Fall is here!  I am kind of looking forward to fall.  I just hope that it does not get too cold too soon. Today is one of my best childhood friends birthday.  Becky Sprout turns one year older than me today and then I will catch up with her in October.  Our friendship goes back over 60 years when we started the seventh grade at Broadway Junior High School. We were locker buddies and have continued our friendship throughout the years.  You learn to make new friends but you certainly cherish those old ones. We will soon have our customary birthday luncheon.  Also, birthday wishes to Jimmy Cann who turns 60 this month. I am excitedly waiting for next month when my brother Bill and sister in law, Danni, will be in town and we will be observing our birthdays at lunch at Julio's as a guest of my brother. Getting back to fall ...... this is the time of year when those minestra's and chicken pastina tastes so wonderful. 

 

These cool evenings make me yearn for hot soup with a big piece of Italian bread so that I can "puna" in my soup. Enjoy the last of the tomatoes in your garden by making some of those wonderful salads to compliment your menus.  If you did not get to can any tomatoes, remember you can purchase whole canned tomatoes to make your winter tomato salad.  Take care of your basil that is planted in a pot and it will last for a long time.  Bring it indoors, set it in a window and remember to keep plucking it from the top so that seeds do not keep it from growing. Now is the time to bring it in as I am sure we are  not far from the first frost.

 

Another Kudu from the Alonso family for the local Veterans hospital.  Last week Dave went to the Emergency room and ultimately was admitted to the hospital. Our first encounter with staff was with Dr. Verona in the Emergency room.  He certainly was a very good and caring doctor and we enjoyed interacting with him.  Once Dave was admitted we met his nurse who was a Mr. Gaskins.   After conservation pursued we learned that he had a connection to the Paul and Theresa Mancuso family. Theresa made him a believer in good Italian food, especially pasta. His next nurse was a Lamberndis, who is Italian by birth and who is privy to good Greek food. Nt only was the staff friendly but they are taking very good care of Dave. I salute our local Veterans Hospital and the staff.

 

Two large families will be grieving this week with the passing of Joe Nardelli and Barbara Defazio. I’m sending my condolences to them.

 

Our family is facing a little crisis with Marty.  You all know that several years ago he had gastric bypass surgery.  In the past month he has broken both of his legs.  When we did some research we learned that this may be a side effect of this surgery.  We remembered that for many months he had very little to eat and we think this may have reduced his calcium to a very low level. He will be checking this out this week and I will keep you advised. I merely tell you this in the event you have had the surgery or know someone who has.  Get it checked immediately.

 

My Prevention magazine this month was just full of tips but one especially I want to pass on is the benefits of green tea. It says that it can heal you from your head to your belly.  It recommends that you use home brewed tea instead of bottled. It can rev up your memory and may protect; your brain.  Drinking three cups of green tea a day could reduce the risk of stroke by up to 20% and although not conclusive, green tea and exercise may reduce belly fat by 36%.

 

As always, the Sons of Italy picnic was a great event. I always look forward to attending.  The food which was catered by the Bluebird was delicious.  Our numbers are getting fewer and Josephine Ferrari and I reminisced over the number of members who are no longer with us. I hope some of you younger people will consider joining us. Contact the president, Becky Sprout for more information about joining.

 

Someone or an event has just really hurt you.  What do you do?  We all know that our reaction to this can have sobering effects on us.  The best path for us to take is to forgive. Always remember that there is someone else who may have things worse than you.  For our own health we must learn to let things go.  The bottom line is to be a bigger person and this ultimately may mean being a healthier one, too. We are not in charge; there is someone bigger than we are who takes care of things.

 

Enjoy fall, keep in touch and until next week "Now You Have Heard It through the Grapevine."