Young Blood

Hard topic today, because I wasn't ready a few weeks ago...

This morning, I asked Alexa to define young blood, and she replied, "Young blood typically refers to youthful people. It can also apply to fresh, revitalizing ideas or vigor."

This answer made me curious, so I followed up with a question about the science of young blood, and I learned that there is some scientific evidence that young blood contains molecules that may have rejuvenating effects, including "specific proteins that can improve cognitive function and skin cell regeneration." Who knew? Well, I suppose the scientists did! 🤣

Before we go any further, please know that I have not fact-checked this AI response, and I'm also not researching cosmetics or fountain-of-youth products! The thing that prompted me into this rabbit hole is that my cousin passed away on Christmas day, just a few minutes after she and I had been texting holiday greetings...but I don't feel old enough for that to have happened. I still have young blood, don't I?

Teresa (DeLuca) McQuay is not the first person I've known to pass away from among my peers, but she is the first of this cousin group to pass on to the next life, and it makes me so sad for her kids, her brother...and also for me. 

Teresa was 59, and I've known her since 1968, when I was born. Neither one of us had regularly been referred to as "young" in many years (unless you count time spent with our moms!), but I would venture to guess that, like me, she wasn't feeling like she was old. I mean we're not as young as we were in 1973,

or 1982, or 1997, or even 2003,

but we're certainly not OLD!, and it feels unfair that she would have to leave so suddenly, without having the opportunity to meet any grandchildren that may come along. Wasn't 1983 just a few years ago? 

Hmmm, no. I guess not, but that cousin bond can be strong. Some even compare it to a semi-sibling-style relationship, or mention that cousins are our first (maybe forced) friends as well as family...which is not wrong. (If you can't tell from those 80s photos, Tre was a bit of a rebel. She was Sandy at the end of Grease, while I was Sandy-fresh-off-the-boat...but we were friends!) While we hadn't talked often recently, when we did, we laughed over many shared memories of our childhood and teenage years, and we celebrated the women we have become. 

Just a few years back, in 2021, almost all 8 of us cousins got together to celebrate one of our parents, Aunt Mickey, who passed away during the awful year of Covid.

We talked, and we laughed, and we remembered together, as you do...it was so very good...and the bond was still there, as she grabbed my hand for the photo. 

Memories of late-night gab sessions when she stayed at my house...

 

Memories of holiday photos taken on the front porch, or in front of the tree, with Grandpa Joe's little camera (not instant, you got one chance at the "right face"... did you choose well? We'll find out when the film is developed!)...followed by cookies in Grandma's kitchen...

Memories of running around Euclid, while Tre and I stayed at Mary's house in the summer...

Memories of board games, and sleepovers, and shocking (at the time) truths between cousins...

All these memories add up to a life, no matter how many years it lasts...so I'll keep making more, but (sadly) not with my cousin, Teresa.

Zach, Ricky & Kylie, Rich, Tony, Patti, Kim...she was amazing, wasn't she? Keep her memory alive in your hearts, and her legacy will continue to bless you, and your children and their children, for generations to come. 

Blog friends, treasure your loved ones as long as you can, for none of us knows the hour of our death. Love one another well, whether your blood is young or old, and your legacy will be love. 

Thanks for stopping by, and for listening...and Knit in Good Health. 

Looking Forward and Back

Last January, I blogged about my Aunt Mickey (and some other things). It was a sad time of saying goodbye, and I even posted some pictures.

Today, there was a gathering to honor her memory and celebrate the 80 years she spent circling the sun on planet Earth, touching lives and loving well. Covid has caused the gap in grieving, but I am glad for the opportunity to consciously call back the good memories and see the photos of her smiling face again. 

As this day has approached, I have thought about the memories that dance in my brain when I think of her, and I looked for some photos that are a good indication of the Aunt Mickey I remember so fondly. Note: Some of these photos are not mine, but the face on that sweet lady is the one I remember when making similar memories. (Thank you Facebook, for showing me other parts of her life all the time!)

I remember visits to Aunt Mickey and Uncle Bill's house when I was growing up. I remember the layout, even though I have not been there in years, because it was essentially the same as the Tiny House I just sold in June! It was always good to walk into that familiar kitchen and to sit at the table. It was so good to share food, whether a meal in the basement for a First Communion Party or desserts and snacks in the kitchen, because the food and company were so wonderful! 

I remember cooking and baking with Aunt Mickey, and learning all the time! "You have to whip the egg whites for 10 minutes," she would tell me about the meringue cookies, "and everything has to be very clean before you start." After years of following her advice, I know that she was right. Clean tools, well-rinsed and chilled, or your meringues are doomed! I remember watching her bake, and tasting the goodness of so many treats that came out of her tiny kitchen. I am thankful that her grandchildren were able to enjoy similar memories, and all the taste tests!

