Panic

"Did you see where he went?"

I quickly scanned our group and counted my kids and our neighbor.

"Who?"

She was referring to her 18 month old son. We were in the National Museum of History in NYC on what must have been the busiest day in history - the place was packed.

The 9-year old neighbor was left in charge of three 3 year olds and Tyler T while my friend and I split up looking for the little guy. After 2 loops around the dinosaur room, I was feeling panicked. After 2 more loops I was frantic. My friend looked calm, but her eyes told a different story.

It was one of those situations where 10 minutes feels like 2 hours. On my last loop it felt so real - he was gone. I thought about his cute little smile and how trusting and open he is. As I went to find my friend to suggest looking for security, a woman came around the corner with him. I snatched him out of her arms, said a quick thank you, and ran for the middle of the room screaming my friends name at the top of my lungs.

Once we were all reunited, we both exhaled, she hugged the little guy and we acted nonchalant.

But I saw her eyes.

Maybe it happens to everyone, a parenting right of passage - a little reminder to keep them close.

It worked, I will.


photo courtesy of here

Something about....

....nudey bums that gets me every time!

Concetta

I'm glad Melissa broached the topic of our Grandmother Connie. Drew, Ella, and Tyler had never gotten the chance to meet her, but they will undoubtedly hear about her. Born in a house in Hoboken in Oct 1914, the first of 10 children, she was the matriarch of the family, and if you think about a family tree….what a large one it was (filled with plenty of Michael's and Marietta's as that was their parents names) She did not have much of a formal education, but a life of experience had made her wise beyond her years. I was lucky enough to live in the same house with her my whole life. I have vivid memories of my time with Gram as well as thoughts/ideas/concepts from her that I will strive to pass on to the children.

One of those is pride…she was always so proud of herself, the things she accomplished, her family, and her community. Another is the ability to be happy. She always told me that you alone can always be happy no matter what the circumstance. She lived through a Depression and a World War where all of her brothers and husband were fighting and she always said that she could find something to be happy about. I've never seen anyone with the ability to glean so much pleasure from the sound of music, the taste of food, a breathe of fresh air, or the feel of sunlight on her face. She always told me to focus on what I have, not what I don't have. Lastly, one of the things she told me most often……. "Michael, when you say your prayers at night, always thank the Lord that you were born in America" Gram loved this country, with all its faults, she always felt lucky to live here.

Drew/Ella/Ty, be prepared for me to talk about Gram and her stories. She was awesome. A legend. I'm not sure if it was in honor of Gram or my own pride in the USA…but when Drew and Ella were born, I wanted to have Aunt Melissa paint a saying on the wall….but my wife quickly vetoed it. So I think I shall put it here for you to read when you are older.

Twins by luck,
Dargan by birth,
American by the grace of God……

-Dad