Through the eyes of a child ...

You've probably seen this already ... but I was captivated and wanted to share it with the few of you who might have missed it.  It is the video of an interview in Paris by a reporter for "Le Petit Journal".  He is asking this sweet child if he understands what has happened there.

The child answers that they will have to "change houses because bad guys" are very mean but his father assures him that France is their home and they will not leave.   The boy looks confused and says that the bad men have guns and might shoot them.   His father says bad men are everywhere but then he tells him that "they have guns but we have flowers" and he points to all the make-shift memorials around them. "But flowers don't do anything", says the boy.

His father tells him that the flowers and candles "are put there to remember all those who left us yesterday".  The boy is comforted and when the reporter asks if he's feeling better the little boy smiles into the camera and tells us that "Yes, I'm feeling better."

If you haven't seen it be sure to check it out.  It is one of the sweetest interviews I have ever seen and is a heart-warming reminder of the resilience of man and the power of love.

Do you trust Political Surveys?

It seems like all we hear nowadays is what the latest poll states … who is running ahead in what State and by how many points ! I've often wondered how these polls are conducted and if they are on the up and up. I suppose a lot of them are but the call I received a few days ago has me wondering.

The phone rang and when I answered it a man told me he was conducting a poll about the political scene as it was playing out now and would I mind answering some questions. I said I would be happy to and the first question he asked was … ''are you a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent?'' to which I replied ...''I am a Democrat and proud of it.'' and …

HE PROMPTLY HUNG UP !

I guess it wasn't what he wanted to hear and I'm left wishing I'd questioned him closer before I agreed to answer his questions. You can bet that won't happen again.

Drugs for women only...

A repeat entry for those of you in need ...

Damnitol:   Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours.

Flipitor:       Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.

Menicillin:   Potent anti-boy-otic for older women.  Increases resistance to such lethal lines as,       "You make me want to be a better person."

Buyagra:      Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping.  Increases potency, duration and credit line of spending spree

Anti-talksident:   A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used by anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators.

Peptobimbo:  Liquid silicone drink for single women.  Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases liblido, decreases intelligence and prevents conception.

Dumberol:   When taken with Peptobimbo can cause dangerously low IQ resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.

A Charleston Wedding ...

This adorable couple is my granddaughter Amelia and her husband (as of Oct. 30th) Eligio.              Although they currently live in Tampa, Fl., they chose to have their wedding in Charleston, SC.        Amelia had spent a college semester there a few years back as a transfer student from NC State and   they came to love the city.    Considering all the trauma that has visited that city in the last months it was a relief to have perfect weather for their outdoor, evening wedding.  Of course the bride was the main attraction !  (Doesn't she remind you of Cleopatra?)                                                                    

Amelia spent over a year preparing for her big day and it showed...from the lovely setting (a famous Charleston home well-known for it's elaborate and decorative weddings) to the simple but heart-felt    ceremony.  This was truly a magical combination of sophistication tempered with fun, from the           three tiered cake to the elaborate sit-down dinner to the waiters serving paper cones of sugar-spun       cotton candy as the evening ended.                                                                                                                                                                                                        .                                                                                                           

I forgot to mention the dancing and, maybe that was because I did my share and, after seeing some     of the impromptu photos of that, I think I have to own up to my age and forego that in the future !!    

All in all, a wonderful and not-to-be-forgotten event.    

 Here's to you Amelia and Eligio and all best wishes for the many years to come.

               

...and I thought it was a compliment !!

In 1953 I was living in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts.  I was in my Junior year at Boston University and living with my folks.  I had a scholarship so the college costs were covered but I still needed money for books, train fare to Boston, lunches, etc. so I was happy to get a job at a small restaurant in town called Bendslevs.

Mr. & Mrs. Perkins were the owners and I had worked for them while in High School so I had the routine down pat.  Although we had a soda fountain it had no stools so the 6 small tables made it seem more like a tearoom.  We had a large variety of sandwiches but the favorite was always the daily lunch special...a plate with three slices of bread topped with 3 salads (Egg, Ham and Chicken) served with a pickle and fruit in season. 

It was just the three of us, the Perkins and me, and often I was on my own because they would be in the basement making candy ... their own brand that was a specialty of the restaurant. I was kept hopping tending the soda fountain, making sandwiches, serving the food and taking payments. It left almost no time for chit-chat or kidding around.

The town workers were our best customers.  They liked the fact that they could get a good lunch at a low price and they loved trying to upset my routine but that never happened. I was very proud of the fact that I could always hold it together and I'll never forget the day that one of them realized how competent I was and he gave me what I thought was the ultimate compliment. 

"You amaze me Ginnie", he said, "you are always so even tempered." Wow, I thought, he really can see how well I manage everything !  "Yep", he continued ...."YOU ARE ALWAYS MAD."      

Un delizioso ricordo …

 

“A delicious memory” indeed and it came back to me recently when I saw that Breyer’s is now selling Gelato.  Of course I had to try it and it’s not bad but nothing like the authentic Italian delicacy that I came to love while visiting there.

I had my first taste in Rome.  After throwing the obligatory coins into the famous Trevi Fountain my traveling companion suggested we top off that experience with a gelato.  I agreed and, although we were surrounded by “gelato bars”, we chose to take the short walk to one of Rome’s oldest...the Giolitti, founded in 1890.

 

It was an experience not to be missed. Colorful mounds of gelato were piled high, topped with fresh fruit to indicate their flavors. Even the waffle cones were displayed as art. They came in three colors and flavors (natural, red and brown), and were stacked upside down to form tall and colorful columns. They were an apt backdrop for the frenetic scooping. The simple act of ordering your gelato was a production in itself. Much laughter and a lot of hand gestures were needed to convey your choice and then, in typical Italian style, the final product was presented to you as if it were the finest jewel in the crown.

The choice of flavors was astounding...fig and lychee nut, almond and coconut to name just a few. I finally ordered a double dipper and was thrilled to find that the “hype” for gelato was well earned. It was much creamier than ice cream and the flavors were dense and almost tart.   I loved it and just writing about it here makes my mouth water !