Mary Caruso

I was brought up by kind and very religious parents.  Especially my dad, he would attend church every single Sunday like clockwork.  He was a very supportive parishioner and was known by all within the congregation.  Although my mom didn’t attend church, she had great faith.  She questioned that faith and we talked so often about it.  She would remark that she probably didn’t go to church enough and wondered how God would feel about that.  My response was always the same.  I really didn’t know anyone who had a bigger heart and who felt as much empathy and kindness to her fellow human being. She gave and gave of herself to so many.   What else would God want?

Growing up I gave my parents a run for the money on many occasions……..I was a rebel in many ways and pretty much rebelled against anything that was conventional or formal.  I guess I am still kind of that way.  So maybe I wasn’t as religious as I should have been.  But I do have faith and I do believe that we are meant to be here and live life with kindness, respect and dignity for each other.

Much of how I make it through life is because I do have such strong faith.  People ask me constantly how I do it.  I can’t explain it really, except to tell people that I just know it!  I just know that there is a reason for everything that happens, and that there is something bigger and better for us.  We can’t question why things happen in our own personal journey but we have to know to rise above it and carry on with a smile and a positive attitude.  And we do this with the help of the people around us.

There are so many young people in our lives……..both Sam and Alex have some great friends.  They are all welcome in our home and  we enjoy so so many hours of laughter and conversation. Of courese there are some who were destined to be in our lives, I really believe that.  One of these people is Erica.  She has been a friend with Sam since they were in eighth grade.  It hasn’t always been a smooth ride but she has hung in there, as has Sam.  Through thick and thin she remains true to us.  We have watched her grow into a warm and accomplished person and we are proud to have her in our lives.  I am pretty sure I speak for Sam and Ally also.  We have traveled together and laughed and cried together.  Last month we had the priviledge to attend her pinning ceremony at Salva Regina College.  Erica received her degree and is going to be a nurse at Yale soon.  We were especially excited to hear that she was getting a special award also.  So this was a great day and a memory that I will hold onto forever.  My mom was a nurse way back when, a career that she loved so but gave it up to raise three daughters.  The fact that Erica is also becoming a nurse would have made my mom so happy, she also knew Erica and saw the same great characteristics in her that I am bragging about!

So this blog post is for Erica!  For becoming the beautiful woman that she is.  For all her great attributes and those annoying organizational skills she has.  For the hours of conversation and the hundreds of dinners we shared.  For her constant help when I reach out to her and for the  heart of gold she has.  And for the beautiful photo that she ran over to me yesterday in such a spastic way! That photo that continues to send chills down my spine because it has touched my heart and my soul!  Because LISTEN EVERYONE, it is the faith in my heart that helps me to believe in myself.

Please look at this photo and know that there has not been any alteration to it, to me it is a reaffirmation of my faith.  It is validation that my mom is with me and giving me a definite sign.  Just what that sign is I do not know.  Is she happy with my Open your heart campaign-you know this blog?  Is she telling me that she loves me?  Is she proud that the girls and I made that trip to support Erica?  It really doesn’t matter…….and for all you skeptics….go ahead just try to rationalize that heart over Erica’s shoulder!  

I know in my heart that it means she is with me and always will be…………for the love of my mom is so evident in this photo.  Seeing it brings such peace to me and will forever.

In Peace and Love

Always

Mary