I remember when I would approach Aunt Mickey, a "fun-sized" adult, to see if I was getting taller. She would jokingly threaten to cut us off at the knees if we got taller than she was, and she would tell us to sit down...lol! For the record, I did grow taller than Aunt Mickey, and my knees are in tact!

I remember introducing my children to her and watching their eyes light up as she told stories. She was a crazy-good storyteller, full of imaginative tales! So my kids knew her as "Crazy" Aunt Mickey...but the good kind of crazy, not the "they're-coming-to-take-you-away" kind of crazy. As kids, and even as young adults I think, they looked forward to the intermittent visit with Crazy Aunt Mickey.

I remember calling Aunt Mickey when our extended family went sideways a few years back, seeking solace and comfort in a confusing time. I called, out of the blue, and I'm not even sure I told her what was wrong. And she listened. And she told me I was doing a good job as a mom and grandma. And she told me she loved seeing pictures of my beautiful grandbabies on Facebook.

As I look both forward and back, I celebrate the influence that Aunt Mickey has had on my life. I hope that I am half the mom and grandma that she was, and I continue to strive to improve every year. I miss knowing that Aunt Mickey is just a phone call away, but I am glad for the renewed friendships I am creating with some of my cousins over the last few years. 

Thanks for the memories, Aunt Mickey. I love you and miss you so much, but I will go on, just as you would have. 

For those of you who didn't know Mickey Segulin, I hope you have a Crazy-good Aunt Mickey in your life, and that you recognize her worth and celebrate her constantly!

Thanks for stopping by, and Look forward and back in Good Health!

Celebrate Everything!

Today I went to a wedding. It was beautiful. The bride wore white, the groom laughed nervously, and the families sized each other up on the sidelines. Lol...not really. All the sizing up was done at the rehearsal dinner last night, but I did see the father of the bride offering a little side-eye to the groom at one point. Pretty normal for the father of the bride. [wink!]

Weddings make me think of all the things we celebrate in this life. Brides and grooms, babies, birthday parties, beginnings and banquets for milestone anniversaries or retirements. There is undeniable beauty in a good celebration, and even the flowers seem to show off that there is something spectacular in even the ordinary of day-to-day life.

As I make my list, I think through a lifetime of celebrations so far. All that I have mentioned above, and something I haven't said yet. Some of the greatest celebrations I have attended mark the end of an era, and the beginning of eternity for a loved one who also loved Jesus. Because, while we may not always think about it, on the other side of this life is something better!

When a loved one passes away, we are sad. We do not blow bubbles or toss flower petals at memorial services. We cry, and we laugh, as we remember all the ways our parent, partner or pal shared life and love with us...all the things we will miss. Then we celebrate a life well-lived, a family well-loved, and a faith well-shared, often through the celebrations. 

Later, as we look through the photos again, we remember the brides, the babies, the birthdays and the banquets. We meet the milestones for years to come, and they tug at our heartstrings in the absence of one who once celebrated with us. We remember that "God so loved [name of loved one here] that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Then, especially if we also love Jesus, we put one foot in front of the other to see what's around the next turn in this life for us. 

Today, I went to a wedding. The bride and groom love Jesus, and he was invited. Their families love Jesus, and he was honored. The wedding, and the couple, was set apart for Jesus, and he was a celebrated part of this new union. Congratulations to Isaac and Emily! I can't wait to see what's in store for you to celebrate next!

Do you have anything to celebrate today? I hope so. Even if it's something very day-to-day, like good weather or a smiling baby passing by, celebrate all the good you can find! Those celebrations will help you past the hurdles of life, because there is usually something better coming, and it is often just around the bend. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

PS - gratuitous pics of two (three?) of the people I celebrate every day! I know you won't mind seeing how they've grown!

Love Lifts Us Up

Clearly, according to the musical fates, love lifts us up where we belong! So, what else does love do? 

Love doesn't use the gift, so that it won't get worn out. Love treasures the handmade, and invests in the hands that made it. Love sends that handmade item back to its origins when the original recipient meets Love in Heaven...and Love then wears the gloves.

A few weeks ago, just after Christmas, I told you a bit about my Aunt Mickey. I feel like she left us too soon, and I know I am not the only one. Still, we are grateful for the legacy of love she leaves behind. 

Yesterday, I learned that a gift I had sent her in love has come full circle. On her first trip to Italy, to visit her son and his family, I asked if she might look for some yarn for me please. I sent money (which I think she sent back with the yarn) and told her to pick something that she liked. She brought back yarn that I mostly knit into baby things for my first granddaughter, when we were expecting her more than 10 years ago!

But some of that yarn was knit into a pair of matching mitts, one for me and one for my very generous Aunt Mickey. I sent the mitts with a note of thanks, and I didn't really think about them much until my cousin sent me a pic of the mitts while looking through some of her mom's things in February. Did I want them back? Mom didn't wear them much, she didn't want to stretch them out...she could maybe send them to her sister-in-law, still living in Italy? 

