I don’t know why but Italians really love to yell- about everything. We move our hands, talk loudly about anything and everything. But for us it isn’t yelling – it’s just talking. I believe that’s how we feel we are really communicating. People who come to visit sometimes don’t understand why we talk so loudly in my home. I remember one of my girlfriends said, “Why are you guys fighting about parmesan cheese?” I told her it is just an average debate at my house. I remember another friend who was visiting many years ago literally jumped out of his chair when one of my relatives said something. Poor guy. I think he was permanently scared 
. My beloved Zia (Aunt in Italian) says: “Us Italians. We don’t have a quiet button. It’s all loud. Full on. Always full on. We say we love and hate you in the same breath. Gotta love the Italian passion”. So true!
Yelling in an Italian Home…
Random Events (that aren’t random at all)
The more I live life, the more I realize that events we may consider to be “random” aren’t really random at all. Maybe this belief comes with faith – I don’t know. But all of the interesting events and chance “meetings” I end up having make me think that life really works out and it isn’t as random as I previously thought. ”The experience you are having right now is the experience you are meant to have.” I really love this quote. It forces one to relax and not take life so seriously. From meeting wonderful people in Africa (who I am doing work with now) to interesting people I have met on an airplane, to random conversations with people who happen to be friends of good friends of mine, there are too many coincidences in life in my opinion, to be purely random. Life is one big, purely awesome, fun, “unrandom” mystery!! :)
Canoeing In January
Okay… not really but I find myself thinking about the wonderful summers we have in Canada when it is really really cold (FYI: it is -15 degrees C or 5 degress F here!). I tend to think us quirky Canadians pay for the great summers with really harsh winters. Canoeing and camping trips are some of the highlights of my summer. I really really love the outdoors. Our annual canoe trip seems to get crazier and crazier. We end up doing more portages (where you carry a heavy canoe and all your gear across land), longer trips, and end up having more kids to take care of (some still in diapers, all pretty young). Last summer, we had 21 people on our trip – and about 8 kids. Pretty insane but incredibly fun.
2012 Here We Come!
Happy New Year and Happy 2012!!! I have to say I really really love the Holidays and this time of the Year.. Up here in Canada it is really cold- so people tend to hibernate… I love it because it gives me the chance to slow down and reflect on the year to come… and 2012 is gonna be an AWESOME year!
Classic Shots
No, I’m not talking about hockey . I am talking about those wonderful pictures from childhood that make you cringe… this is one for me (look at the bowl cut…absolutely classic!!)…
This pic is one of my faves…..it reminds me not to take life too seriously …I mean, how seriously can you take life when you had a bowl cut (or a mullet for that matter)???
What’s Important In Life….
Last week I attended the funeral of the “Patriarch” of our Italian family… He was an 84 year old wonderful man who died at peace in his sleep…. His life was inspirational. An incredibly hard worker, devoted, self made man (who came over from Italy with a suitcase) who adored his family… He was a humble but strong and compassionate man, who always knew what to say-whether it was about relationships, business or life. Makes me think, if you can define “success in life”… I believe this man was it. Dignity, love, faith, humour, respect, honour. These are the traits that are important in life… and that truly make an incredible human being…
Nona’s Culinary Vortex
I am out with a couple of close friends yesterday for breakfast at a really great diner in the city. I really love to cook for my friends and family (that is why I am nicknamed NONA which means Grandmother in Italian). I really love to cook and serve great home cooked Italian food! It has been said that getting an invite to my place for a meal is considered a special event (that’s so sweet!). There have been occasions where people come over for brunch on a Sunday… and don’t end up leaving until 9 or 10 pm. Seriously. We end up having a 5 or 6 course meal and talk for the whole time. So this weekend, when I was making plans with my friends to get together… I of course offered to cook breakfast. So this husband and wife told me they conspired with each other and said “We have to tell Lucia we want diner food. That is it. You know if we go for breakfast at Nona’s house we will end up leaving at 6pm. We must resist her food and hospitality. We must resist entering the culinary vortex.” Awesome. Classic. Sweet. Yes, I love to cook and entertain. That is one of life’s truly great joys…
True 2 Me
“I gotta be True 2 Me, Gotta stand on my feet, Be true 2 myself and no one else…”
These are lyrics from my song True 2 Me (on my CD True 2 Me to be released in 2012). If there are any lyrics that I really try to live by these are it…. I believe when you are true to who you really are… you live life on your own terms and life is more exciting and much much easier….
Do what you love, do what makes you happy, be who you really are… Because at the end of the day, that is all that really matters….
Generosity and Kindness
I’ve gotta say I am always surprised by the generosity and kindness of people. People are AMAZING! I gave a Concert last month for a 13 year old boy called MBarak (which means Blessing in Arabic) from Kenya. I met him on my travels to Africa this year. He lost the use of his legs a few years ago and sits on a floor all day in his one room house (he is not allowed to go back to school because of his disability). His biggest dream is to go back to school. My goal is to make that happen for him. This concert allowed me to raise over $800 for him (which will buy him books and tutoring among other things). Here is a picture with me, MBarak and his mother Sophia (who carries him on her back around the village!!) What an inspirational pair!!
MBarak, Sophia & I
Want a Hug?
Just watched a beautiful story on BBC News…It is about a wonderful Indian woman who goes around the world giving hugs to EVERYONE – doesn’t matter what religion, colour, race you are… She will give you a hug. People cue for hours. Listening to the people waiting for her to give a hug… you can tell some people are really craving something….What is it? What do we want? Human connection…it’s that simple
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15769467
