Timing is Everything!

I got a call today from a woman requesting a reference for Victor. Today, of all days. I vividly remember this day two years ago. The ice, Tom's phone call as I was leaving the hospital, being afraid to tell Mom about Dad all by myself, the cell phone that needed charging, not to mention the poor reception at University Hospitals, Terry's car accident, Marlys quietly crying, Mom's hand in mine. I love and miss you Dad.

Remembering Dick Renkert

Terry and I went to the memorial service for Dick today. It was a lovely celebration of his life. He was certainly a remarkable man! Dick succumbed to a heart problem; Susie said he was in the hospital for 5 days before he died. He had not been ill. Seems to me, he did it right. He lived a great life and then did not have to suffer very long. He was well loved and well respected by all. I know I will remember his loyalty and friendship.

Hail Mary, Gentle Woman

I was at the school Mass today for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We sang this song, one of Mom's favorites. Will I ever get through a Mass again without tearing up?

OOPS!

Mark had a little altercation with the garage door!

Thanksgiving Thanks

Today, we give thanks for our many blessings which include all of my beloved family. Maria sent a message to Grammie and Papa. It's hard to see the speck of the balloon in the first picture, but it is there. (The pictures loaded backwards, but you get the idea!) Love to all!

Gingerbread Housing

The gingerbread house has held together so far, but here's a tip for Pellie! If you buy the kit - which you should do and just customize - just stuff the inside with grocery store bags, so when it tries to lean inward until the frosting has set, there is something inside to add support! GOOD LUCK and let us see the finished product!

Holiday Card Contest Part 3

Of course, they both can't win since they are competing in the same age group.

Holiday Card Contest Part 2

Maria had a hard time deciding what to draw. She ended up entering 2 drawings--a Christmas wreath and a Christmas cat. Hope she wins!

Holiday Card Contest

Evan surprised me by wanting to draw a card for the Plain Dealer Holiday Card Contest. Hope he wins!

Let the Holidaze Begin!

The Eldorado Library is having a Gingerbread House contest this weekend, and Evie and I spent some sticky hours yesterday building a Japanese holiday house, after inverting the plans from a Sam's Club kit. She calls it Manga Christmas!

Thanks to Our Vet

Thinking of you today, Papa, out there in the Pacific on the USS Pine Island, thrown right out of training into caring for so many men. You earned some stars in your heavenly crown for that duty! We miss you and love you and honor you today!

The Winnah and Still Champeen Irish Dancer

Pellie done did it! She won first place in the Willoughby scarecrow contest for family scarecrow. If you check out the picture below, you can tell why! Nothing like having a family to make your crafting skills come to the fore! Congratulations, Sistah!

The Irish Dancer

After coming up with the idea in 2009, I finally acted upon it in 2010. I was determined to have a scarecrow in the Willoughby Scarecrow Contest. As luck would have it, my artistic sister was in town for 4 long weeks in the spring and she needed a creative outlet. So...I made the dress and Judith decorated it with the Celtic design. Then it all sat in a closet until the beginning of October when our Irish dancer began to come to life. I needed to reach back to my other-craftly ways to embroider the face and then, I needed to learn a new craft to create the hair. A pair of tights from Target and Maria's first pair of ghillies and we were ready to go! Our girl is strategically placed rather close to Burgers 'n Beer (wonder what that means). I do not know who won the contest (there are 3 divisions-family, business, & organization), but I shall claim victory just for getting it done!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happiest of birthdays to the man who really, truly, honestly didn't care a bit if they were remembered or not. I've been thinking about you all day. I love you!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Every time I turn on the radio or attend a concert or flip in a CD of the world's greatest music, I think of you, Papa! Your enduring legacy pops up to the surface when I take my grandkids to a concert and know that I am planting the same seed. Or I meet someone in the classical music world and can talk about my father being the physician for the Cleveland Orchestra in the Szell years; they are always impressed. We did not know what a gift this was when we first enjoyed it, but we certainly know now. You and Mom gave us so much: a work ethic, a thriftiness (ouch, that dollar is screaming for mercy), a hunger for learning and a passion for sharing what we have learned. Thanks, Pops, and have a heavenly 87th birthday up there with your best pal. We love you and miss you always!

