish Army was more set up and functional before setting out and declaring Poland an independent country. Would he have changed anything? Would there have been any kind of self defense taught? I would have talked about what the men that served in the Army would haven like and what the conditions were. This is due to a Great Uncle of mine serving in the Polish Army.

    Princess Diana - Everyone knows Princess Diana's story or about it. Her struggles and only wanting to do right for her family, children, and anyone she could help. She started off as a shy teacher and became quite good at public speaking. 

    I loved that she had the courage to meet any challenges that were thrown at her. She did what was right and her way no matter what anyone else thought once she had enough of "doing the right thing" as she was probably instructed to do. I would love to sit down with her and chat about how she found the courage to do what was right and her way faced with the pressures she would have gotten from the crown. How she could pick herself back up once she was down and pressed on. What tips should would give all of us for doing the same? 

    Danny Thomas  - Most people know that he was an comedian and actor. I was fortunate enough to actually talk to Danny Thomas when he was alive. Growing up, I did many charity things for babies and children. Many of these charity bike rides, walks and runs were for St. Judes. I was about 7 or 8 when I first got into doing these things. I just knew I was helping sick kids have a chance at getting better. Then I stopped for awhile doing this due to spending time with family. Anyhow, when my
    sister, Theresa, decided to do something for charity, I suggested St. Judes as I had done things before with them. I told her to write to the company and ask them for support in advertising materials (bags, t-shirts were big things back in the 1980's). She did write to them and in return, Danny called her. I picked up the phone and passed it along to her. To say the phone call didn't go well is an understatement - in polite terms she told him that she didn't think it was him and hung up. I asked what was going on and she told me that someone pranked her and said it was Danny Thomas. I told it was probably him as he runs that charity. She didn't know this and when the phone rang again, she was very sorry over and over again to him.  We did ended up getting the advertising materials and using them and donating the money to the hospital. 

    I would love to ask Danny if he ever would change what he did? I know he said that he would always open a shrine to St Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes.I know of this saint and is one of the ones I look up to as well. What other saints does he look up to? Why did he choose St. Jude Thaddeus to pray to that one night? What else does he wish he could have done? What tips would he give?

    Patrick Swayze - Again most people would know that he was a singer, dancer and actor. He had made some mistakes and admitted to it and got help over the years. However, he was always faithful to his mother and wife from what I understand. When the chips were down, he backed out of the spotlight and kept what was most precious close - his family. When most people would have either given up or died from horrible pancreatic cancer, he stayed and fought like no tomorrow. However, it wasn't to be and he was taken from us. 


    I would love to sit there and talk to him about how he was able to back away from the spotlight. Also, ask and compare notes on how he and his wife, Lisa, were able to keep their marriage alive and survive not having children which is much like us. I think it would be interesting to compare notes and see what we did the same and what we did differently. 

    Besides, he was always a good looking man - who wouldn't want to sit and look at him all night? 

    The Dinner

    Pierogi
    After sitting and talking to each person, I'd bring them together in the dining room and would serve a mixture of foods. This is due to the different influences. It would be like a Thanksgiving but would be more traditionally Polish. Some things would include: flatbread, forest berries, nuts and wild cabbage, beets, turnip, carrots, peas and cauliflower. Pickled cucumber or Pickles, oranges, lemons, olives, figs, tomatoes,  pierogi, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage (Gołąbki) & peppers, steak (Karkówka) and chicken (Kurczak pieczony po wiejsku).  For drinks: Vodka, milk, buttermilk and various herb infusions, tea, and coffee.
    Faworki (we also call them Bow Ties in our family)
    honey,

    Desert would be more of chocolate, Pączki and Bow Ties (or Faworki)

    Discussion 

    This would include why we help who we help or fight for.  What gives or gave us the strength to be as strong as we were/are. I would ask about religion as before I wrote this, I didn't know everyone (except for 1) had some kind of tie to the Roman Catholic Church. Some were the rulers or fighters, and others celebrated a Roman Catholic Saint. There's only one, Patrick, which I could find no connection to any church, which is interesting. 

    I would love to find out why each of us considers family or important and our love of them. Did they help with their strength when they needed it? How did they influence the decisions they made? 

    I think it would be a very interesting dinner and discussion overall.  


    Check back for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.    
    Check back next week for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.    - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/#sthash.2yfPO9gS.dpuf

    Check back next week for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.    - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/#sthash.LXywwwLd.dpuf
    The video is http://youtu.be/P8hzm6vq5Tg
    The video is http://youtu.be/P8hzm6vq5T
    The video is http://youtu.be/P8hzm6vq5Tg