Ten Word Weaver's revisted: One of my fondest writing experiences was last year around this time when I realized how influential my siblings were/are to my life. So as a tribute to them, I will have those familial essays reprinted. Please check back on the 15th of February.
In Memory of Bobby LaLuna ~ December 29th
This blog marks the anniversary of the death of my son Bobby. I tried to lead into this article with all different approaches, ones that would soften the harsh reality that he is gone, and yes, that he died way too soon. A wonderful little boy snatched away from us at only six and a half years of age.
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As I was copying and cropping the picture of him that leads this blog, I lost my breath when the small picture grew with a little click to an isolated picture revealing his eyes. “Oh My! My heart skipped a beat, immediate tears sprung forth, and a choke in my throat kept any additional sound from being heard. He was alive, his eyes did dance. The picture captures his dancing, laughing eyes. His cherubic little hands folded by his knees showed the chubby little folds of a little boy just waiting to be a “boy-man.”
I do not want to dwell on the cause of death, or even the death, as today I celebrate his life. The life he did share with each and everyone that loved him, and believe me, everyone that met him, loved him. How could you not? His sense of humor, his antics, his ability to make anyone in his midst laugh was only part of the Bobby story.
Bobby, the best friend of “Ratty-Potey” I am not sure if that is the correct spelling, as Ratty never showed Bobby how to write his name. Ratty-Potey was Bobby’s imaginary friend. He was the primary cause of anything that would ever go wrong with Bobby. “Ratty did it”
Bobby would come up with wonderful tales of his little boy adventures. The Christmas of 1988, Bobby claimed to have been hired by John Panozzo’s Fruit and Vegetable stand. He told us all that he had a really bad day at work and as a result he was “fired” because his job was to stack a large quantity of oranges up. He had just completed the task when Ratty pulled one out from the bottom and they all went tumbling down. John Nazzo (as he would call him), came running in madder than a hornet and fired Bobby on the spot!
I can still see Bobby’s face as he was sharing the distressing news.
Another one of my fondest memories of Bobby was when he was less than 3 months old. I had Very long hair and my little guy loved hanging on to my hair and sucking it as I would go about my day. It was a wonderful feeling, but growing tired of the length and mass of my hair, I cut it all off. For the longest time, he looked for it.
Bobby was my little boy, my baby, my angel. How I miss him, his beautiful green eyes. His sweet little lips, (he always over puckered to give me a sweet little kiss) his chubby little fingers, and his smile, a smile that lights up my heart to this day!
Bobby, Robert Luciano, was the Christmas star the year he died. Not even a full week before he became ill and went on to his Father in heaven, he was a Christmas Star and highlighted in the local newspaper. He would appear two times that week, one day in a special section recognizing the celebration of Christmas, the next time his obituary. Bobby only lived six and a half years, but it was a wonderful, glorious six and a half years. Today, I thank the Lord for the opportunity to have held this amazing child in my womb, my arms and in my memory. The tears still fall twenty years later. And, I still rejoice over the life of a beautiful little boy that was filled with dreams and wonder. Thank you Lord for Bobby, thank you Bobby for bringing us all so much joy! You will forever be loved! "Sugah pie, honey bunch, you know that I love you!"
December 22, 2008
I am settling down into my new home, Michigan City. A quaint little city of days gone by. It has a stereo-typical downtown area that has beautiful shops, (well at one time it was the heart of the town). But like so many communities in the midwest, the value of the heart of the downtown was replaced by cookie cutter, corporate depictions of what a retail center should look like. (Branding rules the day!)
The downtown area of Michigan City is a representation of life in general in the US. We quickly discard the old for the new. Fortunately, the value of the old captures the curiousity of many and like the "Velveteen Rabbit" love and care revalues it in the end.
Last night I found myself on an adventure. I was transported back to a time of innocence. Michigan City captured an "Its A Wonderful Life" feel. Let me set the stage for you.
The Last Sunday before Christmas, for those of you that follow the Christian year, it was the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season was slowed to a snails pace, due to below zero temperatures (wind-chill of below 30!) High winds made for blizzard conditions. The day was winding down, all the packages were wrapped and stacked. Dinner eaten, family all safely snuggled into there respective homes. Christmas tree lit, a song or two sung in hopes of recordability, and the smell of carmelized treats wafted through the kitchen. Temperature inside the anitquated apartment on Washington St., a warm and cozy 68. Then it happened...
The Pre-Christmas Adventure. "Let's go out and play!"
Yes, it happened, the lure of the snow, (and a crap's game) got the best of us. We bundled up and ventured outside. Barely a soul out so it seemed. Just Roo and Pooh and a Ford Focus filled with dreams. It was an adventure. It was so cold the snow squeeked in pain as our hard rubber tires pressed against it. At times you could barely see the glow of light through the total "white outs" from the wind. There were giggles and sighs as we were transformed back to a time of innocence. Memories of ice-skating until my fingers and toes could no longer be felt came rushing back. Roo proclaimed that it was an adventure and that he loves the cold, the colder the better, all the while I was praying that I would never get caught in the cold and to be unable to find warmth! My thougths went to the deer that wander free down at Washington Park, and the homeless that I know exist. I prayed a prayer of thanskgiving that I could return to warm temperatures, that my car was a good solid one. I remembered times when that wasn't a guarantee. Then it happened!
We drove down to Washington Park, and there it was. Like a scene from an old tiem movie, Bedford Falls was before our eyes, the MOST AMAZING CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW EVER! Yes, EVER! Colors and shapes and wonder. The realization that many hours was put into making it a spectacular display was before our eyes. AS the snow was blowing with a force that would have quickly stung bare skin, it made for a stategically placed scrim to capture the wonder and awe of the best theatrical production. We were looking at the present, but looking back to days gone by.
The wind was so forceful, the blizzard conditions intense, the lake could not be scene. There was nothing more than a ghostly hue a hint of light from the "catwalk" lights, and the Lighthouse was barely evident. My thought rushed back in time to all the sailors that came upon the shores of Lake Michigan after battling the harsh winds and bitter cold. I felt their rush and sensed their desire to seek shelter.
It was an adventure, and in that moment I realized that Chicago Wind and carefully placed white lights along Michigan Avenue have nothing on Michigan City and the 2008 Washington Park Light SHOW along our Very own Lake Shore Drive!