Yes! This sounds like the perfect solution to me, and I am happy to report that the mitts have arrived, back where they started. 

As far as I can see, the note says,

"Cousin Pam made these for Mom as a thank you for the Italian yarn you or Mom brought her on that first trip to visit. It looks like she never wore them, probably didn't want to ruin them by stretching them out.

Let's not hold on to use things for "someday".

You can get good use of them for at least 6 months out of the year!"  

Love, Mar

Good thoughts, Mar. Let's not wait to use things. Let's wear the gloves, use the crystal punch bowl just because, eat with the good silverware and sit right on the couch. Let's live life abundantly, loving one another, as life is meant to be lived. Let's not wait for someday.

I know it is a pandemic, but how can you show someone your love today? Make the phone call. Write the letter. Speak the kind words. Feed the sheep. 

All the love to you, readers. Whether you are family, friend or internet acquaintance, all the love to you!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Baby Sweater in Italian Yarn, 2011

Six

Six days until Christmas, and my house is a wreck, but I am ok with it! Kiddos have landed, with all their stuff...

And it is glorious! Cramped, but glorious! Even Snowflake showed up, and she didn't even RSVP! 

At least she doesn't each much...and we don't have to make up a bed, 
because she goes back to the North Pole every night to report in!

It has been years since we have had teddy bears under our tree, but this year will be a different story. As a  matter of fact, this bear was a gift to our boy on his first Christmas. Now, here it is, under our tree again on a year that his children will wake up here on Christmas morning! 

So, yes. It is 6 days before Christmas. There are still a few things to be done, but we are mostly there. And some things will simply be what they are, done or not. Including blog posts like this one (which was quite hastily written!).

Are you ready? Have you already celebrated your winter holiday? I would love to hear about your traditions, so drop a comment if you have a minute! Then get back at it...because there are only a few days left to this year! 

Thanks for taking a moment to stop by in the middle of this very busy season, and Knit (if you have any time left) in Good Health!

Birthday Fun!

Last week, this goofball turned one year old!

Of course there was a party, complete with themed food, 

and a full house!

People were wall-to-wall when it came time to open presents, so it was a challenge to get a photo of the Birthday Boy by himself (sans other peoples' hands, legs, and...ummm...backsides)...

But we all had a great time! That boy's mommy and daddy know how to throw a great party! They even invited all the cousins...

Birthday Boy (on the right): Dude! You made it to my party! Did you know I'm one?

Cousin: Yeah. I turned one last month.

Birthday Boy: You did?!?!?!

Cousin: Don't you remember? You were at the party?

Birthday Boy: Oh. Oh, yeah...that's right...it was a, uh party. Right Pappy?

Cousin: Nevermind. Happy Birthday, Cousin.

Birthday Boy (to next guest): Dude! You made it to my party! Did you know I'm one?

The other cousins were more actively involved, you might say...

Birthday Boy: Ummm, those are my presents, little girl.

Cousin (dark haired girl): I know! I'm helping! Aaand, I am your cousin!

Birthday Boy: Ummm, you are opening my presents...

Cousin: I know! You have great presents! Aunt Jess, can I play with that one?

Cousin (with blonde hair): This is a really cool truck!

Birthday Boy: I know. Ummm, you seem to be touching it.

Cousin: Well, you pushed it into me...

Birthday Boy: I know. There is nowhere to go! Have you seen all these people?

The whole day was so much fun, culminating with a little dude and a Mickey Mouse banana cake...which was yummy. The pug was hoping for a taste, for sure!

So, that's what we did last weekend. Today, I have other things going on, like clearing a space for the Christmas tree...right...here!

I assume that the tree will come out soon, since it now has a space...but who knows? Remember that one year that putting the tree together (all three pieces) took me two weeks? Hahaha! Hopefully I will be quicker than that in 2019! Are you putting up your tree this weekend? Next weekend? Or are you skipping it this year?

Whatever your holiday traditions, I know that Turkey-day is next on most everyone's agenda, so I hope you have all your shopping done for that at least! And thanks for taking the time out of your holiday schedule to stop by and check into the blog!

Now, gift-giving season is here...sooo, Knit in Good Health, people!

I can't believe I nearly forgot to show you the birthday monsters!

Happy Birthday Boy!!!

This boy, right here, is having a birthday soon...his first! 

And these girls have come into town for the party!

That means this Gramma and Pop Pop will have a very busy weekend, and we could not be happier!

Of course, it also means an insanely busy weekend, so this will be a short post...but it is backed by an abundance of joy!

I hope that your weekend is joy-filled, and that you have something to celebrate.

Thanks for stopping by, and knit in good health!