Thursday, December 30, 2010

********Some Days Are Tough*******

Not every day goes according to plan. Some days we get up and we think this is going to be a wonderful day; and then out of nowhere something goes terribly wrong. I got a very disturbing call a week or so ago, one of my very dear friends found out she has breast cancer. It is so important for both men and woman to be checked regularly, as my friend never missed her annual appointment. Since there was family history of cancer she decided to take the gene test which can inform you whether you carry the gene for cancer or not. When the results came back, unfortunately they were positive, so my friend decided to do what she felt was necessary.

 A few days ago my dear friend had a major operation, and her journey back will be long and emotional. It's so strange how quickly life can change, one minute you're making plans to take a vacation, and the next, a routine doctor's appointment alters your life forever.

Monday, December 27, 2010

**** Do You Want a Higher Position"****

The funny thing about goals are that when "we" set them and try and reach them on our own, A) it usually takes us longer than we expect, and B) sometimes we don't even get there.

As I sincerely and humbly tell this story, just recalling the circumstances still amazes me for several reasons. So let me start at the beginning.

In previous stories that I have written, I spoke of the many Manager/Sales positions I have held throughout my years. My last job was in Yellow Page advertising, which I did for a little over five years until my accident.

It isn't the most glamorised of advertising, but for many years was extremely lucrative, especially for small business owners who set aside a good portion of their budgets for the Phone book. It was a lot of leg work, telephone time, it would take at least one or two face to face meetings,  and for the huge accounts three or four. This was besides all the reworks you wound up doing on the ads you created.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

*** My Wish For Everyone Around The Globe***

With 2011 quickly approaching I wanted to take some time out to spread my well wishes and Blessings. I not only want to remember all those I love or who have crossed my path, but those I have yet to meet or may never meet or even know.

We are all on the same team. It doesn't matter Where we live, what language we speak, or what color our skin is. What matters is that we are all on the "LOVE" team; God's Team. Different countries may call Our Lord by other names but there is only one God with one wish. That the children He created will love, respect, and help each other, with every ounce of their being.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

*******Count your Blessings*******

Now a days it's very easy for all of us to take stock of the things we don't have, and the things we may be losing due to the economy. We're all so caught up in our life adjustments and sacrifices that we're forgetting to count and take stock of what we do have.

Believe it or not we all have blessings in our lives no matter what our circumstances are. It's just we get so caught up in everyday life that we forget to look around at the things that really matter.

If we have a loving family we are hugely blessed. If we have our health, we've struck gold; and if we get a chance to awake the next morning, we are blessed with the chance at a brand new beginning.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

*****A Christmas Note to Heaven*****

To My Beautiful Gram, Aunt Lou, and Phil,

Well it's our favorite time of year, and you know me with the decorating, it was quite a feat this year.Only having use of my left arm was no easy task to undertake, doing the whole house, but with all of you watching over me and sending subtle reminders, it turned out beautiful. Oh and Phil I appreciated the reminder to put the Angel on top before I put the tree top on to the base of the tree. I felt your gentle nudge and heard your little snicker,I know you were waiting for me to attach the pieces without her, and you were right I was going to.

My beautiful Gram, thank you for helping me with all the missing Christmas favorites, I was so glad that they were in one of the boxes Bob brought up, because as you know, I had to cut back on my usual, and 3 huge boxes didn't make it up from the basement, but I know it was you who helped me to have all your special things around me.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

*****Reach Out and Touch Someone*****

Our lives can get very hectic, and sometimes they even get away from us.  So what I would like to talk about today is remembering someone you may have had in your heart or on your mind lately, but have yet to drop a note or make a call.

For weeks now I have been thinking of a dear friend who I haven't seen in many months. So today I decided I would put together a little Christmas package and drop by her office.

What a wonderful and joyous reunion it was. We spoke for an hour, we covered everything, it was just the rejuvenation our friendship needed. That's the wonderful thing about good friends; we don't need to see or speak all the time, but when we do, it's as if we spoke just yesterday.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Poetry is Like Art-Open to Personal Interpretation

I thought today I would do something a little different. As some of my fellow Authors from Authonomy know, I have and always will be a poet first and foremost.

Poetry was a gift bestowed upon me to get me through some difficult periods of my young life. The sad thing about it is, most of it was destroyed in a fire. I had my things in storage when I left for California at eighteen, and when I returned there was nothing left.

