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!