"Tammi-I just wanted to say Thank You.
Being your mother is one of my greatest joys in life.
I LOVE YOU. You are wonderfully made.
Have a wonderful day. Love Mom".
"It's said that all a man has in life is what he leaves behind.
I leave behind the most wonderful things in the world.
My kids.
I love you, Dad".
My mother and father are two of the people I admire most in my life. They met and married when they were just 14 & 17 and I cannot even begin to fathom how they have remained devoted to one another and our family after all these years.
When I was younger, I fully believed I was adopted. I somehow got it in my head that I was the lost princess of somewhere fabulous in Italy (this could be true...my Dad found on our ancestry.com that many of our relatives are Italian! Whoohoo! Where's my castle?). Growing up in a family where all my siblings were blondies, I couldn't fathom that I was part of it all (that and I was just stubborn and thought it was funny). Now, I see just how much a part of each of my parents I really am. I somehow inherited their best qualities and I am so proud to be a part of the family that I belong to.
They both grew up being very self-sufficient. They have always owned their own successful businesses and have worked side by side for over thirty years. They didn't really rely on anyone growing up beyond each other and went through the ups and downs of life, figuring things out along the way.
My mother is one of the most positive people I know. She was most likely the impetus behind Happy Tuesdays, when I think back on it. When I was younger, I remember being baffled by my mother's ability to always see the best in every situation. We would tease her and call her Pollyanna. She is truly an eternal optimist and I'm proud to share that quality with her. I now see what she's known all this time: It's really not worth wasting time being negative. Better just put a smile on your face and get through the rough patches the best you can. Her patience is never ending. I can remember her teaching me to drive my manual Cabriolet in the school parking lot--me trying to figure out the clutch and her never getting upset, antsy, or angry. Just letting me figure it out and gently coaxing and coaching me along the way. She's continued to do this throughout my life and I'm so grateful for it.
My father has set the bar so high for someone in my life being a Man. He is someone who gets his joy in life from helping other people. He is the hardest worker I know. He has always seen his value in his work but I see it in the person that he is and how he treats people. He is always willing to help someone and do whatever he can for them. He has the best instincts and street smarts--more than anyone I know. He is so good at reading people and can often suss out people's true intentions. He is person of integrity and honesty. His dedication and discipline are qualities I admire in him and have tried to emulate in my own life. Despite his quiet side, he has an incredibly fun demeanor. Some of my fondest memories are my dad and I roaring at 100 miles an hour in his shiny black Mustang, on our way to karate, blasting Rosanne Cash, me with the biggest grin on my face.
Many years ago, I took to calling my mom Bob. Apparently when I said "Mom" it came out sounding like "Bob". I have no idea how I loved the Newton show so much, but I decided to call my dad Darryl. The names stuck somehow and I affectionately remember that time and my Bob and Darryl. This Grateful Grazie is to thank them.
Bob & Darryl:
Thank you. Thank you for being a constant sense of support and encouragement in my life. Thank you for putting up with me when I've floundered, when I was in a teenage snit and couldn't appreciate all you were doing for me, when I've been too wrapped up in my own life to make a phone call. Thank you for seeing my mistakes, watching them, but having the wisdom to let me make them--knowing that's the only way I would grow and learn. Thank you for supporting all my decisions. I know it can't be easy to watch your daughter do all sorts of crazy things that you can't understand--to have her move across the country, live abroad, date some major d-bags (yes you know this word)...I am so grateful that you know just when to give me advice, the space that I need, or love that I'm needing. Thank you for being there when I cry. You have both been there for me in my darkest moments, sometimes not saying anything, just holding me and listening to me. You've also been there to celebrate my biggest achievements. I am so grateful to have parents that I know are always there for me. You may not agree with my decisions or thoughts, but you still respect me and support me. You told me to follow my dreams and do something I love. You never pressured me to be something you wanted. You had a constant message of being what I wanted. Thank you for giving me every opportunity you could think of and for showing me what it truly means to be a good person. I know that you always did your best, and you continue to do so. I try to live my life this way--giving my best in every situation, to every person, every relationship, every moment. My admiration for you and my gratefulness grows each day. Your commitment to one another and to your family is something I will hope to have one day with my own little family. Thank you for not letting distance or time keep us apart. Despite the fact that Granite Bay, CA is long way away from NYC, I feel closer to you more now than ever before. I love you both so much and I will continue to try to live a life that you are proud of and an integral part of. Thank you for being the best parents that I could imagine. Thank you for being you. You are amazing.
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