The Hills are Alive with the Sight of Aspens!

Golden colors, blue skies, green chile and a redhead! That's Santa Fe!

Hi, Mom!

I did not want to get out of bed this morning, since Mom came to visit me in my dreams for the first time! We were having some kind of party, and Sheila and I were helping her to get dressed. Strangely, it was the closet on Berkshire that I went into to get clothes, and there wasn't much there to choose from; it was definitely Berkshire. Mom was just as smiley and chipper as we all remember her (I have taped to my laptop the picture of her sitting in her car with the red wig on at her 85th birthday party; she was always so game to try anything on her head!). The dream ended with her walking out, by herself, no cane or walker, on to a vast stage of some kind with an abstract autumn gold backdrop as big as the Metropolitan Opera stage, with some kind of lighting coming from the front, just like a stage would have. If there's a heaven, I know she is there...and she must have heard my prayers, because I have asked her SO many times to visit me....guess that is what dreams are for! Thanks, Mom, for coming to see me!

Ex-Buckeyes Visit

I just sat down for an hour with Chuck and Sue Flack who are staying at the Inn while they are here for a week in NM. Smart folk staying around to make the most of coming so far! They are doing the art scene for Sue (great show at the O'Keeffe Museum right now), and they went to the Lensic last night to hear Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, as well as spy on the natives. Eating at all the great spots, Geronimo, Anasazi, Coyote, Amavi, I want to go too! They rented bikes for a 20-mile ride this morning (phew) and plan to follow it with a soak at the Ojo Caliente hot springs. Then on Thursday they head up to Taos for a few days, well-timed for the San Geronimo feast day with dances and a greased pole climb - ha! I did not realize that Chuck spent 18 (!) years schooling (college, med school, internship, residency, fellowships and a stint in the Air Force as a major) before he started in practice! Yikes! That's dedication. he spoke so nicely about Pops, it was so heart-warming to hear him express how Dad touched his life. A little thought to savor as Papa's birthday approaches.....

Two Like Souls

Evie and her Pop share a moment together....probably looking closely at bugs!

Happy Birthday Ballie!

Two important birthdays are today-Terry's and the BVM's. Hope it's a happy one! (Even though I know the birthday girl does not read the blog.)

Number 56

Happiest of birthdays to my beloved husband!

Words of the Poet

A dear friend who also lost his mother last year took me to the Opera last night to round out the summer season, which closes Saturday. The last lines sung by the poet in Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann:

One is made great through love, and greater still through tears.

Bon Anniversaire, Maman et Papa

Okay, a day late, but thanks to you both, certainly not a dollar short! Hope that 63 years of marriage finds you relaxing in a heavenly fashion, buoyed by the prayers from the Mass that Ellen had said for you. We love you and miss you!

Treehouses

The kids did a fine arts camp this week at Pahoresky's house. The "piece de resistance" for all of them was the treehouse! They took 2 days to design and build their creations. Everyone's was different and beautiful. Mimi and Evan have continued to add things to their treehouses. They are very proud of them. The only down side was the bad hot glue gun burn suffered by Mommy on the tip of her right index finger. OUCH! And so inconvenient.

Grazie, Il Famiglia Mastragelo

This sistah had a GREAT time with her other sistahs, thanks! And I actually saw Terry, twice, count 'em, two times!!! I am only sorry we could not have had the whole gang together at once. Family sickness is a rotten way to have to get together, family wellness is so much more fun! The reunion was great, even if I didn't really remember almost anyone...literally! I cannot believe how many memories everyone else seemed to have, I must have been brain-dead back then. Saw Steve Foley, who reported that Susie Foley had the same valve replacement at UH that Dr. Joe had but sadly did not do as well and ended up on a ventilator, don't know her current status. Chris Anthony was there, brother Billy is a ballet dancer and choreographer in Copenhagen, Denmark, and brother Bobby lives in a nursing home out by her, she lunches with him every Sunday. She stopped by her old house on Berkshire and the Silvers are both still alive, still doing theatre and still in their house. Patty Winterich's dad still lives on Berkshire in the same house, she says it's like a time warp to visit (boy, I'd LOVE to see that!). Camille Duer came form St. Louis, looks just the same, more than anyone, in fact. Miriam Flynn (our class celebrity) came from L.A. looking like a movie star (polished) but thankfully no younger than the rest of us. Nancy Spear was there, not looking so good, no Donald Schlemmer, no Jeanie Russo and no McCanns because there were none in our grade. Of course, Virginia Slavkovsky and Patty Muth were my mainstays...along with the Terry Moir and Mastrangelo families, of course!

