Memory, Memorial, Miracle by Jena Galifany

May is a month of many happenings in my family. There are several birthdays: both of my sisters, one niece, a great-nephew, and my late Puppy Dog.

May is also a month of tragedy. Both grandfathers passed away in May, before I was two years old. I don't remember either of them. I experienced my first panic attack in May twenty years ago and continue to deal with them.

Worst of all, my oldest daughter was made a widow at the age of twenty-one seven years ago. TJ was taken from her in a car accident. He was a passenger. His seat belt failed to keep him from hitting his forehead on the dash. He lingered for two days before Amanda had to make the decision to let him go. There was no brain activity for two days before she had to make that horrible decision.

I'd like to share a few memories of my son-in-law, if I may.

TJ was a character. He was Phillipino/Chinese and had some odd ideas about how the world should work. For example: he thought it was alright to "taste-test" fruit in the grocery store. We used to laugh about him selecting an apple in Albertson's while Amanda and I were shopping with him for the first time. He polished it on his shirt and chomped into it. Amanda starred at him in disbelief, not sure what to say.

"TJ," I said, "you can't do that."

"Why not?" was his reply. "I have to make sure they're good."

That brought him a roll of the eyes from his wife and myself. I chose another apple and put it in the shopping cart so I could pay for it at checkout. I had some trouble explaining to the checker that I only wanted to pay for it, but not take it with me. He couldn't understand that I was paying for the one my new son-in-law had eaten.

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TJ had never had a birthday party. An only child, he was raised by his father. His mother lived in a different state. Neither had given him a birthday party. I was privileged to provide him with one on his twentieth. It was small, only family and a couple of his friends. But he was thrilled.

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TJ was Phillipino, as I mentioned before. Their culture has a lot of fish in their diet. Amanda is half-Italian, from her father. Amanda does not like fish. Shortly after their wedding, they went to her father-in-law's home for dinner. Lying on newspapers on the dining-room table was a large fish, approximately two feet long, head still intact. Amanda smirked. The conversation when something like this:

Amanda: "What is that?" (Horrified look.)

TJ: "That's dinner." (Wide grin.)

Amanda: "EEWWW!" (Wrinkled nose.)

TJ: (Brows drawn down.) "In my family, that is a blessing."

Amanda: (Brows raised.) "In my family, that means someone is gonna DIE!" (Think Luca Bratsi in "The Godfather".)

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TJ's second Christmas and Halle's first.

TJ had never celebrated Christmas. His family just didn't celebrate holidays. I had the privilege of giving him his first Christmas. Amanda was pregnant with Halle. I had the joy of making it a Christmas none of us would forget.

For once, I had the money to do it right. Everyone got everything on their Wish List. We had breakfast together, all the kids in their pajamas. We opened gifts and enjoyed being together. Beside fulfilling their wish lists, I got each of them (my son, both daughters and TJ) a bucket of Legos, a Barrel of Monkeys, Video Games, candy and fruit (a family tradition). We even had the train around the Christmas Tree. That evening, we partook of a prime rib dinner together. The whole day was perfect.


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TJ was a gamer, a snow-boarder, and an all around good guy. He left us too soon but he left a blessing in the form of Halle. She is now nine years old. She doesn't remember her father but she knows who he was by pictures and stories she's been told about him. He was a great guy and we all miss him.

May always begins on a bad note with the memory of his loss. We are happy that he was saved and baptized. Amanda finds comfort knowing TJ is in heaven waiting for her. They faced some challenges in their young marriage, but I feel they had a love that will last forever.


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The memories of TJ are sweet. The memorial: I visit his grave occasionally and I always take him an apple. The miracle is that, even though she didn't know him, Halle is just like him in so many ways. She is truly her father's daughter.
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Thank you for letting me share.
Cheers!
Jena'
http://jenagalifany.bravehost.com

Get Caught Reading Month

The idea of someone “catching” me reading is a silly one. As my husband once said, “Every time I turn around, Chris, you have another book in your hands.” Ah, yeah, guilty as charged. I can’t help it. I feel lost without a book to read. May is Get Caught Reading Month, but really, I’d be caught reading every single day. I think many writers are this way. At least I hope so. I don’t have bookaholism, do I? I’m not alone in my reading addiction, right? Well, even if I am, I like this obsession and I’m sticking with it.

In this post, I’ve included several books I’ve recently finished, so if you need a book to get caught reading, maybe you can pick up one of these.

1.     Hearts in Darkness – Laura Kaye – An interesting take on the whole getting-to-know-you set up in a romance novel.  Two people, who have had only moments to see each other, are suddenly trapped together in a pitch black elevator. I have to say, I always take the stairs, but reading this book made me want to chance riding in the elevator if I could meet a dude like the hero Kaye developed.

2.     North of Need – Laura Kaye – Yeah, okay, so I’ve become a Laura Kaye fan. This book takes the Frosty the Snowman turning real idea to a whole new level. Loved everything about this book from beginning to end. Can’t wait to get her next one, West of Want.

3.     Sweet Magik – Penny Watson – This is a Christmas-themed novel, but I’d read it any time of year. As with the hero in Hearts in Darkness, Watson’s hunk is so damn sexy and lovable. I wished he were real! Her first book in this series, Sweet Inspiration was also awesome.

4.     Until There Was You – Kristan Higgins – What to say, what to say…Oh, just go and read EVERYTHING by Kristan Higgins. You won’t be disappointed. Her books are adorable. I smile through every page I read.

5.     Moon Dance – J.R. Rain – I just discovered this guy. He’s got a fresh take on the vampire ordeal with his private investigator character, Samantha Moon. She was attacked by a vampire while being a federal agent, was turned, and is now sorting through what her life has become. I plan to read the other books in this series.

So, these are just some suggestions that I’ve enjoyed recently. They all have romance in them, but to varying degrees.  Enjoy and let me know if you've read any of them.

What do you recommend for me to read?

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com