All my writings; short stories, enough poetry to fill at least ten anthologies, some partially written books, and my school yearbooks (I had friends in all grades so I had each year from freshman to senior with such precious memories documented...gone) and pictures, all priceless things to me.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

*******We All Have A Purpose*********

This is not an easy story to write, but I was inspired to share it in light of the many people in the world today, who feel they have no reason to go on. I did not share this story in my book, though I felt it would have had tremendous impact on many, I was not guided to do so.

One of my many sales jobs was selling Life Insurance for Met Life. When you first get your license, you are encouraged to sell to family and friends first, to help build up your client base. Being in sales for many years, I did not take heed to this advice right away. Something was telling me it wasn't necessary.

I was doing decent and it felt more intrusive asking people I knew questions, than it did with strangers. This particular month I was slow, as it was summer and many people were on vacation; so I decided I would call up different friends that I thought could benefit, and I set up several appointments.

Monday, November 29, 2010

*Why Christmas is My Favorite Time of Year*

One of the reasons Christmas is my favorite holiday, isn't because of the presents, but for the Christmas spirit that fills the air and the heart's of most people.When I was growing up we didn't have a lot of money, but we had a lot of love. Every Christmas eve it was tradition in our house to put up a live Christmas tree.

We would have an open house, and all who came would help decorate the tree. It was so wonderful, we always ate fish on the eve, as is Italian tradition. We'd have Shrimp, Linguine and Clams, Fruti Di Mar( Italian fish salad served cold with calamari,shrimp,scungelli, crab, celery, lemon, fresh parsley, olive oil) certainly a treat, as it is very expensive to make. On top of that we would have something Fra Di Av lo, which just means red sauce with various degrees of heat behind it, boy was our house the house to be at, and believe me it grew every year, as did our open house reputation.

Friday, November 26, 2010

*******Nothing Like a Child's Smile*******

One of my favorite things to do since I was seventeen years old,(maybe it's because I couldn't have my own children,) although, I have always had a connection with the young and the elderly;but I love to go to orphanages at Christmas, or the Children's Wing at the hospital to drop off Christmas gifts, and just sit and visit. I think it stems from an experience I had while at a hospital, visiting my baby brother who had fallen off his bike, and had a bad concussion.

 I had gone out to get him some juice, on heading back to his room, I noticed a little boy sitting on a bench in front of the window just looking out onto the grounds. I decided to sit down next to him and we began to chat.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

****Competition Isn't Always the Answer****

Let me start off by saying that there is a place for competition. I think when it comes to sports and contests and arena's where competition is healthy, I say give it your all.
But my story today is about how our competitive nature has gotten out of hand, off the track, and entered into our everyday lives.

Being in Sales longer than I care to remember,only because it makes me realize just how old this body is getting, I have always excelled and done extremely well. My Dad use to say I could sell rice to China, meaning, whether it was Advertising, Life Insurance, Office Supplies, Fire Extinguishers, Weight Loss Programs, or High End Fashion, I was always at the top.

Oddly enough, I was always extremely honest, always helpful to my fellow Sales Associates, and never felt the need not to lend a hand, or give help when I thought it could aid others in achieving more success.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

***We Don't Need Money To Give Back***

One of the best days I 've ever had giving back, didn't happen at a charity event, or a toy drive, or even a walk for a cause; but it did happen while I was on a leisurely walk.

It was 1983 and a beautiful sunny day in June. My girlfriend and I decided to take a power walk around the neighborhood. As we were near the end of our walk, we noticed the doors to the Senior Center were open.

My friend looked at me and said "why don't we go in and say hi and visit with some of the Seniors." Having gone to allot of Senior Homes as a teenager, especially during  Christmas, because  my Mom worked at one,  I thought it was a great idea.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

****Signs of a Happy Future****

When my niece Therese Megan was ten years old (she is now fourteen) she was and still is, a very popular, kind, and sweet girl. I know we all think our little ones are special but she really is a well - rounded young woman. She's on the Honor roll with a 4.0 average, she excels at sports, and she sings like an angel.

One day at lunch while sitting amongst a large table of her friends, they all started to giggle, and Therese Megan wanted to know what they found so funny. All at once the group at the table started pointing and making fun of a little girl who was sitting all by herself.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Which Layer meant the most?

I would love to know from those who have read my book, which layer spoke to you the most and why?