A Big Birthday

Cue music: I'm A Man, The Spencer Davis Group, 1967, Vocals by Steve Winwood HAPPY 18TH, CRISTIAN BENJAMIN CAYARGA-CAVALLI

Skies like These

Summer in Santa Fe means tumultuous thunderstorms and fabulous sunsets...superb skies for a Sheila O'Hara visit this weekend!

A Sad Day

The Willoughby branch of the Moir family has had a sad weekend. Our neighbor, Doreen Skully, died in her sleep on July 1. Today would have been her 54th birthday and instead there were calling hours at the funeral home. The cause of her death is unknown at this time. The funeral is tomorrow. She was a great neighbor and friend and we will miss her a lot.

A Cherry Pie for Fourth of July

Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Can she bake a cherry pie, Charming Billy? Sheila, you would be so proud of me! It was a twice-baked homemade crust, three trips to the cherry tree to pick enough sour cherries for a pie and one hour of cherry-pitting to make a success! And dig those crazy Big Smith overalls, my standard Independence Day garb. They're the real deal, obtained, of course, from a yard sale years ago, in a dark little barrio house, where these counter-cultural clothes lay carefully folded and unworn since the 60's! Mom and Dad can just look down at Willoughby South from their heavenly perch for a fine show of fireworks! Happy 4th of July to All!

HELLO FROM THE MICHIGAN MOIRS!!!!!!!!

By The Way....................

In case any of you forgot why I was so special to my parents..............

Late As Usual

Always was late in wishing "Happy Birthdays" and the like: in any case, Happy Days to the greatest parents. Love and miss you both!

Birthday news for Mom

OMG!Just found out it's Errol Flynn's birthday too...nice company, Muvsie, oh, my first crush. I bet he'd have had a crush on you if you'd met in the 1950's! Que cutie! I wonder if you knew you shared a birthday....he'd be 101 today, born 1909.

Happy Father's Day, Dear Dad

Driving in my/your little red wagon, I think of you, Papa, as Wagner's Siegfried Idyll plays in the background. This music is so like you, noble and brave, and reminds me that of all the gifts we received from your striving, the care you took to give all of us an education reigns supreme. The gift that never stops giving...thank you, Dad! You are always loved and missed.

Happy Birthday Blessed Gus

Just think, you're 87! And using the twisted number theory of Terry and me, 8+7=15 and 1+5=6, so this means that you always have the fullness of love from 6 kids who wish you a most heavenly birthday...you are forever in our hearts, Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom

Yesterday, Maria led us in a prayer service to honor Grammie. She picked out some Bible verses which she read and we all shared our favorite memories of Grammie--chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, playing under the bed at Breckenridge, and mostly her boundless love. Grammie is in our thoughts and actions every day, but we are especially aware of her presence today. We miss her so much and love her even more.

Maria's Art Show

Maria just completed a one week art camp at Ursuline ArtSpace. The camp was called Imagination Works and I wanted you to see how her imagination works! The top image is a Swiss clock, the second a cathedral (complete with a deceased person in an open casket in front, made of an egg crate, wonder what that means!), third is her basket and lastly her pyramid. It's a great program and she really had a lot of fun.

When I think of Our Folks

Moments like these bring our parents closer, the sunny times mixed with the dark.....

My Way

After Dad died, I remember Mom reading Tom's eulogy and saying something like "I never realized my kids were so smart." Let me echo that sentiment---I never realized my brothers and sisters were so smart. I can write no poem nor eloquent tribute. My feelings reside inside, not unlike the lady we honor today. I did, however, place a windup toy (a crawling blonde baby girl) on the grave today:) Beautiful thoughts and words, siblings. You are all so smart and creative. Love you all!

Happy Birthday, Edward!

As this is a day of sorrow, so too is it a day of joy. On this day, Edward Cavalli was born, and if that hadn't happened, our lives would be much poorer. And since these lives will always be a mix of joy and sorrow, how fitting that on June 1 we have a very specific way to remember this. Thank you, Edward, for being being born, for loving Judith, for embracing our family, for witnessing our parents' lives and deaths, and just for being you. May much love and happiness always be yours.

Legacy

One day, two days, all of a sudden 365 days. On this day last December, Tom was able to do specific things to recreate and remember Dad's life. But our dear mother simply permeated each day with her spirit, no matter what the activity. I need to go to the grocery store today. I will honor her as I thank the produce guy for stocking the strange things I often buy, the plantains and mangoes and hot chiles. And when I check out, I will chat with the clerk about her day, connecting with her as a real person, just as Mom taught me. What incredible gifts she gave us. Though I thanked her many times, I so wish I could pick up the phone and say it one more time. I wish that I could sit across the table from her in the breakfast room and talk about nothing and everything. In short, I miss her. But she has left behind a legacy of love in all of us, in our tribe, our clan, our family. Thank you all for accepting and fulfilling this legacy. I love you all very much.

A Tribute

A June Day

Each day, this tapestry, this background grows.
Perceptible on the surface, even richer with distance.
You who sewed this life together from the threads and fabric given you,
You who treated all like loved children,
Who showed that kindness is possible in all acts,
That love is enduring and permeating.

As days are removed, so too can we reach forward,
Straining our necks to see and feel you,
Knowing that each day we are a small glimpse of you,
A fragment of your life, a piece of your attitude and strength,
Each of us a continuing and enfolding story,
But together, a completing puzzle.

An Anniversary

I Question the Bard

The sky poured out
an angry grief.
Waves of slashing rain,
thunder giving voice
to sharp unwelcome pain
when life and death collide.

Phone calls, check stubs,
pills and ointments,
papers, papers, more
sad appointments, all
at once are hushed and
finally brushed aside.

Practiced players
stride up on stage,
repeating lines still
fresh and barely aged.
The Danish prince's words
to we who must abide:

"The readiness is all."

Preparedness?
Futility!
What readiness could
blunt bald misery?
None, not now or ever,
oh none, I sadly sighed.

What say you, Mr. Shakespeare?

Our Willie's gone, perhaps no Shakespeare, but one who gamely played his part in this familial drama, in company with his lovely and loving maid Marian, who left us one long year ago today. May we who bear their authorial stamp be as brave and worthy of our roles, even now being sripted for us by Khayyam's Moving Finger, which Having Writ, will move on for us as well. Vaya con Dios, Carinos, y Hasta la Vista!

Grave Day

I don't know if everyone knows this, but after Dad died, Maria, seeing the silver lining in the cloud, pronounced "now we have somewhere to go on Grave Day." Since Maria and Evan were small, they have gone to decorate the graves of Jane's mom, grandparents, and great grandparents. Last year we had our own grave to decorate on Grave Day. If you recall, we planted impatiens for Dad, which we had to dig up a short time later. Well, another Grave Day has come and gone and all of the headstones are shiny, clean, and trimmed up. Mom and Dad again have surreptitious orange impatiens. Ironic, isn't it, since Mom never really liked impatiens, but they are the only flowers that will grow in the shade? She always did do what Dad wanted. Maria left a nice ripe cherry for each of them and Dad got a flag to commemorate his veteran status. In case you are wondering, Marge Addis gets fresh cut flowers, Gram gets a mum, and Mother Molly gets a basket of petunias. As always, we enjoyed the succulent deep fried Mike's chicken--a Barberton original. We figure fried chicken once a year won't put us in an early grave!

Mom's African Violet

The picture speaks for itself.

Rachel's Turkey Trip - Update 1

Rocky made it to Turkey and appears to already be having a fun and interesting time. They are still in Istabul and are traveling tomorrow to Ankara. Ankara, Capadocia and Derinkuyu (underground city) are her next steps. Here's the text of the e-mail we received from her today:

Kay, so I would have emailed you right when I got to the hotel to let
you know neither of our planes had plunged into the ocean, but the
internet hasn't been working in the hotel until now. It's been a busy
couple of days; our flight got delayed a couple of times yesterday, so
I don't think we got in the air until 7 pm our time, and we had to
scurry from one flight to another in Amsterdam because they we're
holding our second plane for us. We had the afternoon to ourselves
once we landed (it was about 4:00 pm local time when we got to the
hotel;we're 7 hours ahead here), so Jess, Juls, Rebecca and I headed
over to the "Egyptian Market" a cool street where they sell spices and
turkish delight and stuff. Today, we did a walking our of Istanbul; we
toured the architecture museums (there were lots of cool statues! I
was pleased!), the Blue Mosque, the cistern, and the Hagia Sophia
(sooo cool, I loved the mosaics). It's been lots of fun thus far. I'd
write in more detail but I'm paranoid that the internet is going to
cut out again, so...

Love,
Rachel

MIniMichiMoirUpdate

Rachel left for Turkey yesterday; no communication from her but that's expected; she was very psyched about the trip.

Dan's home from college looking for summer job (has a line on a few opportunities); great to have him home and he has been helping me around the yard.

Sarah's playing soccer (although not much playing time) and her off-season basketball is on hold; she has a torn labrum in her shoulder that she apparently has had for awhile (going to aggressive PT but let's hope not surgery, which is a possibility).

Cheryl and I are hanging in there although I have been threatened with a legal action that could get ugly (believe it or not the Sisters are accusing me of disclosing confidential information); what a world (I have to remind myself that the Church is way bigger than any person, even consecrated religious). Very disappointing but I am in the right.

Love to you all and Chris continues to be great!

Motherless Day 2010

Dearest Gus, We love you and miss you...not just today but all the year through!

Spring Snow

Whoda thunk it? Snow in April? Sure, here in the mountains, anything is possible! It was beautiful, if unexpected, and we'll take our water any way we can.


Nonetheless, spring is definitely here, although we lack the plethora of flowers that the abundant waters of the midwest and east create. We have the forsythia and the daffodils, the tulips and the lilacs, but they are not set off by expansive green lawns (except for those of los ricos). Our backdrop is the blue, blue sky - talk about expansive!

A Fond Farewell

We said good-bye to Wini yesterday at a beautiful memorial service at Garfield Memorial Church. Most of the family spoke--Lorie Post, Ben, Elizabeth (Libby) & Ken Haffey, and Chip Post. There were three ministers and all had kind and loving words to say about Wini. The pastor of the church looked a bit and sounded a lot like Al Gore. The other two ministers were women, one of whom certainly knew Wini well. The music was lovely, with the great Protestant standbys like How Great Thou Art. Music in church, any church, always makes me tear up now.

Adios Amiga

A fond Vaya con Dios to our dear friend Wini. Both Ellen and I are very grateful that we had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with her in March. I like to think that Mom is welcoming her with a celestial cocktail and a sunny smile, now that their earthly work is done. Two great women, whom it was a privilege to know and love....

I Survived

Two weeks back in Santa Fe and one week back at work, which I have survived....work, why is it like that? Not that I want to play all the time, in fact, I am rather bad at playing, since I am such a bustling sort of person. Sigh, I guess we can't all be Terry Moir, with a career that we love...she's Da Bomb!

An Honor for Terry

Today, Terry was one of three honorees of the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters (along with Denise Dufala and Jimmy Malone, for those who might remember some Cleveland personalities) . She was introduced by Brooke, who was very funny and quite complimentary. Terry gave a short speech thanking all those who helped her achieve what she has today. Her remarks were very nice and delivered well, although she was extremely nervous. Her super-red face gave away her nerves! It was a really nice luncheon and quite a prestigious honor for her. I think we all know what a force she is in the Cleveland market and she is to be congratulated! And although I am always proud to be a Moir, there was a little something extra today!

Happy Easter

The Saints of April
Coltsfoot gives way to dandelion,
plum to apple blossom. Cherry fills
our woods, white petals melting
like the last late snow. Dogwood's
stigmata shine with the blood
of this season. How holy
forsythia and redbud are
as they consume their own
flowers, green leaves running
down their crowns. Here is
the shapeliness of bodies
newly formed, the rich cloth
that covers frail bones and hides
roots that hold fervently
to this dark earth.
- Ted Davis

This Mastrangelo Life (3 Acts)

Act 1 Room With A View
This week, after years of thinking about it, the shelves that separated my kitchen and eating area were carefully removed. It is astonishing how much light is streaming into my kitchen. This has motivated me to clean and re-arrange all of my kitchen drawers and even to buy new dishes. Nothing like a fresh start!









Act 2 Nonna's Bread

As Part of Her Jesus Day Retreat, Maria watched a movie called Nonna's Bread. In the movie, Nonna and her grandson are making Italian Easter bread. Nonna promises the boy they will make the bread for his First Communion. I'm sure you know what happens next--Nonna has a heart attack and dies. The boy is heartbroken and when his First Communion comes along, his dad steps up to the plate and makes the bread with him. Up until then, the dad, of course, had been distant and distracted. Well, Maria wanted to make the bread for Easter...so we did! Our Nonna found us the recipe. And as Maria said, this bread is special because she braided it!

Act 3 Lost, and then Found

I was lying in bed last night next to my beloved son and I crossed my hands across each other. I noticed something rather sharp and pointy. It was the prongs of my engagement ring, minus the beautiful diamond. I popped right up out of bed and proceeded to scour the downstairs for my diamond. No luck! I even emptied out my hand vacuum and swept the floors with a broom. So I went to bed, but slept fitfully, worrying about that diamond. I woke up right at 7AM and raced over to the Y since we had gone swimming the day before. I looked in and around the lockers we had used and in the shower room. Again, no luck. At this point, I am saddened, but relieved that we have a jewelry rider on our insurance. Back at the Y several hours later for swim class, I scanned the locker room floor one more time, just in case. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a 1 carat loose emerald cut diamond! My friend Christine had said a prayer to St. Restituta when I told her I lost the diamond. Less than 5 minutes later, I found the thing. I have never heard of St. Restituta before, but Christine told me her aunt, an Ursuline nun who was once the president of Ursuline College, always prayed to St. Restituta when she lost something. I shall be trying to find out more about this great saint!

Home, James!

We got back in the saddle again after a sudden and powerful rainstorm in Oklahoma City this morning kept us lingering at the Days Inn! Our last day on the road took us home to New Mexico with no fuss, just a few aching bones and some melancholy on my part for the old homestead and the missing parents. Powerful headwinds slowed us down, but the skies are blue and sunny, and Easter weekend looks like it will be mid-60's and breezy. Not as warm as Cleveland in April, whoda thunk it?


WE SETTLE IN AT HOME WISHING A BLESSED PASCHA TO ALL FROM COAST TO MOUNTAIN TO HEAVEN ABOVE!

Westward, Ho!

We crossed the Missisippi this morning and are now officially back in the Great West! There was only one question, however, and only Chris can answer it: WHAT is a Billiken?

A Fond and Foggy Farewell

Packed up and ready to go, mission accomplished! Fabulous weather moving in, just as we are leaving, but we had some pretty good days over the last few weeks, so no complaints here. I took a long walk in the late afternoon to say good-bye to old Clevesberg on a very foggy afternoon. You could see it swirling in and out between the buildings; the newscast called it a marine layer. And it surely did come from the lake, when I walked down to see, the visibility was about 25 feet in front of you, that wonderful, private feeling that the fog brings. Not that we don't get fog in Santa Fe, we do, but the smell and the density are different. Ah, I love weather, the thing that makes me remember a place the best...adios, Ohio, hasta luego!